Perched among Milan’s rooftops, the newly inaugurated Rooftop Terrace of the Fondazione Prada Tower is a triumph of visionary design and cutting-edge technology. At its heart lies the LS24-Lounge System, an exclusive outdoor furniture collection designed by architect Federico Pompignoli, founder of PMP Architecture, and brought to life through the expertise of Maila’s Innovation Technology Consulting. Chromed, luminous, robust, and sustainable, these pieces embody a bold new language for outdoor design, transforming the terrace into a space where art, innovation, and technology converge to create an unforgettable experience.
The Tower, completed in 2018 under the direction of Rem Koolhaas, Chris van Duijn, and Federico Pompignoli of OMA, marks the culmination of Fondazione Prada’s Milan headquarters, inaugurated in 2015. Rising sixty metres in exposed white concrete, the nine-storey structure is designed to offer diverse exhibition conditions, celebrating spatial variety. Its rooftop terrace, located on the seventh floor, stands out for its versatility: a flexible space that hosts museum-related events while doubling as an exclusive open-air club, complete with a bar and DJ booth. With a 360-degree view of Milan, the terrace’s black-and-white optical flooring by Lea Ceramiche and mirrored stainless steel parapet dissolve spatial boundaries, amplifying the visual experience and opening the gaze to the city’s horizon.
In this setting, the LS24-Lounge System takes centre stage. Crafted to meet the challenge of providing versatile seating for a range of events, LS24 is a celebration of form and function. “The inability to define a specific functional programme led us to create an element that can be freely positioned, generating varied configurations when used in multiples or standing alone as a distinct object,” explains Pompignoli. The result is a system that offers two seating experiences within a single design: an informal, stool-like perch on the outer perimeter and a concave, enveloping lounge within. The curved form, intersected by a disc at varying heights, is crafted from innovative materials: a recycled PET core and multi-axial carbon fibre skins, shaped through VPS technology and CNC milling for impeccable precision.
Maila’s, a leader in technological innovation for architecture and industry, transformed Pompignoli’s vision into a masterfully executed product. The use of carbon fibre and chromed finishes ensures a balance of lightness and durability, allowing easy repositioning while maintaining stability in the dynamic terrace environment. Cushions in translucent, pigmented silicone, produced by Technogel, are backlit with LEDs, casting a luminous glow that enhances the design’s allure. Three large purple discs, designed as footrests, complement the fluid lines of the seating and the reflective surfaces that amplify the space.
Sustainability and innovation are at the core of the project: recycled PET and long-fibre composites reflect Maila’s commitment to eco-friendly solutions without compromising aesthetics or functionality. The result is a furniture system that not only meets the practical demands of a multifunctional space but redefines outdoor design, turning the Fondazione Prada terrace into a stage for creativity and craftsmanship.
