Piuarch is an architecture and urban planning studio established in Milan in 1996 by Francesco Fresa, Germán Fuenmayor, Gino Garbellini, and Monica Tricario. Over nearly three decades, the studio has grown into a team of around fifty architects and engineers from diverse backgrounds. The office is located in the Brera district, near Via Palermo.
The firm’s origins lie in a collective approach, merging experiences from South American, Oriental, and Italian traditions. Piuarch’s early projects included social housing in Sesto San Giovanni and extensive work for luxury brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, resulting in more than forty boutiques worldwide and Milan headquarters. Over time, new associates joined the leadership, bringing additional perspectives to its multidisciplinary practice.
Piuarch is known for large-scale urban projects and contextual sensitivity in design. Notable works include the Porta Nuova building in Milan, which sought harmony between historical and contemporary cityscapes, the Congress Centre in Riva del Garda, and the recent Fendi Factory in Bagno a Ripoli, designed with a green roof to restore a reclaimed quarry landscape. The studio is involved in urban renewal, office buildings, residential complexes, retail spaces, and masterplans.
Internationally, Piuarch has contributed to projects in Russia, China, and Algeria. The studio integrates sustainability and comfort into its buildings, exemplified by its rooftop vegetable garden in Milan, which serves as both an urban farming experiment and educational space for local communities. Their work has earned recognition, including the Italian Architect of the Year award and multiple prizes at the Milan Triennale.