ORTUS, Via Leopoldo Cicognara, Milan (2026)

24/02/2026

What began years ago as a line drawn in the landscape is now taking shape as a new public kindergarten in the northern Italian plain near Bologna.

The project is based on a simple principle: parallel walls placed in the landscape. These built lines define classrooms between interior and open fields, working with the flat horizon of the Po Valley and its agricultural grid.

Specificity and abstraction operate together. The walls respond to this precise territory while establishing a clear spatial system: an elementary public structure, adaptable and robust, open to future transformations beyond its current use as a kindergarten.

The construction process, documented by - , captures the gradual emergence of these built lines within the winter fog of the plain.
Architecture : -
Engineering : Valeria Alberti
MEP : Bernagozzi Ingegneria

08/01/2026

After a very long journey, the construction of the new kindergarten in the small town of Molinella is underway.
Designed to host up to 160 children, the project is conceived as a simple and adaptable structure allowing for a multiplicity of future public uses.
Parallel walls define open and flexible classrooms in close relationship with nature and the surrounding landscape, offering protected yet imaginative space for the children.

06/11/2025

Over the summer we completed a small yet special project in Milan together with our friends and former students Tommaso Aliverti and Tommaso Sossi .
This light metal structure hosts the Ciclofficina by , a Milan-based association of young volunteers helping homeless people reintegrate into society by repairing and reusing broken bicycles collected across the city.
Conceived as an open and flexible space, the structure is clad in semi-transparent polycarbonate panels that turn it into a glowing lantern over the area.
Soon to be beautifully captured by our friend !

21/10/2025

First exciting site visit for a new project with SenonerTammerle Architekten, developed by ORTUS in collaboration with .aaa .
Set within the extraordinary context of the Dolomites, we’re thrilled to see the first structural elements taking shape in dialogue with the spectacular rocky landscape surrouding the site.
This visit marks the beginning of a special construction process we are looking forward to follow closely in the coming months as part of a wider series of ongoing sites across Italy.

06/08/2025

010 - ENFILADE HOUSE

In the Colonna-Gnudi Palace, in the heart of Bologna, ORTUS project for a young couple of actors, seeks harmony between the original hidden layers and the intrusive additions of the past century.
Materials played a crucial role in creating an atmosphere of calm and coziness, while establishing a subtle dialogue between the existing elements and the newly introduced ones.
We used only local materials, from handmade Bolognese tiles to bespoke plasters mixed with the reddish sand unique to this city.
The floor was carefully designed to restore the missing sections of the original terrazzo, using a mix of concrete and locally quarried stones chosen to match the colors of the Renaissance era flooring that once adorned the hall.
A beautiful journey with and 💛 we’ll keep sharing in the coming days !
TEAM
Architecture :
Engineering : Teleios
Custom made floors : .in.cemento.naturale
General Contractor : Nisma
Photography :

22/07/2025

010 - ENFILADE HOUSE

In the Colonna-Gnudi Palace, in the heart of Bologna, ORTUS project for a young couple of actors, seeks harmony between the original hidden layers and the intrusive additions of the past century.
Following our project approach, we designed new bathrooms by extending the existing spaces and cladding both old and new walls with waterproof plaster mixed with local sand, seamlessly blending the existing and new into one continuous, generous environment.
A special interior window allows natural light to illuminate an oversized shower that we aimed to fill with light and potentially connect to the rest of the house. In contrast, the second bathroom is clad in local burnt ceramic tiles in a dark red, almost black tone. We love the idea of offering this home two contrasting bathing experiences, united by the same handcrafted attention to detail and material experience.
A beautiful journey with and 💛 we’ll keep sharing in the coming days !
TEAM
Architecture :
Engineering : Teleios
Custom made floors : .in.cemento.naturale
General Contractor : Nisma
Photography :

15/07/2025

010 - ENFILADE HOUSE

In the Colonna-Gnudi Palace, in the heart of Bologna, ORTUS project for a young couple of actors, testiera harmony between the original hidden layers and the intrusive additions of the past century.
The project reintroduces spatial coherence through selective demolitions and precise restoration, removing non-original partitions to recover the enfilade, visually reconnecting the street façade with the internal garden, as in the tradition of grand Italian palaces.
Among the many unveiling operations: a 17th-century original wooden ceiling brought back to light above the kitchen, now paired with a poured-on-site concrete countertop.

A beautiful journey with and 💛 we’ll keep sharing in the coming days !
TEAM
Architecture :
Engineering : Teleios
Custom made floors : .in.cemento.naturale
General Contractor : Nisma
Photography :

14/05/2025

Our proposal for the MNAC museum concludes with a focus on spatial continuity and the role of free space as a peculiar feature of our work. At ground level, the new building connects seamlessly with the existing sculpture garden, preserving its calm presence and extending its public character into the interior. This connection allows for an open and accessible threshold, where uses can shift and evolve over time. Above, a large rooftop terrace introduces a second free space—open to the city, flexible in its program, and offering new opportunities for public engagement. Both elements reflect an approach grounded in adaptability, where architecture creates conditions rather than fixed outcomes.
TEAM

Architecturetoccolini

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Structural Engineering
Pedro Nave, Eng.

