The recently inaugurated rooftop terrace of the Torre at Fondazione Prada, Milan, has unveiled a bold vision of outdoor furniture, blending advanced materials with sculptural form. The LS24‑Lounge System, exclusively designed by architect Federico Pompignoli, founder of PMP Architecture, represents a fusion of aesthetic ambition and cutting-edge innovation, brought to life through the execution expertise of Maila's.
© PMP Architecture
This project marks the final architectural chapter of Fondazione Prada's Milan headquarters, originally opened in 2015. The LS24 installation introduces 'an unprecedented technological language to outdoor furniture', through the integration of carbon fibre, chrome finishes, and pigmented translucent silicone cushions that allow integrated LED lighting to glow from within.
'The impossibility of defining a specific functional program was instead translated into the possibility of generating an element that can be freely positioned within a space, creating various possible configurations when used in multiples, or remaining as a standalone object when used singly,' explained Pompignoli.
The seating system addresses dual challenges of modern architecture: form and speed of production. Developed by Maila's, specialists in composite materials and structural innovation, the LS24 system is crafted using recycled PET core and multi-axial carbon fibre skins, shaped through CNC milling and finished in a mirror-chrome effect. The result is a lightweight yet stable seat, able to withstand the demands of public use while remaining easily reconfigurable.
The rooftop installation features flowing silhouettes and three striking purple discs that function as footrests. These elements rest against the black-and-white optical floor and mirrored stainless-steel parapet, creating layered visual effects and amplifying spatial perception through reflection.
The terrace, now offering 360° views of Milan, is conceived as a flexible platform for cultural events or as an autonomous outdoor club space, complete with a bar and DJ booth.
Pompignoli's LS24 offers both concave lounges and perimeter stools, all derived from a singular architectural form, described aptly as a "system".
This milestone continues Pompignoli's legacy of turning visionary design into built environments, following a decade with OMA/Rem Koolhaas and notable recent works like the renovation of Moscow's Tretyakov Gallery.
Credits:
Client: Prada spa
Design: PMP Architecture – Federico Pompignoli
Production: Maila's Innovation Technology Consulting
Cushions: Technogel GmbH
Location: Fondazione Prada, Milan
More information:
PMP Architecture
[email protected]
www.pmparchitecture.com
