Marazzi’s Installation at the New
Lifestyle Center in Milan

More than 5 thousand square metres of parks and gardens, a bioclimatic conservatory, state-of-the-art systems and a focus on the entire project’s energy and social sustainability throughout its lifecycle. Merlata Bloom is the new Lifestyle Centre created in Milan, at the heart of an area of strategic importance for the city’s urban regeneration. Durable, sustainable Marazzi porcelain stoneware slab collections were chosen for many of the project’s surfaces.

Merlata Bloom Milano is the Lifestyle Centre at the heart of a major urban transformation project in the north west of the city. Developed by Merlata Mall and co-funded by Ceetrus, ImmobiliarEuropea and SAL Service, it is under the management of Nhood Services Italy. Commercial hub and public square linking the Uptown residential neighbourhood with the MIND innovation district, Merlata Bloom is home to 210 retail businesses including 43 innovative food and beverage concept outlets, a superstore, a sports goods company’s largest European flagship store and a state-of-the-art multiplex cinema.

The urban park next to the shopping mall is a focal point of the project, from the public square to the Sky Garden through to the cycle track, together with sustainability-oriented architectural, technical and system-engineering solutions that create spaces with the highest level of environmental comfort.

The project was designed by American firm CallisonRTKL, who conceived the new Life Style Centre as a large promenade – almost a kilometre enclosed by a glazed and screened structure – with a food court that intersects with a fluid space lit by natural daylight and a system of terraces planted with greenery.

The public squares giving access to the mall, the terraces that create the visual link between indoors and outdoors and also the large-scale use of natural materials such as structural timber and porcelain stoneware paving, not to mention the use of plants in many indoor spaces, all facilitate seamless integration with the surrounding urban environment.

There is constant interaction between the retail areas and the next-door Merlata Bloom park, designed as a place to encourage people to socialise and linger, both indoors and outdoors, in the new Smart Urban District.

One part of this system of spaces is the Winter Garden, a conservatory heated only by sunlight and kept at a controlled temperature to ensure optimal comfort. Marazzi porcelain stoneware collections were installed on many surfaces inside the retail premises.

In the galleries, the Treverkview wood-inspired textures feature alongside large islands and promenades finished with the Mystone Limestone stone-effect collection, in the delicate Ivory and Sand shades.

The walkways in the galleries, where the flagship stores of the many brands present at Merlata Bloom and the large multiplex cinema are located, are defined by Rocking series tiles, again combined with the nature-inspired textures of the Treverkview collection, with structured surface, in the Multicolor version inspired by the constantly varied aesthetic of natural stones and in Beige. In the 20 mm thick version, these same tiles accompany visitors in the Life Style Centre’s public outdoor areas, for which they provide the compositional module.

In the washrooms Allmarble slabs in Calacatta Extra and Elegant Black versions, both with glossy finishes, are combined to create bright, elegant interiors.

The green walkway on the roof, which carries a photovoltaic power plant of 5 thousand square metres and also features a modern rainwater collection system, is paved with the Market collection in Stone Grey version. As its concrete-effect aesthetic suggests, this product is extremely hard-wearing and was specifically developed for heavily used areas like shopping malls.

In view of its strength and durability, porcelain stoneware was also the ideal choice for covering part of the building’s facades. The stone-effect of the Grande Stone Look slab collection was chosen in Limestone Sand finish for the pilaster strips of the external walls around the entrance.

Merlata Bloom is a property development project which has given consideration to ESG criteria right from the outset. With regard to environmental sustainability criteria, Merlata Bloom aims to achieve BREEAM New Construction-Very Good and BREEAM In-Use-Excellent certifications; an impressive 35% of recycled materials were used in its construction.

Thanks to the photovoltaic system on the roof the building uses 24% less electricity than the nZEB standard and it is completely gas-free due to its connection to the Milan West A2A district heating system. Cooling during the summer months is provided by geothermal wells, which supply the heat pumps.

As well as its environmental sustainability, the project has had a positive economic impact on local communities. These opportunities have been extended to even the most vulnerable members of society thanks to the “Diamo Lavoro” fund of the Diocese of Milan’s Fondazione Caritas Ambrosiana, which provides training and mentoring for unemployed and seriously impoverished people and the Afolmet RedPoint hub, created by Afol Metropolitana with support from Merlata Bloom Milano and assistance from Nhood Services Italy and EuroMilano, sponsored by the Milan Municipal Authority and the Metropolitan City of Milan.

Ph. Saverio Lomabrdi Vallauri