BIG reaches final phase of 'citywave', marking milestone for milan’s largest solar roof

BIG reaches construction milestone for CityWave in Milan

During Milan Design Week 2025, BIG–Bjarke Ingels Group tops out CityWave, a 140-meter-long solar canopy in Milan’s CityLife district—set to become one of the world’s largest urban rooftop photovoltaic installations. Spanning two new courtyard office buildings, the sweeping timber and steel structure crowns the final phase of the CityLife masterplan, designed in collaboration with Atelier Verticale. designboom was on-site to attend the historic topping-out ceremony, witnessing the milestone in sustainable architecture.

Clad entirely in solar tiles and shaped as a catenary curve, the canopy quietly commands attention while signaling a new era of climate-conscious architecture at the heart of the ambitious redevelopment of the Italian city. ‘What we have attempted here is to resist the temptation to add yet another tower to the already majestic urban ensemble of CityLife, and rather create a truly inviting urban space as a gateway to this new neighborhood,’ shares Bjarke Ingels. ‘The solar roof of the timber canopy uniting the two buildings provides shade and shelter for the life of the city, and serves as an urban gesture of environmental and social performance.’

Set for completion in 2026, CityWave departs from the expected verticality of a skyline defined by towers by Hadid, Isozaki, and Libeskind. Instead of building up, BIG builds across. Their proposal—winner of an international competition by Generali Real Estate—replaces the idea of twin towers with two mid-rise volumes, united by a dramatic canopy of tensioned steel cables and engineered timber. The 73,000-square-meter project reclaims the ground plane with a pedestrian plaza at its heart and layers of greenery that integrate into the wider CityLife public park. 

all images by Alberto Fanelli, unless stated otherwise

A Solar Canopy Inspired by Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels describes the intervention as a ’21st-century interpretation of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II,’ referencing Milan’s historic love of grand public spaces. Apart from being a nod to heritage, the timber canopy is also a powerhouse of environmental performance. With WiredScore Platinum, WELL Platinum, and LEED Platinum pre-certifications, CityWave is Italy’s first office project to hit all three. Passive cooling, thermal energy storage, and groundwater systems reduce energy use by up to 40% compared to similar buildings, while the solar canopy maximizes onsite energy production, turning architecture into infrastructure.

From its colonnade of slender steel columns to the upcycled stone facades referencing Milanese masonry, every gesture in CityWave is calibrated for openness and continuity. The two buildings—rising to 105 and 53 meters—frame 4,500 square meters of shaded outdoor loggias, stepped terraces, and internal courtyards. Natural ventilation flows through the structure, culminating in a rooftop bar and panoramic terrace with sweeping views toward Monte Rosa. ‘Rather than proposing two towers’ says BIG partner Lorenzo Boddi, ‘we envision two courtyard buildings defined not by their height, but by connection.’ 

the 140-meter-long solar canopy is set to become one of the world’s largest urban rooftop photovoltaic installations

the sweeping timber and steel structure crowns the final phase of the CityLife masterplan | image © designboom

designed in collaboration with Atelier Verticale