Sonder Building

Location:

Milan, Italy

Project area:

3000 m2

Architects:

Angus Fiori Architects

Design team:

Angus Fiori, Daniele Magliacano, Francesca Maccadanza, Stefano Canziani, Tanya Pletneva

Photo credits:

Andrea Martiradonna

Next >

Perspective evening time view of Corso di Porta Romana (Milan, Italy) with the Sonder Building on the left

Timeless Milan — Contemporary Comfort

Just steps away from Bramantino’s Mausoleo Trivulzio and the iconic Velasca Tower by BBPR, an obsolete residential and commercial building has been completely transformed. The challenge was to create a discreet yet refined architecture capable of integrating into a historically sensitive area while offering a contemporary vision of quality and sustainability.

Respect for the surrounding cityscape guided every choice. The new building maintains the existing heights and alignments, but speaks a modern architectural language that resonates with the adjacent urban fabric. On Corso di Porta Romana, a ventilated façade in natural trachyte stone pays homage to Milanese architecture of the 1960s, harmonizing with the nearby San Nazaro in Brolo and piazza Velasca. Other materials were selected with equal care, striking a balance between continuity and innovation, and enhancing the urban context without resorting to mere repetition.

Sustainability was a central pillar of the design, ultimately earning the project LEED Gold certification. Materials underwent LCA analysis to ensure minimal environmental impact, while a combination of advanced systems — from geothermal energy and ventilated façades to optimized photovoltaic panels — maximizes efficiency.

The interiors favor the use of warm materials and finishes, such as oak plank flooring in the living areas and bedrooms, and tatami-effect textiles for the corridors. For the bathrooms and common areas, a custom cladding was designed using gres tiles with a Venetian terrazzo effect combined with dark grey veined marble.

The custom-designed fixed furnishings in the suites were crafted in reeded wood panels with exposed structures in matte black painted steel. This reeded wood finish is also echoed in the natural wood boiseries, creating continuity throughout the interiors.

View of the main facade and the entrance of the building

View of the evening time Corso di Porta Romana, with the Sonder Building on the left

View of the top floor balconies with the Velasca tower on the background

Main hall wooden panelling and inteirior photo

Custom made storage furniture frontal view

Custom made kitchen furniture 3/4 view from the right

Custom made kitchen furniture 3/4 view from the left

The roof integrates greenery and planters to mitigate the heat island effect, while technical systems have been woven seamlessly into the architectural envelope for a cohesive and sustainable outcome.

More than a replacement of a deteriorated structure, this intervention reinterprets Milanese tradition through a contemporary lens. It contributes not only to the renewal of the neighborhood, but also to the ongoing dialogue between past and present that defines Milan’s architectural heritage.