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Located just a few steps from Porta Venezia, the complex at Viale Regina Giovanna 27–29 covers an area of approximately 21,000 square meters and houses Class A offices, distinguished by high-level finishes and excellent energy performance.
To explore the design and material choices that guided the project, we spoke with Federica De Leva, co-founder together with Antonio Gioli of the GBPA Architects studio, who oversaw the development of the project.
A large space returned to the city with a new multi-tenant office destination. How did the design concept originate?
A building of these dimensions necessarily requires a flexible design approach, both in terms of layout and systems, allowing the property to adapt the spaces to the needs of different tenants, explains Federica De Leva.
The complex is divided into two buildings: one facing Viale Regina Giovanna and a second, lower volume behind it. The two buildings have been connected through sky bridges, creating a fluid layout and a system of interconnected spaces.
A central role in the project was also given to the redevelopment of the internal courtyard, which is now accessible on several levels and enriched with hanging green spaces that expand the possibilities for using the outdoor areas.
The urban regeneration intervention also focused on building a strong visual identity for the building and redefining the access system. The new entrance, set back from the street and facing the avenue, leads to a double-height reception characterized by high visual permeability. This space becomes a striking architectural element within the rhythm of the façade, treated uniformly with materials that reinterpret the architectural language of the surrounding context, while respecting the existing heritage.
Efficiency and environmental sustainability: what are the current benchmarks and how are they evolving?
In recent years, there has been a growing awareness among clients—often real estate funds, SGRs, and institutional investors—regarding the strategic value of sustainability in architectural projects and asset management. Increasingly, properties are required to fully comply with major environmental certification protocols, including LEED, BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method), and WELL (WELL Building Standard), which are now among the most widely used internationally.
These standards are no longer just an added value but are progressively becoming true market benchmarks, guiding design choices from the earliest development stages. At the same time, there is growing attention to reporting decisions—including design decisions—according to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria, pushing the real estate sector towards greater transparency and measurability of buildings’ environmental and social performance.
The goal is twofold: on one hand, to reduce operating costs throughout the entire building lifecycle thanks to more efficient technological and plant solutions; on the other, to improve the energy rating and asset value of the property, making it more competitive and resilient over time.
Alongside energy and environmental aspects, the topic of people’s well-being is becoming increasingly central. Natural lighting, air quality, acoustic comfort, and flexibility of spaces are now key elements in designing workspaces, with the understanding that buildings are not just functional infrastructures but places that directly influence the quality of life and productivity of those who use them daily.
What are the elements around which you have rethought the new workspaces?
For this project, the focus was mainly on the building envelope and common areas, leaving tenants the possibility to customize the interior office spaces. However, even within this Shell & Core approach, the development of workspaces was considered from the initial stages of the project.
On the different floors, the reconfiguration of surfaces and ceiling heights made it possible to maximize distribution efficiency and the spread of natural light, while also improving the functionality and flexibility of the spaces. This approach is increasingly necessary in a context where the workspace is oriented towards collaborative models and “smart” work methods.
The project also integrates biophilic principles. Large terraces extend the work areas outdoors, encouraging a more direct relationship between users and the natural environment. The completely redeveloped internal courtyard also plays a central role: articulated on two interconnected levels, it is configured as a true contemporary agora, a protected space designed to stimulate meetings and interaction among people.
Today, the office space is called upon to “materialize” a company’s identity and culture. This principle guided not only the layout choices but also the technological and system strategies adopted in the project. Attention to well-being and sustainability is also reflected in the design of the systems: the building has achieved LEED Platinum certification, the highest level provided by the protocol for environmental and energy performance.
What elements are now essential for an office space?
In recent years, there has been a paradigm shift: from a logic of density to one of quality of space. Today, it is essential to design spaces that combine formal and informal areas, spaces for collaboration, and areas dedicated to individual concentration, while ensuring flexibility and adaptability over time.
Alongside spatial quality, environmental comfort plays a decisive role: natural light, proper ventilation and air conditioning, acoustic quality. The most advanced solutions allow individual workstations to regulate their own microclimate, adapting temperature and ventilation to individual needs.
In this scenario, the physical and psychological well-being of people is no longer just an added value, but a true strategic asset for companies and the buildings that host them.
In many of your projects, ceramic surfaces play a significant role. What choices did you make in this property?
In this intervention, the work focused mainly on the façades and common areas, explains Federica De Leva. For the façades, we had to work on two different buildings and find a language capable of giving a unified image to the entire complex. In this sense, ceramics proved to be a valuable ally.
The Eterna slabs, in the Mix Gris shade, were used as a compositional element able to harmonize the two volumes, while maintaining the original rhythm of the openings. The result is a coherent façade design, where the new cladding dialogues with the existing architectural framework without altering its rhythm.
Another crucial element was the dialogue with the Landscape Commission, which required an in-depth study of the urban context. This guidance ruled out the idea of a completely transparent façade, instead steering the project towards a more material solution. The choice fell on the stone-effect collection by Ragno Ceramiche, characterized by delicate veining and patterns reminiscent of seashell traces. This texture enlivens the surface while maintaining a sober chromatic balance.
This is a solution consistent with the surrounding architectural context, characterized by the presence of numerous stone claddings, but reinterpreted with a contemporary and light language.
No less important was the issue of technical performance. The selected ceramic surfaces meet high resistance parameters and contribute to achieving credits required by environmental protocols such as LEED, a key aspect in a project that considers the entire building lifecycle and its future management.
Ceramics were also used in the internal courtyard to create a material continuity with the interior common spaces. One of the most interesting features of porcelain stoneware collections is precisely the possibility of establishing a fluid dialogue between interiors and exteriors, creating a unified and coherent spatial perception.
How do you approach material selection in the studio?
The selection of materials is a central phase of the design process and is approached in a structured and collaborative way. “We recently moved to a new location,” says Federica De Leva, “and within the new space, we wanted to dedicate a large, organized area to the material library.
This area functions as a true project laboratory, where architects and designers work closely with samples, surfaces, and finishes. The material library is used across teams working on both architecture and interior design, fostering an integrated approach to defining the material identity of spaces.
The work often takes shape through the creation of mood boards, fundamental tools for guiding design research and comparing materials, colors, textures, and technical solutions. Mood boards thus become the basis for a collective discussion process among the various team members, enabling the sharing of visions and design directions before making final choices.
Alongside internal work, dialogue with manufacturing companies plays a crucial role. The relationship with manufacturers is ongoing,” continues De Leva, “and represents a substantial part of our working method. Companies are not just suppliers, but technical partners with whom to discuss the performance, innovation, and application potential of materials.
Thanks to this constant exchange, manufacturers become true project partners: a network of highly specialized consultants who help steer choices towards solutions that combine aesthetic quality, technical performance, sustainability, and durability over time. In a context where architectural projects are increasingly complex, in-depth knowledge of materials and their applications becomes one of the most important tools for building coherent, high-performing buildings capable of maintaining their value over time.
Ph Giovanni Hänninen
