Indietro

Nel Complesso Horti di Milano, la nuova sede della Fondazione Elpis, fondata nel 2020 da Miriam Nissim, nasce dal recupero di una ex lavanderia industriale dismessa dagli anni ’80.

Il progetto, firmato dall’architetto Giovanna Latis, adotta un approccio conservativo volto a preservare l’identità industriale dell’edificio, mantenendo elementi come i soffitti in laterizio a vista e reinterpretando gli spazi per accogliere mostre, installazioni e attività culturali su tre livelli per una superficie di circa 800 mq.

Per garantire continuità visiva e prestazioni adeguate a un contesto ad alta frequentazione, è stato scelto Microverlay® Isoplam nella versione Micro Flat, una superficie cementizia continua a basso spessore caratterizzata da una texture materica con leggere variazioni cromatiche.

La finitura nel colore tortora opaco accompagna i visitatori lungo gli spazi espositivi, creando un fondo neutro ma identitario, capace di dialogare con le opere e con il carattere industriale dell’architettura.

Elemento distintivo del progetto è la scala interna, concepita come fulcro architettonico e collegamento tra i livelli. Rivestita anch’essa in Microverlay, è stata realizzata con gradini in legno preformati e successivamente rivestiti con uno spessore di soli 3 mm, garantendo continuità estetica senza appesantire la struttura.

Per ottimizzare le tempistiche di cantiere e ridurre le lavorazioni in opera, i gradini della scala sono stati realizzati su supporto ligneo e inviati presso i laboratori Isoplam, dove sono stati rivestiti con Microverlay in condizioni controllate. Successivamente, gli elementi finiti sono stati riconsegnati e installati in sito, garantendo un risultato uniforme e di alta qualità, oltre a una significativa semplificazione delle fasi di montaggio.

Superficie: circa 800 mq

Luogo e anno: Milano (Complesso Horti), 2022

Colore: Taupe

Finitura: opaca

Progetto: Arch. Giovanna Latis

Foto: Adriano Pecchio

Dettaglio superficie pavimento Microverlay effetto cemento per spazi museali
Scala interna rivestita in microcemento Microverlay con finitura continua e uniforme
Vista interna Fondazione Elpis con pavimento in cemento decorativo e opere d’arte contemporanea
Ambiente galleria d’arte con pavimento continuo in Microverlay colore tortora opaco
Dettaglio superficie pavimento Microverlay effetto cemento per spazi museali
Scala interna rivestita in microcemento Microverlay con finitura continua e uniforme
Sala espositiva con pavimento continuo senza fughe in cemento resina Microverlay
nterni industriali con pavimento in microcemento Microverlay e soffitto in laterizio a vista
Fondazione Elpis – Exhibition spaces for contemporary art in Milan Redevelopment of a former industrial laundry into an exhibition center The intervention carried out for the Fondazione Elpis concerns the redevelopment of the internal flooring of an exhibition center in the heart of Milan, created inside a former industrial laundry that was active until the mid-1980s. The complex, arranged over three levels, underwent a complete renovation that involved stripping out the interiors and fully rebuilding the screeds, transforming a former production facility into a space dedicated to artistic research and the exhibition of works by artists from all over the world. Within this context, the architectural project required a continuous surface, neutral yet strongly characterizing, capable of supporting intensive use and dialoguing with the building’s industrial identity, preserved through exposed brick ceilings. Isoplam’s involvement and the choice of Microverlay The request for intervention on the flooring was brought to Isoplam by architect Giovanna Latis, appointed to oversee the redevelopment, who involved the company to identify a technical solution suitable for a high-traffic exhibition context, with significant loads resulting from the handling of artworks. Isoplam was engaged at a preliminary stage of the construction process, collaborating in the definition of materials and finishes through the on-site presentation of samples. On the company’s recommendation, Microverlay was selected: a continuous, joint-free and grout-free coating with a thickness of just 2 mm, chosen by the architect in its smoothest variant from among several chromatic and material options. Aesthetics, logistics, and application: a solution designed for high-intensity use spaces The adopted solution addresses multiple levels of complexity. Overall, Microverlay made it possible to achieve a homogeneous, contemporary cement effect, compatible with the industrial atmosphere of the space and with museum requirements. More specifically, the deliberately fluid and dynamic texture – described by the architect as reminiscent of a “bowling ball” – creates a calibrated contrast with the roughness of the brick ceilings, without being intrusive with respect to the exhibited artworks. The material is supplied in powder and liquid polymer form, transportable in lightweight containers, a decisive characteristic for a construction site in a central urban area where vehicle access is highly restricted. Applied by trowel in three successive coats, Microverlay was then sanded and polished using fine-grit abrasives to achieve a perfectly continuous surface; edges and corners were finished manually, while the joints present in the underlying screed were correctly brought to the surface and sealed. Custom details and long-term performance The work was carried out in close collaboration between Isoplam and the project team, with continuous dialogue regarding finishes and application solutions. A specific contribution also concerned the internal staircase: the treads, made of wood according to the architect’s design, were sent to the Isoplam laboratory, where they were coated with the same Microverlay after the application of a suitable bonding primer for wooden substrates, and subsequently protected with a transparent matte treatment. The finished treads were then reinstalled on site by the client. The intervention proved particularly effective in terms of strength and durability: the continuous surface withstands the passage of carts and pallet trucks used for exhibition setup, maintaining stability and aesthetic quality over time. The result is a lightweight, high-performance, and highly controlled flooring system, the outcome of specialized artisanal construction rather than a simple product supply. The positive experience has led to further collaborations with other architectural firms and new projects within the Milanese context, confirming Microverlay as a technical and design solution for complex exhibition spaces with critical logistical constraints. Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Terrazzoverlay, micro-terrazzo floor. Elpis Foundation, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Terrazzoverlay, micro-terrazzo floor. Elpis Foundation, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Terrazzoverlay, micro-terrazzo floor. Elpis Foundation, Milan. Project: Giovanna Latis Microverlay®, low thickness concrete resin floor with taupe finish. Fondazione Elpis, Milan. 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