explores the design challenges and opportunities of sustainable and socially integrated workspaces As companies like Amazon announce a full return to the office with CEO Andy Jassy stating in a detailed letter that early 2025 will mark the return of all employees on-site five days a week shares insights on creating collaborative and environmentally conscious work environments These spaces are designed to adapt to evolving needs and promote community connections Monica Tricario: Addressing a large-scale return to the office presents a complex yet stimulating challenge for office space design offers tangible social and relational benefits and helps build more cohesive work communities we cannot overlook the environmental impact of this change The challenge will be to design work environments that are not only efficient and comfortable but also encourage sustainable transportation options We must rethink spaces to accommodate a new normal balancing the need for in-person collaboration with a reduced ecological footprint The design has focused on harmonious integration with the external environment benefiting not only the workers within the building but also strengthening its connection to the surrounding community Public areas and pedestrian pathways around the complex have been designed to encourage the flow between the inside and the outside inviting the community to feel part of this innovative ecosystem Another significant example of our design philosophy is the urban regeneration project in the Bicocca district we took an existing building and radically transformed it to open up to the local context This is not just an aesthetic improvement; it is an intervention that fosters continuous dialogue between those working inside the building and the neighborhood itself We have created accessible common spaces that invite both employees and local residents to interact breaking the monotony of old closed buildings and transforming them into hubs of activity has been transformed into a green garden that invites people to gather and participate in events or simply enjoy a moment of relaxation The facades have been opened up and made more transparent facilitating visual interaction and contact between the inside and outside This approach has turned the workplace into a vital center for work life and the social life of the neighborhood integrating work activities with community activities and creating a vital circuit of interaction and exchange that enriches all who participate we employ solutions that maximize energy efficiency such as advanced technologies for internal climate control These measures enhance efficiency and support long-term sustainability The choice of materials plays a crucial role in reducing environmental impact Innovative materials help in thermal and acoustic insulation improving comfort without sacrificing efficiency choosing less invasive methods for the environment we see the regeneration of existing buildings as an opportunity to reduce the use of new resources and lower the impact of demolition and reconstruction This approach ensures that our projects are sustainable and adaptable to future needs The largest diffusion magazine in the luxury & design world Privacy Policy(function (w,d) {var loader = function () {var s = d.createElement("script") tag = d.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.src="https://cdn.iubenda.com/iubenda.js"; tag.parentNode.insertBefore(s,tag);}; if(w.addEventListener){w.addEventListener("load" false);}else if(w.attachEvent){w.attachEvent("onload" loader);}else{w.onload = loader;}})(window Duomo di Milano A beautiful Saint Michael symbolically retraces the “Marble Road” to Castelletto Sopra Ticino (NO) the material from which the entire Cathedral of Milan is made and whose name comes from the quarry found at the mouth of the Ossola Valley is made up of age-old historical links with the surrounding territory Each block of marble destined for the Duomo’s construction would navigate the waters of the river Ticino from the quarry down to the Darsena in Milan where at that time there was a old marble workshop teeming with artisans and workers It was here that they laboured on and adorned the marble that was finally to be placed on the Monument a precious “piece” of this history will retrace this current not far from the banks of the river where at one time the boats and barges cut through the waves transporting the Candoglia blocks engraved with the famous acronym AUF (Ad Usum Fabricae hence the Milanese expression “a ufo” meaning free of charge) It is here that Techbau a leading company in the engineering and construction sector will exhibit the 17th-century statue depicting “Saint Michael and the devil” for a year with the possibility of extending the loan Saint Michael will greet those who pass through the company’s atrium just as the innumerable statues of Milan Duomo have always done: silently observing and watching over the many worshippers and visitors who walk under the shadow of the Cathedral every day “Adopt a Statue” is an opportunity for important enhancement that gives new life to these masterpieces of art and it has been made possible also thanks to the collaboration of the Superintendence of Archaeology Fine Arts and Landscape for the Metropolitan City of Milan Lotus isn’t known for making cars bogged down by luxuries and gimmicks but the featherweight open-wheel 340R makes the company’s driver’s cars seem like overly plush comfort cruisers by comparison The Lotus 340R is an extreme and unusual machine and two decades after its debut it’s still about