The Bicocca Superlab project, led by Balance Architettura, is a comprehensive renovation of a 6,500-sq-m office building in Milan’s Bicocca district.

Key Features

Turin-based Balance Architettura has carefully transformed a historic structure – originally housing the administration offices of steel manufacturer Breda Siderurgica – into a modern, adaptable workspace, ensuring the building’s industrial identity remains intact. The renovation places significant emphasis on the original materials, particularly the now exposed slender iron frame that was once hidden behind walls and ceilings. This preservation of the building’s original features can be felt throughout, creating a strong connection to its past: the concrete base is left in its raw state, establishing an 'unfinished' aesthetic that runs as a consistent theme throughout the design. Meanwhile, the removal of partition walls and suspended ceilings opens up the interior, allowing the building’s form to breathe while maintaining the architectural tension of its original structure.  

As for the flow, the main entrance has been relocated to the basement, now fully functional as an office level, adding 1,650 sq-m of usable space. Visitors are greeted by a double-height entrance hall, where a blend of concrete, glass and green plants balances the raw materials with an inviting, contemporary atmosphere. Inside, the building’s signature colours are introduced: green on the ground floor, yellow on the first, and coral on the second. These colours emerge organically at the end of the design process, adding vibrancy without overpowering the space's industrial essence.  

FRAME's Take

The Bicocca Superlab project reflects a commitment to materiality and sustainability while celebrating the industrial heritage of Milan's Bicocca district, once home to major names like Pirelli and Breda. Deindustrialized in the 1970s and later revitalized, the area now integrates modern businesses with cultural institutions—a context that Balance Architettura’s design seamlessly complements. The use of transparent rubber on the façade and glass curtain walls fosters a dynamic interplay with light, underscoring the building’s material integrity while sustainable features, including a rooftop garden, further enhance its green credentials. Inside, flexible, open-plan spaces meet contemporary needs resulting in a workspace that is both modern and historically respectful.