Museology
Teresa Nunes da Ponte, Arch.

HVAC
João Madeira da Silva, Eng.

Water & Sewage
Odete Charneca, Eng.

Electrical Systems
GLU – Luís Ribeiro, Eng.

Thermal Systems
Luís Trindade, Eng.

Imagesch

Fire Safety (SCIE)
Bruno Lopes, Arch.

22/04/2025

The proposal for the new MNAC, developed in co-authorship with architects Andrea Toccolini and Lourenço Andrade, explores the façade as both architectural surface and spatial infrastructure. A translucent wall, composed of alternating ceramic and glass modules, reinterprets local traditions to form a porous envelope, simultaneously solid and open. This skin filters the intense Portuguese sun, offering shade and thermal protection while allowing light to permeate the interior. Behind it, a continuous circulation system unfolds, integrating stairs and elevators across all levels. By concentrating infrastructure within this inhabited wall, the project liberates the gallery spaces, ensuring flexibility, clarity, and spatial coherence throughout the museum.
TEAM

Architecturetoccolini

/

Structural Engineering
Pedro Nave, Eng.

Museology
Teresa Nunes da Ponte, Arch.

HVAC
João Madeira da Silva, Eng.

Water & Sewage
Odete Charneca, Eng.

Electrical Systems
GLU – Luís Ribeiro, Eng.

Thermal Systems
Luís Trindade, Eng.

Imagesch

Fire Safety (SCIE)
Bruno Lopes, Arch.

14/04/2025

The proposal for the new MNAC in Lisbon, developed in co-authorship with architects Andrea Toccolini and Lourenço Andrade, addresses a complex urban condition through a precise volumetric gesture: a habitable wall that extends the existing sculpture garden façade to host circulation and infrastructure. This thin, infrastructural element connects the Capelo and Wilmotte buildings, resolving differences in level and enabling a continuous, unified system. The wall is conceived as an architectural space, porous and light-filled, integrating stairs, elevator, and direct access to all levels of the new extension. This strategy not only consolidates internal movement but activates the urban fabric, stitching together the existing buildings and opening new spatial and curatorial possibilities.
TEAM

Architecturetoccolini

/

Structural Engineering
Pedro Nave, Eng.

Museology
Teresa Nunes da Ponte, Arch.

HVAC
João Madeira da Silva, Eng.

Water & Sewage
Odete Charneca, Eng.

Electrical Systems
GLU – Luís Ribeiro, Eng.

Thermal Systems
Luís Trindade, Eng.

Imagesch

Fire Safety (SCIE)
Bruno Lopes, Arch.

17/03/2025

The ERS Bertalia – Lazzaretto competition proposal is based on an idea of contemporary living that prioritizes adaptability, sustainability, and social integration. The architectural design offers flexible housing solutions, where apartments are conceived as modular spaces capable of evolving over time to meet the changing needs of residents. This approach allows for a high degree of reconfiguration, ensuring long-term functionality and resilience.

The urban layout is designed to encourage interaction and accessibility. A network of public squares, green courtyards, and pedestrian-friendly pathways creates a continuous and well-connected system of open spaces. The project places a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability, incorporating NZEB standards, and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to optimize energy efficiency, water management, and urban biodiversity.

One of the key aspects of the proposal is the reduction of car dependency. The area prioritizes pedestrian and cycling mobility, integrating green corridors and shared spaces that enhance urban livability. At street level, a range of communal spaces—such as study rooms, multipurpose halls, and recreational areas—supports everyday life and strengthens the sense of community among residents.

Through this proposal, ORTUS aims to create an urban environment where architecture and public space are designed to be adaptable, accessible, and in dialogue with their surroundings.
TEAM

- -

Images :

21/01/2025

Our proposal together with for the Public Market in Olivais, Lisbon, is designed as an open and permeable space that integrates
seamlessly into its residential surroundings. Its L-shaped structure connects with existing buildings,
public plazas, and Vale do Silêncio Park, fostering interaction even when closed. Sustainability is
central to the design, with natural ventilation, strategic lighting, and photovoltaic panels reducing
energy use. A distinctive roof enhances airflow, keeping the interior cool. Commercial spaces have
dual entrances, activating both the market and surrounding streets.More than a marketplace, it
serves as a cultural and social hub, with a central courtyard for events and a café linking key public
spaces. The project explores the use of traditional azulejos in a contemporary design in order to make
it a recognizable landmark and a deeply specific intervention, reinforcing the area’s identity while
enhancing urban life. We believe that the pattern of the ceramic design can reflect a significant
moment in the neighborhood’s history, as the market has always been the urban and social core of
the Olivais community. It predates the construction of the adjacent housing blocks A and B and
continues to foster strong community engagement.
TEAM

ORTUS

24/02/2026

08/01/2026

06/11/2025

21/10/2025

06/08/2025

22/07/2025

15/07/2025

14/05/2025

22/04/2025

14/04/2025

17/03/2025

21/01/2025

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