The new complex consists of seven factory buildings from the 1910s (warehouses, laboratories and fermentation tanks) and three new buildings - the Museum (spaces for temporary exhibitions), the Cinema (multimedia hall) and the 10-storey Tower (buildings for the exposition of the Prada Foundation's own collection; it will open a little later), as well as a large courtyard. Of the total area of 18,900 m2, 11,000 m2 have been allocated for exhibitions.
Describing his construction, Rem Koolhaas noted that the current “incredible expansion of the artistic system” has not been accompanied by an increase in the number of types of exhibition buildings: there are very few of them. The most popular type, which have served their industrial structures, artists choose as a neutral option "by default", which does not conflict with their works.
Unlike many other similar examples, the Prada plant in the Largo Isarco district of Milan exhibits a very large “repertoire” of forms and types of space, often contrasting - narrow and wide, light and dark, open and closed. According to Koolhaas, such a variety of architecture will challenge art and contribute to the creation of original projects.
In addition, the architect turned to the topic of heritage conservation, which is still of interest to him. He considers his project to be neither a "conservation", and not a new building, but something in between. The constant interaction of these two "states" will not allow parts of the structure to merge into a single image, or one of its components - to gain supremacy over the rest.
On the whole, the complex - despite its "luxurious" customer - has a rather modest solution. Only one of the buildings, covered with gilding, attracts attention from afar (Koolhaas states that such a facade solution is more affordable than marble or even paint). In addition, aluminum-based foam was used for the facades and interiors.
In addition to the development of the architectural project, OMA also acted as the authors of the design of the first exhibition in the Milan complex. Serial Classics (curated by Salvatore Settis) explores the controversial relationship between authenticity and imitation in ancient Rome through the many Roman copies of Greek sculpture that can be seen as a tribute to Greek culture.
The Prada Foundation's entrance has a restaurant designed by filmmaker Wes Anderson and a children's area designed by students from the School of Architecture in Versailles.
