Save the Children

New Punto Luce for Save the Children

AOUMM designed the new Punto Luce center for Save the Children in Milan’s Gallaratese neighborhood. It is an inclusive space dedicated to children and teenagers aged 6 to 17.
As the first building constructed from the ground up by Save the Children in Italy, the project transforms a long-abandoned site into a center for learning, creativity, and community engagement. The 3,000 square meter area includes 900 square meters of indoor space with educational labs, digital and music rooms, a teaching kitchen, outdoor play areas, gardens, and a dedicated room for local associations.
The design process was developed through dialogue with schools, families, organizations, and young people from the area. Their ideas and needs directly informed the layout and character of the space, grounding it in the community it serves.
The building features an organic form, a green roof, and a prefabricated timber structure. Natural materials such as larch and okoumé were chosen for their warm tones and their ability to age gracefully. Sustainable strategies include the reuse of existing foundations, integration of solar panels, and permeable surfaces to reduce environmental impact.
Punto Luce Gallaratese is conceived as a welcoming and accessible place. More than a building, it is a shared environment that encourages participation and fosters a sense of belonging.
The new facility is defined by its irregular circular shape and open-plan layout, made possible by glulam timber portals and prefabricated sandwich panels. Prefabrication shortened the construction time to about twelve months.
Built on the original foundations, the structure avoided major excavation and reduced environmental impact. It is conceived as an accessible space centered on youth, with a courtyard and garden extending the interior into the landscape.
Oriented for seasonal shading, the building uses PEFC-certified timber and layered insulation for comfort and energy efficiency. Skylights provide daylight and regulate air quality through automated sensors.
Additional sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, efficient HVAC, a smart lighting system, and rooftop solar panels, all enhancing energy performance and user well-being.
The organic, irregular yet fluid shape defines a compact architecture that opens both visually and physically to its surroundings, fostering a constant dialogue between interior and exterior spaces.
The building’s perimeter is punctuated by large glazed openings that create a visual connection between the indoor spaces dedicated to educational workshops, music, theatre, reading, digital activities, and multipurpose use, and the outdoor areas intended for play and recreational activities.
These outdoor zones are conceived as immediate extensions of the educational environments, allowing educators to maintain direct visual supervision, ensuring safety and active monitoring.

Location
Milano

Commission
Save the Children Italia

Team
Luca Astorri, Chiara Torregrossa, Riccardo Balzarotti, Matteo Poli, Simone Ottaviani, Lara Zentilomo, Zofia Kasinska, Fabio Nicolò, Emily Marie Shiga

Suppliers
Consortium: Theatro-Italia companies; Green Roof: DAKU; Windows: SHÜCO; Glazed Facades: THEMA; Bathroom Tiles: FLORIM; Sanitary Ware and Faucets: DURAVIT; Lighting: IGUZZINI; Roof Windows and Air Quality Sensors: VELUX; PVC Flooring: GERFLOR; Doors: SCRIGNO; Folding Doors: DOOOR; Suspended Ceilings: KNAUF Cleaneo; Construction Systems and Materials: ROTHOBLAAS; Insulation Systems: ROCKWOOL.

Technical consultants
Landscape Design: PN Studio – Francesca Neonato; Health and Safety Coordinator (CSE): Marco Anelli; MEP Systems: Digierre Group; Timber Structures: Giovanni Turolla – Timberwork; Concrete Structures: Andrea Bollinger.

Scientific consultants
Marco Imperadori; Elena Granata; Chiara Geroldi; Francesca Cognetti; Marianna Merisi.

Project data
Building height: 5 m
Building diameter: 40 m
Building depth: from 6 to 13 m
Built area: 911 m²
Total internal area: 620 m²
Landscape area: 2,116 m²
Total site area: 3,027 m²
Use of spaces: Educational 80% – Recreational 20%