Technical Portal for Sustainable Architecture
Building Envelope Engineering and Ventilated Facades in Milan and Lombardy
The design and construction of ventilated facades in Milan and the Lombardy region are part of an architectural landscape strongly focused on sustainable innovation, energy efficiency, and urban regeneration.
To meet the high standards required by the Milanese market, VM Group leverages thirty years of experience in building envelope engineering, offering turnkey solutions capable of enhancing office complexes, high-efficiency residential buildings, and cultural spaces.
Energy sustainability, acoustics and LEED / BREEAM protocols
Operating in Milan, one of the capitals of contemporary European architecture, requires meeting stringent technical requirements related to both the climate conditions of the Po Valley and local regulations.
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Thermal insulation and emissions reduction: Milan's significant seasonal temperature variations require building envelopes capable of reducing winter heat loss and eliminating summer heat loads. VM Group ventilated façade systems optimize the performance of the insulating layers, making a significant contribution to achieving Energy Class A and meeting the requirements of international certification protocols such as LEED and BREEAM.
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Acoustic insulation in dense urban contexts: In a densely populated metropolitan area like Milan, internal acoustic comfort is a fundamental requirement for healthy environments. The air cavity of the ventilated façade, combined with proper joint roughing and the mass of the external cladding, creates a true "soundproof shield" that drastically reduces noise pollution from traffic and urban activities.
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Mechanical resistance and dynamic actions at height: For the vertical developments typical of new Milanese architecture, VM Group's technical office performs advanced modeling to calculate the dynamic action of wind loads (pressure and suction), optimizing the distance between the uprights and ensuring maximum structural stability of the system.
Landmark Projects and Major Works in Northern Italy
The executive rigor and organizational capacity of VM Group (an ESCo company certified UNI CEI 11352 and ISO 9001) are confirmed by interventions on structures of great cultural and architectural prestige in Northern Italy.
Teatro degli Arcimboldi (Milan) – Gregotti's Design Icon
2,000 square meters of Black Zimbabwe: When Technique Becomes Art
For the Teatro degli Arcimboldi in Milan, VM Group created a monumental cladding project: over 2,000 square meters of ventilated façade in Black Zimbabwe Granite. In this internationally prestigious project, designed by architect Vittorio Gregotti, our challenge was to translate the geometric rigor of the design into a flawless construction.
We used a point-based anchoring system with a concealed hook, an engineering solution that supports the heavy granite slabs while ensuring a completely pure exterior surface, free of visible fasteners.
This project is not just a shell, but a symbol of technical precision: the depth of the stone's absolute blackness meets the mastery of VM Group, ensuring eternal durability and an aesthetic that has redefined Milan's architectural landscape.
Travertine Ventilated Facade in Rho (Milan): Material Elegance and Mechanical Engineering
Natural travertine cladding for a hospitality facility in Rho (MI), engineered with a Kerf-type concealed mechanical fastening system.
A perfect combination of the historic nature of natural stone and the modernity of dry-laminate technology.
For this important hospitality facility located in Rho, just outside Milan, VM Group oversaw the engineering and construction of the ventilated façade, transforming the building's aesthetics and efficiency.
The choice of finish fell on travertine slabs, a noble and timeless material that gives the hotel a luminous, prestigious, and institutional image, perfectly integrated into Milan's urban context.
The Technical Heart of the Project: Kerf Fixing
From an engineering perspective, the real challenge was to ensure a visually continuous, clean surface free of visible anchoring elements, without compromising static safety and wind resistance.
The project was constructed using the Kerf mechanical fixing system. This technique involves making a continuous or localized incision (milling) along the thickness (rib) of the travertine slab. Stainless steel anchoring brackets are inserted into this invisible slot and connected to the aluminum substructure.
The advantages of this construction:
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Minimal and Exclusive Aesthetic: The fastening disappears completely behind the slab, allowing the natural veining of the travertine to take center stage.
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Safety and Durability: The system's mechanics evenly distribute loads (self-weight and wind pressure) across the substructure, absorbing the thermal expansion typical of Milan's climate.
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Energy Efficiency: By taking full advantage of the chimney effect in the cavity, the building benefits from a drastic reduction in summer heat, reducing the hotel's cooling costs.
A project that demonstrates how VM Group's thirty years of experience can transform a stone cladding into an advanced, safe, and expertly designed construction system.
Servizio di Ingegneria e Consulenza per i Progettisti Milanesi
VM Group affianca gli studi di architettura, i progettisti e i general contractor della Lombardia fin dalle prime fasi di concept, trasformando le idee architettoniche in particolari costruttivi esecutivi stabili e performanti:
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Computazione e dimensionamento preliminare dei sistemi di ancoraggio.
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Studio e risoluzione dei ponti termici e dei dettagli di facciata (imbotti, nodi d'angolo, attacchi a terra).
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Consulenza sulla scelta dei materiali di finitura (grandi lastre in gres porcellanato, materiali compositi, finiture naturali).
Devi progettare una facciata ventilata a Milano o in Lombardia? Richiedi un confronto tecnico o una consulenza preliminare con i nostri ingegneri.
