Certosa District: co-living, training and new businesses on the way

It’s not just offices. Residential, educational, dining and events sectors are all growing. The Milano Certosa District now boasts over 75,000 square metres of redeveloped space and continues to transform the north-western part of the city.

Following *La Forgiatura* – the early 20th-century industrial area now transformed into an integrated 30,000-square-metre campus housing multinational companies such as Medtronic, Zeiss, VF, UCB Pharma, Sandvik, Schüco, Schaeffler and Expressions Parfumées – and the more than 10,000 square metres delivered across the complex at Via Varesina 204 and Via Giovanni da Udine – including La Fabbrica, now known as Department 184, Designtech’s CoFactory and Auto1 – the Milano Certosa District continues to grow, combining workspaces with innovative dining, music, culture and green spaces, with the aim of creating a neighbourhood that comes alive throughout the day.

“We own 100,000 square metres, of which 75,000 have already been redeveloped. Over the next two years, we aim to complete a further 15,000 square metres,” explained Stefano Sirolli, CEO and co-founder of RealStep, “representing a total investment of over 300 million euros, with the aim of retaining our tenants. Adjacent to Koelliker, we have a residential development for sale in the pipeline, which will be carried out over the next two years.”

Among its most recent developments, Rossignol has chosen the Milano Certosa District as the location for its Italian headquarters, which houses offices, a showroom and a workshop. With the completion of the Pennellificio’s regeneration, the building is now fully let and is home, amongst others, to the headquarters of RealStep Sgr, Schaeffler and the Michelin-starred restaurant Abba. Other completed projects include ‘La Fabbrica’, now home to Department 184, Club Dept 184, Nomad, Food Dept 184 and the former Sandvik headquarters, which expands the district’s offering with an exhibition space, a multi-purpose events venue, restaurants and a club. The complex overlooks the new 10,000-square-metre public park, which is due to be completed by the end of the year.

September will also see the launch of the new Certosa District Hub, a centre dedicated to the culture of ‘craftsmanship’ in the fashion sector, born out of a collaboration between Istituto Secoli and Ars Sutoria School. The project, developed in partnership with WAO – We Are Open, comprises 12,000 square metres dedicated to training and co-living, with 187 residential units for students, workers and professionals, as well as 6,000 square metres of public green space featuring a tree-lined square, multi-purpose playgrounds, areas for outdoor sports, shared vegetable gardens and spaces for socialising.
Among the projects currently underway is the redevelopment of the Cattedrale, formerly known as the Koelliker building: its 2,500 square metres will house the Italian headquarters of a major international group, the arrival of which will be announced in the coming months.