Design International behind the growing success of Milanese’s favourite retail destination Scalo Milano Outlet & More
Design International has been appointed by Locate District Spa to design and direct works of the latest resort-alike refurbishment and extension of Scalo Milano Outlet & More.
Scalo Milano Outlet & More, inaugurated in October 2016, is in Locate Triulzi, just 15 minutes from Milan’s city centre, and it brings together over 150 outlets between Design, Fashion and Food in a dynamic and contemporary place.
After the first two operating years, in 2018 the owner Lonati Group and its asset & property management arm Locate District Spa appointed global retail architect Design International and shared their long-term vision to make of Scalo Milano much more than a classic designer outlet. Davide Lardera, managing director of Locate District, and Davide Padoa, chief executive of Design International, set up a strategy to transform Scalo Milano into a destination where the local community and local businesses could work, shop, dine, and entertain themselves. A mixed-use place for families and friends, for Milanese and for tourists, to meet and share experiences. The future of Scalo Milano was meant to be open, inclusive, diverse, sustainable and, above all, a place managed like a resort, with landscaped areas and comfortable seating for all. These have become the key principles that eventually led to the integration of shopping and dining with several comfort islands in the common areas, a new information kiosk, a luxury lounge, and new shops inside the existing property, as well as the owner’s confident decision to extend the offer with some 7,961 sqm of extra GLA with 32 new outlets, which will ultimately bring Scalo Milano to an overall GLA of 43,065 sqm in almost 200 outlets, making it one the largest in North Italy and the nearest to Milano.
This latest €30M extension project, already under construction and due to open by summer 2024, is built over three levels. The ground and the first are dedicated to mono-brand retail units and casual dining restaurants, while the second floor will feature a co-working area, directly accessible from a new plaza and the already existing multistorey parking.
Cecilia Bottaro, Project Manager of Design International, commented:
“We have been the project leader of a multidisciplinary team of architects, designers and engineers that have successfully led the project to gain all planning permissions from the relevant authorities and it is currently supervising, with its long-term partner Planning, the construction works”.
Design International (DI) was entrusted by the client to lead the tender process and the construction supervision. DI is also responsible for project management and the coordination of all stakeholders, including BREEAM sustainability accredited professionals, directly appointed by the client Locate District.
Salvo Rizzo, Project Leader of Design International, continues:
“The entire project’s concept design has been inspired by fluidity of movement and sinuous shapes. It is like a small body of water that is hit by rain, forming several resonance waves. The water impact points shape the first-floor voids, and several curvy waves-alike canopies create paths and shading along the commercial units’ fronts. This will generate a sort of fluid connection between all parts which will accompany slowly the visitors from one point to the next, seamlessly. Large trees will find a place inside the voids between levels and the roofs will become large gardens with water collection areas, so as to give a green and eco-sustainable character to the entire development.”
Davide Padoa concludes:
“We wanted to deliver a little ‘softer’ soul to Scalo Milano. A place to relax, immersed in nature. Our landscape team, lead by Giorgia Borrelli, selected and planted over 30 olive trees and 100 other floral species. The result is a calming place, much more like a retail resort that inspires guests to relax.”
Credit
The Design Team led by Design International was composed by its internal departments of architecture, interior design, landscape, lighting and signage and by external teams of engineers and specialists.
Design International: team leader responsible for Architecture, Lighting, Landscape, Signage, Artistic Pilotage
BMS Progetti S.r.l.: responsible for structural, MEP project and project and site safety.
GEOSAT S.r.l. : responsible for geological and geotechnical .
Studio Eng. Fabrizio Malara: responsible for fire prevention planning application.
Studio Aratari Carola: responsible acoustic.
CBRE S.r.l.: responsible for shop pilotage.
PlannING S.r.l.: responsible for site supervision with Design International artistic site supervision support.
Scalo Milano Renderings & Photos
Scalo Milano - Design International press release 21.03.2023
