ROLEX
ROLEX
Service Center
The Rolex Service Center building in Milan is an example of modern, functional architecture designed to meet the needs of a leading luxury watch company. Located in one of the most prestigious areas of the city, the building stands out for its elegance and its ability to integrate harmoniously with its surroundings.
The building's architecture is characterized by clean, minimalist lines, giving it a sense of modernity and sophistication. The structure is composed of high-quality materials, such as glass, steel, and stone, which lend solidity and elegance to the building. Large windows allow plenty of natural light, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere within the spaces.
The Rolex Service Center was designed with the functional needs of the company in mind, offering spacious and flexible spaces that foster collaboration and productivity among employees. The building is equipped with modern technology and services, ensuring a state-of-the-art and comfortable work environment. The common areas were designed with special attention to create a welcoming and prestigious environment, in line with the image of luxury and quality associated with the Rolex brand.
The intervention introduced a central entrance atrium, marked by a distinctive split in the facade and roof, which elegantly divides the building into two main bodies. This atrium, with its imposing presence, serves not only as a visual focal point but also as a vital connector, uniting the different elements of the building into one harmonious architectural composition.
The basement houses logistics facilities, while the upper floors are dedicated to offices, laboratories and event spaces. Service center workspaces find space on the first two levels, while the top floor, featuring wood-paneled sunshade elements, houses a canteen and meeting room, providing comfort and functionality. An interesting feature of the building is the presence of a training school in the inner courtyard, demonstrating Rolex's commitment to education and skills development.
The structure itself is an engineering masterpiece, designed to maximize space and flexibility. The presence of load-bearing columns between the double-skin glass facades allows for pillarless floors, facilitating reconfiguration of work spaces as needed.
The double-skin façade consists of two layers of envelope, one interior and one exterior, which create a cavity that can act as a thermal and acoustic buffer. This type of facade offers many advantages, including improved thermal insulation, reduced need for artificial air conditioning, and improved acoustic protection.
In the case of the Rolex Service Center, the exterior façade has motorized slats that can be adjusted automatically or manually to control the amount of sunlight and heat entering the building. The slats are sensitive to outdoor environmental conditions, such as sunlight intensity and wind direction, and adjust accordingly to optimize indoor comfort and energy efficiency.
These motorized louvers are an example of an "active" facade, as they not only passively protect the building from the elements, but are also able to react and adapt to them. This responsiveness results in a shading dynamic that can significantly reduce the heating and cooling load on the building, contributing to lower energy consumption and reduced environmental impact.
The motorized slat system is usually integrated with a building management system (BMS), which centralizes the control of the building's various installations and technologies. The BMS can monitor various parameters, such as indoor temperature, CO2 levels, humidity and outdoor weather conditions, to automatically adjust the louvers and maintain an optimal indoor environment.
In addition, flat roofs treated to roof gardens add a green and sustainable touch to the project, making the Rolex Service Center not only an architectural icon but also an example of harmony between the built and natural environment.
CUSTOMER
Rolex Italy spa
LOCALITY.
Milan
Italy
DESCRIPTION
Double skin façade
Sunshades
sq. m. 4,002
DESIGNER
Studio Arch. Albini
YEAR
2018