Walking Milan: Unexpected Encounters

A city full of history, religion, heritage and culture, contrasted by the industrial feel and modern institutional buildings, Milan remains one of my favourite cities and there is always something new to discover.

Our journey began with the Duomo, situated at the heart of the city. It is enormous. Whether or not you are of the faith, standing in front of this wonder inspires awe. Climbing to the roof offers a completely different perspective, each step revealing intricate spires and expansive views of the city below. Standing above the busy streets, surrounded by detailed stonework, you feel the contrast between Milan's contemporary pulse and its historical foundations.

The Duomo in Milan.

View over Milan.

The spires from the rooftop.

I had been looking forward to returning to Milan for years, largely because I wanted to visit Università Luigi Bocconi by Grafton Architects. I often use this project as a case study in a lecture on openings and thresholds, illustrating how spaces can connect public and private realms, and how the interface to the street can form a strong conceptual gesture. Grafton’s design invites the city into the university’s volumes, making the building feel like an extension of the surrounding urban landscape. I’ve been looking forward to seeing it in person.

Università Bocconi by Grafton Architects.

As we made our way to Università Luigi Bocconi, our route led us past another campus that wasn't on our itinerary, the new urban campus by SANAA, also part of Università Bocconi. I had never heard of the building and it was the most wonderful surprise, such a contrast to Grafton’s cavernous structure. SANAA’s buildings seemed almost weightless, the glass facades catching reflections of the sky and surrounding foliage, wrapped in a flowing mesh.

Approaching SANAA's new urban campus in Milan.

Seemingly solid from a distance.

SANAA’s campus exudes lightness and transparency. Where Grafton’s building is grounded and solid, SANAA’s design feels fluid and delicate. The buildings are constructed from glass and fine steel, with screens that create a subtle veil. The structure recedes into the background, allowing the body and movement of the user to define the experience. The effect is a building that seems to float, behaving more like an apparition than a fixed form.

One of the most interesting aspects of SANAA’s design is how the materials shift in perception as you move closer. From a distance, the undulating steel veil reads as a solid mass, almost like a continuous wall. But as you approach, that solidity fades, and the veil becomes increasingly transparent, revealing a more intricate play of light and shadow. This transition from opacity to clarity creates a layered and changing experience.

SANAA's undulating mesh facade.

The use of glass and steel in SANAA’s approach establishes a different relationship with the surrounding environment. The glass is not just a boundary; it is a medium that frames and reflects views of the city beyond. This transparency blurs the lines between interior and exterior, making the edges of the building almost disappear. It is a tectonic approach that emphasises assembly and lightness, responding to changes in light and weather throughout the day. It is a beautiful campus and a thoughtful interpretation of an inner-city place of education.

Grafton's cavernous mass.

When we finally reached Grafton’s building, the contrast between the two campuses was even more apparent. Grafton Architects used concrete to create a sense of weight and permanence. The material is textured and tactile, giving the impression that the building is carved from the earth, or perhaps has grown upwards from it. Its heavy forms have deep recesses and overhangs which break up the mass and allow light to penetrate into the core. Despite its heaviness, there are moments of openness that invite the city in.

The street spills into the the void.

The mass parts to allow visitors.

Grafton’s design balances mass and void, where large openings create connections between the interior and the urban fabric. The building does not stand apart from its surroundings; instead, it extends the life of the city into its own spaces, making the transitions between outside and inside almost disappear. It is a building that manages to be both protective and permeable.

Grafton’s university building is like a cave. It is solid, introverted, and deeply rooted in its context. SANAA's campus, in contrast, feels like a waterfall, light, fluid, and in constant dialogue with its surroundings. One shelters, the other flows. Both are open to interaction, inviting the environment to shape their spaces.

Moving through the masses.

Often, the most compelling and memorable experiences and spaces are not those that are meticulously outlined on a tourist map or highlighted in travel brochures, but rather the ones you stumble upon unexpectedly as you navigate a city's streets. Milan offered a wonderful example of how old and new architecture can create a wonderful urban experience. Architecture is a reflection of societal values, aspirations, and the collective memory of a community. Each structure, no matter how grand or humble, plays a role in shaping the identity of the city and its inhabitants. Perhaps we should be visitors in our own cities to gain a new perspective?

Glazed interface - Grafton Architect

Glazed interface - SANAA

Words: Kathleen le Roux (Nel)

Images: Riaan le Roux