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In the Amazon world
06 November, Corriere della Sera
It’s like the first day at school. 400 Amazon Italia employees will enter this morning their new office in Milan. They’re moving from the old place in Via Ferrante Aporti, that was good but too small, to these new spaces designed with them in mind.
The virtual tour at 360 degrees of the rendering of the project has spoilt the surprise a little. Today they will unpack, and they’ll find themselves among plants, green, and a lot of light. Desks are adjustable to work also standing. There are internal parking lots for cars and shelters for bikes (a precious asset in Milan) and bathrooms feature also showers. Over 17,500 Sq m spread on two blocks in the centre of Milan, in Bastioni Porta Nuova, just behind Eataly. An emerging area already pretty upscale for the biggest internet company in the world.
Boxes opened and the smell of new. The philosophy of the Ceo Jeff Benzos is to live every day as day one, and today actually is the first day. “In the common spaces on the first floor there are graffiti with lots of colour spatters, we wanted to bring the art of the city inside these walls”, tells Bernabe Rodriguez, the Madrid-born architect that designed the interiors. In the corridor that leads to the catering area, there is a piece from the 1920s found by chance inside the building, that was formerly the Maire Tecnimont headquarters.
The renovation works lasted (only) eight months. There is no cafeteria, on the first-floor people eat in an area resembling an airport lounge, with colourful sofas and pictures, a lot of wood ads steel as the latest industrial design fashion dictates. On each floor, there are self-catering areas with not only the usual coffee machine but also a small kitchen for brought-from-home lunches, tables with high stools and even a table football.
The office is designed for the growth since there is space for over one thousand people. Rodriguez doesn’t hide the ecological vocation of the project. Above all, on a New York-style rooftop with a 360-degree view over the city, there are 200 Sq m of photovoltaic panels to help with saving energy. Plus, a terrace that will be available for the employees once finished the flooring, also suitable for the future Amazon social events.
Bu the main highlight of the building is the view over Milan from every corner of the office, thanks to the glass façade, included meeting rooms and private areas where to take a break from the open space. Everything overlooking the city: skyscrapers, Velasca tower and, obviously, Duomo. Everything seems so close. To the point that the lights inside the building are shadowed by the power of such natural light.
Source: Corriere della Sera
Translator: Cristina Ambrosi