Lybra

Located between the Porta Nuova business district and the Isola neighborhood, Lybra is the latest headquarters designed by Park in Milan. Conceived to accommodate contemporary workspaces, the building will host the new headquarters of SAP Italy, contributing to the integration of an international presence within the fabric of the city. Rooted in the concept of balance, which gives the project its name, Lybra is composed of two distinct yet harmoniously proportioned volumes that reflect the city’s dual identity. The lower, recessed building aligns discreetly with the residential scale of Isola, while the taller volume opens toward the BAM, Biblioteca degli Alberi, establishing a visual and spatial relationship with Porta Nuova’s vertical skyline. Between the two, the Green Void serves as an architectural hinge, both spatial and symbolic. Rather than asserting itself through mass, Lybra introduces a sense of urban porosity. A new public plaza is carved out at the corner of the site, restoring access to an area that was previously closed off. The Green Void, a glazed vertical cavity filled with natural zenithal light and tropical vegetation, functions as a bioclimatic greenhouse and forms the vibrant core of the project. A monumental wooden staircase winds through this space, connecting the floors and encouraging vertical movement, while shaping a continuous and immersive spatial experience. Conceived with a strong biophilic approach, the Green Void enhances wellbeing through natural light, visual permeability, and the use of tactile materials such as sand-effect plaster enriched with cork aggregates, which also contribute to acoustic comfort. The building envelope draws inspiration from historic greenhouses. Its design features a rhythmic interplay of vertical and horizontal elements and a thoughtful balance between transparency and opacity. More than two thirds of the façade is glazed and incorporates advanced energy-harvesting systems. Photovoltaic modules are embedded within silk-screened glass panels, generating clean energy while preserving a refined urban presence. This solution results from extensive design research, integrating aesthetic quality with environmental performance. Sustainability is an integral part of the project. The energy-generating façade, together with passive solar shading and natural ventilation systems, works seamlessly with the building’s architectural language. The result is a workplace that not only meets functional needs but also becomes a platform for interaction, movement, and regeneration. Through the relationship it creates between solids and voids, transparency and materiality, nature and city, Lybra contributes a renewed sense of balance to Milan’s contemporary architectural landscape.