Cascina Merlata Uptown Residential Complex R2-R3
The masterplan of the "Up Town" residential subdivision is part of the general framework of the (PII) Integrated Intervention Plan of Cascina Merlata in the northwest area of Milan, which has the park developed along the North-South axis beginning from Cascina Merlata and ending on the commercial center.
“Up Town” is divided into two lots called R2 and R3 on which a total of seven buildings (three linear blocks and four towers) are built. The masterplan interprets the general characteristics of the PII in which the tower buildings are arranged along the eastern boundary of the site while the lower linear blocks are oriented to the west creating a landscaped layout that follows the central park. A pedestrian axis connects R2 and R3 where an internal square terminates each end on which the four towers are located.
Inside the residential district, the landscape system provides private spaces for public use connected to the central park and private spaces adjacent to the individual buildings. The composition of buildings using the linear and tower types gives a variation to both the profile and section of the skyline on which light and ventilation permeate.
Apartment typologies vary from studios to four-bedroom units and are composed to have flexible plan layouts with the possibility to add or reduce rooms. The apartments characteristically have a façade orientation with the living areas along the west and the bedrooms along the east to ensure maximum natural light and ventilation. The living room/kitchen are accessed from the entrance with each having a continuous terrace providing open-air spaces while acting as sun-shading elements facing southwest.
Private amenities are located on the ground floor, these include a gym, a day care center, a co-working space, a sauna, a laundry and a storage area. Commercial spaces are provided in areas accessible to the public.
Structural elements of the building are built using cast-in-place reinforced concrete. The enclosure is made of lightweight aerated cellular concrete blocks with a layer of rock wool thermal insulation and a ventilated façade system with ceramic panel cladding to improve the thermal comfort by reducing heat gain. These ceramic panels are laid out according to modules and have a Ceppo di Gre stone or cement finish. The ground floor opaque façades are partly plastered or cladded in anthracite grey metal panels.
All apartment windows are double glazed with aluminum frames and thermal breaks. Likewise large glazed areas surround the entrance and amenity areas providing views to the adjacent park.
Vertical louver sunshades made of bronze tinted steel profiles are provided to reduce radiation on the glazed surfaces. Balconies and terraces have railings of either transparent glass or bronze tinted steel bars.
The exterior areas are paved in natural stone slabs and concrete blocks. Private areas are enclosed by fences made of customized painted metal grill work. Each building has an entrance which is supported by a metal profile structure with a projecting canopy cladded in anthracite grey painted metal sheet.
