La Porta di Milano is a groundbreaking project integrating digital media technology and a flexible photovoltaic system to a pneumatic roof for the new “Milan Gate” Pavilion at the Malpensa International Airport in Milan, as part of the World Expo 2015.
The project features an exceptionally lightweight and transparent roof connecting the terminals to the train station and it radically transforms the existing green roof into a fully interactive art space and a sculpture winter garden, offering an extraordinary experience to passengers in transit. The project was developed by an international team led by Simone Giostra and including Thetis, an innovative Italian engineering and environmental services firm, and Italian manufacturer Canobbio, world leader in the production and installation of tensile buildings.
“The roof represents a critical innovation in the use of energy technology applied to pneumatic structures”, said Simone Giostra, “and it challenges the traditional notion of art pavilion by transforming the architecture into an integrated digital medium for unprecedented experimentation and artistic interaction”. The design is based on principles of form-finding, as the final appearance of the roof is shaped by active structural forces following the strategic placement of vertical supports and ensuing variable spans.
With an exceptional 98% transparency level, the roof maintains ideal climatic conditions for a variety of existing vegetation species to prosper, while providing a level of daylight that greatly reduces the energy consumption of the building during the daytime. The lightweight ETFE material offers a number of environmental advantages, including economic transportation and quick deployment on site, while responding to the challenges of building the new structure without disrupting the airport’s activities.
