This is where we work with Park Associati
From a Milanese apartment to a functional mid-century studio
Filippo Pagliani and Michele Rossi set up Park Associati in 2000 in a Milanese apartment. In 2014, they relocated to a converted telephone factory in the residential Città Studi neighbourhood. Their designs and notable projects include the headquarters of Salewa in Bolzano, and Milan headquarters for Luxottica, Nestlé and Accenture. Examples of their ongoing projects are Palazzo Sistema, a new workplace for Regione Lombardia, and MI.C., an urban design, landscape and architecture project that aims to regenerate the multi-faceted polarity of Stazione Centrale in Milan.
What was your thinking behind the design of the studio?
Park Associati: We wanted a space that reflected the way we work. A former factory was therefore perfect to house our creative workshop. We wanted to create open and functional spaces that make the most of the mid-century building’s generous ceiling height and abundance of natural light coming through the big windows. And we wanted it to be comfortable for staff, so we addressed the acoustics and introduced landscape design to the outdoor spaces and the three inner courtyards.
What are its key interior design features?
PA: The workspaces go across two floors, connected by a wide staircase featuring perforated metal mesh. During the design phases of all our projects, the team refers to our wide range of material and finish samples, which are organised on a big plywood bookshelf. This has become a prominent feature on the first floor’s main open plan space.
Your interior design is dominated by white – why is that?
PA: White and other light colours create a sense of brightness and airiness in a space, making them well-suited for work environments. Light-coloured surfaces, particularly white, are good at reflecting natural light. This maximises the use of available daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting and potentially lowering energy costs. And aesthetically, white complements the industrial structure of our workplace.
Do any colours or finishes have a role in the studio?
PA: Our meeting rooms and the metal staircase are painted a petroleum colour to make them more noticeable and to create contrast with the white open plan workstation areas. Our canteen, on the other hand, features a wall completely covered with green fabric panels.
