Ugolini Headquarters

Ugolini S.p.a., manufacturer of refrigeration machines for soft drinks and ice cream, celebrated its 75th anniversary with a new company HQ in Torrevecchia Pia, south of Milan.
The studio Barreca & La Varra managed the project from the draft through the architectural project right up to the landscaping and interior design. The guiding principle was to create a harmonious atmosphere in an industrial environment. For example, the pitched roof lends the large complex a sense of homeliness.

The new management and manufacturing headquarters are located in three buildings on a trapezium-shaped plot covering 64,000 m². A significant challenge was to enable the office building, the manufacturing site, and the warehouse not just to coexist within the same space, but to be constructed in line with their specific requirements without disturbing the holistic architectural picture.

The 3,000 m² office building reinterprets the morphology of a Lombardian farmhouse with an open courtyard and accommodates four large trees that help enliven the communal space. A combination of materials characterizes the interior: hand-crafted with great attention to detail, the effect is both sober and sophisticated. The three lobbies, for example, are entirely clad in solid wood. Meeting rooms and offices are organized as open spaces, and large window fronts give the employees a sense of togetherness through direct visual contact.

Floor coverings with a cement look in the foyers are the same color as the industrial floorings in the factory and warehouse and thus reference the manufacturing environment.
Adjacent to the offices are the the 5,500 m² manufacturing area, which is directly visible from the large windows in the “Research and Development” department, while the 5,700 sqm warehouse is a stand-alone building.

The inner courtyard brings all areas of the company together. Sitting areas surrounded by greenery and trees invite staff to meet up and relax in the fresh air during their breaks.
At three meters high and seven to nine meters across, the four large round LED luminaires embedded in the overall geometric design are truly extraordinary features.

Thanks to their consummate design, the Duravit ranges ME by Starck and DuraStyle do not dominate the room but blend harmoniously into the overall ambience; while DuraStyle Vital washbasins and toilets ensure excellent accessibility in the barrier-free bathrooms.