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In Milan, the Bicocca Pavilion has been officially inaugurated—the new multifunctional space at the heart of the BiM (Bicocca In Movimento) urban regeneration project, which aims to transform an icon of Milanese architecture into a destination for work, culture, and social life.
Designed by the architecture firm Piuarch and developed by Aermont Capital together with Kervis SGR and Manifattura Srl, the pavilion faces the new green square on Viale Piero e Alberto Pirelli 10, in a strategic position between the historic buildings of the University of Milano-Bicocca.
The first floor of the building hosts the headquarters of the Fondazione Bicocca-Innovation Hub, a new ecosystem dedicated to innovation, born from the collaboration between the University of Milano-Bicocca and the Bicocca Foundation. The goal is ambitious: to connect the academic research world with the business world in order to encourage the emergence of ideas, start-ups, and projects capable of generating a positive impact on society.
The hub’s activities focus on five main areas: ecological transition, with services and technologies to reduce environmental impact and promote responsible resource management; materials science, through the research and development of advanced, biodegradable, and nanomaterials; life sciences and healthcare, with solutions that improve prevention, diagnosis, and quality of life; social innovation, with models and strategies able to meet the new needs of communities; and finally, artificial intelligence, applied to automation, the Internet of Things, and 3D printing, to make production processes more efficient and sustainable
he space will offer businesses concrete services for technology transfer, targeted training programs, flexible co-working environments, and financing tools designed to support start-ups and the development of innovative projects.
On the ground floor, designed by Paola Navone – OTTO Studio, is Pavilion – sips&bites by Fuorimano, a restaurant and café located in an open-plan environment, with lounge areas, study/workstations, and an arena for events, talks, and conferences. 
he offer is completed by a 200-seat auditorium, a gym, a fully equipped bicycle storage area, and an underground parking lot with more than 500 spaces, designed for the community of students, researchers, workers, and neighborhood residents.
The structure is wrapped in a light shell, marked by tilted and staggered vertical perimeter elements, abstractly evoking the organic arrangement of the bamboo trunks found in the green courtyard. This dynamic rhythm of the façades draws the eye upwards, where a lightweight, circular, green roof is set. Seen from above, it seems to dissolve into the landscape, reinforcing the integration of the pavilion with the natural environment. 
he central volume also actively engages in dialogue with the courtyard, thanks to the alternation of semi-reflective metallic surfaces and transparent glass panels. The result is an ever-changing image that reflects the surrounding vegetation while allowing natural light to filter through, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior.
The opening ceremony was attended by Rector Giovanna Iannantuoni, President of the Bicocca Foundation Marco Orlandi, Vice Rector Salvatore Torrisi, as well as representatives from Aermont Capital, Kervis SGR, and the city administration. During the event, the Innovation Hub also launched its first Call4Ideas, aimed at the university community, with the goal of identifying innovative projects to be developed in collaboration with partner companies
With its inauguration, the first phase of the BiM project comes to an end. The project is reshaping the face of Milan’s northeastern quadrant, creating new public spaces, services, and opportunities for an increasingly interconnected urban community.
Location: Milano, Italy
Architect: Piuarch
Consultants
Structural: BURO Milan
Systems Engineering: ESA
Landscape: Antonio Perazzi
Façade: Metra
Cover image by Alessandro Fibbi, courtesy of BiM
