Casa Moncler: Innovation and Identity in a Workplace Ecosystem

Designed by ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, Moncler’s new headquarters is currently taking shape in the Symbiosis district, south of Milan.  

The project brings together the company’s Milan-based staff from three separate offices into a single 77,000 m² complex. Comprising six aboveground and two basement levels, Casa Moncler accommodates over 700 employees. 

An identity-rich context

Casa Moncler fits seamlessly into the Symbiosis Community District, a regeneration project designed by the same practice with developer Covivio. The project involves converting a neglected industrial site into a sustainable, multi-use urban area intended to encourage synergies among production sites, public spaces, and environmental infrastructure.

The design of the new headquarters references the district’s industrial imagery, reinterpreting it through a contemporary, pared-back language. Rigorous and compact, the main mass intersects with a volume topped with characteristic shed roofing, which houses a partially below-grade showroom. Stepping inside, the building opens onto a large glazed court that maximizes natural light and includes a 7,500 m2 garden designed by Milan-based landscape architects Parcnouveau.

Several elements recall the historic factories that once stood in the area. The historic chimney, for example, is a symbolic link to the past, while its new function as a thermal chimney embodies the focus on sustainability typical of the entire project.

An integrated, sustainable approach

The chimney has been transformed into a bioclimatic device that draws air from 60 meters above the site and distributes it into an atrium that connects the interior and exterior. The atrium contains three ecosystems – steppe, Mediterranean scrub, and cold desert – with plant species chosen to suit the environmental conditions. With its passive ventilation system, this space helps regulate interior temperatures and daylighting.

With high-performance glazing and integrated shading, the building envelope reduces heat loss and energy use. A geothermal system and photovoltaic panels supply part of the energy needs, while the use of regenerated and recycled materials reduces the environmental footprint. From carpets made from nylon waste to outdoor paving produced with recycled shoe soles, every element reflects a circular, collaborative approach.

The building is pursuing LEED and WELL certifications, which attest to the highest standards of sustainability and workplace quality.

A dynamic workplace

The interiors reflect the complexity and flexibility of a global company while retaining a human scale. The spaces are organized according to a principle of vertical continuity to support every phase of the creative process. Indoor and outdoor meeting areas and reconfigurable spaces encourage cross-disciplinary interaction and collaboration.

At street level, a double-height lobby leads to the common areas: a reconfigurable auditorium, cafeteria, company restaurant, and gym. Amenities, such as electric shuttles, charging stations, relaxation zones, and a nursing room, promote well-being across the workplace.

Patricia Viel, architect and studio cofounder, describes the complex as “architecture conceived to evolve with its users.” This project successfully balances industrial memory and innovation across the registers of historical identity, corporate culture, and sustainability.

>>> Discover Building D by ACPV Architects, part of the Symbiosis project