as close to a kart as cars get itself a spartan design dedicated to driving purity the 340R ratcheted that ethos to another level and is very much in line with Colin Chapman’s philosophies that moulded the manufacturer’s identity you’d be forgiven for thinking that this car was intended purely for circuits and while a weekend trackway is probably the best place to spot a 340R The example featured here ratchets up the car’s stats further still achieving a claimed 192hp compared to the standard 177hp produced by the naturally aspirated 1.8-liter inline-four The additional power is courtesy of the optional Sport Pack which adds a Janspeed exhaust among other minor tweaks This car is also one of only 43 lefthand-drive examples built from the scant total production run of 340 units (the car’s name was originally conceived as a reference to the targeted power to weight ratio—340hp per ton—but when that figure wasn’t attained in the production version Lotus decided to keep the name and build the corresponding number of units instead) Enthusiasts at the time weren’t concerned when it was announced that the power-to-weight fell short of the target evidenced by the fact that all 340 units were spoken for prior to the model’s release in the year 2000 The car was clearly intended for drivers in search of performance by way of lightness rather than power but the 340R wasn’t a straight line slouch either able to deliver the 0-60 sprint in less than 4.5 seconds which was faster than some of the era’s purported supercars hardly anything with a license plate bracket could touch this Lotus in its day Its gallop was delivered by a 1.8-liter Rover K-series engine it was based out of the city’s famous Longbridge suburb which had begun automotive manufacture in 1905 The variant used in the 340R is referred to as the VHPD (Very High Performance Derivative) which incorporates the 1796cc in-line four-cylinder configuration with dual overhead camshafts and 10.5:1 compression Lotus also equipped the power plant with its own electronic fuel injection system Maximum power is produced at a rather shouty 7,800rpm while its peak torque of 146lb-ft is reached at 5,000rpm there’s not much fun to be had without letting the tach do a nearly full sweep before shifting up—top speed was nothing to write home about at around 130mph this is a Lotus very much in keeping with the company’s lightweight mandate and with a curb weight of just about 1450lbs (~ 658kg) the car was built to carve up race tracks and mountain roads rear-wheel drive configuration and specially spec’d Yokohama semi-slicks developed for the 340R the lithe little Lotus provided extreme levels of traction enabling it to carry its speed through the corners to a degree that would have even its slightly heavier Hethel brethren drifting off of the racing line Test drive reports at the time of the 340R’s release praised its all but complete absence of understeer and thanks to its lightness and appropriately matched power output one didn’t need to be traveling at multiples of the speed limit to enjoy its mechanical talents The semi-slick Yokohama A038 LTS tires are wrapped around 10-spoke magnesium alloy wheels covering 282mm AP Racing discs suspended by dual wishbones front and rear working with adjustable Koni shock absorbers The bonded aluminum chassis is a longtime Lotus staple—ain’t broke while the exterior is specific to the 340R save for a few carryover components like the insectoid headlights An interesting bit of parts-bin trivia is the fact that mirrors are from an Aprilia RSV 1000 motorcycle as you can see from above or through the clear non-doors from the side with driver and sole passenger retained by a bucket seat and four-point harness from the factory There is little to be distracted by inside this car it was also commonly said that when driven flat out for prolonged periods of time the radiator mounted in the front of the car could transfer a great deal of heat into the cabin which might be a  welcome source of warmth if you find yourself winding around in high-altitude in the roofless 340R The car was initially launched as a concept at Birmingham’s Motor Show in 1998 but demand meant that a production version was announced a little over a year later the 304R sold for £35,000 (~$46,500) and the 340R in our photoshoot was bought by its current owner—the car’s second—at Lotus Cerini in Castelletto Sopra Ticino Though they are rare sites anywhere in the world the majority of the 340R’s production run went to Europe and Japan with reportedly less than 10 initially making their way to the US finding a 340R for resale in the US will be very hard work you can expect to find a 340R going at auction for anywhere between $55,000 up to around $95,000 given the relative illiquidity of the car’s market it’s still a good value—besides the fact that this is a limited edition car that epitomizes the ethos of one of the world’s foremost creators of racing and sports car history it’s a sublime driving experience that blurs the lines between go-karts and sports cars And it looks a hell of a lot better than the typical exoskeleton cars that have taken the mantle since comments need to be approved before they are published Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time Lake Maggiore is one of the most beautiful holiday destinations in the north of Italy This third largest lake in the country is located in the northern border area and also flows through part of Switzerland Popular lakeside holiday destinations include Locarno From a small-scale campsite to a luxury family campsite: what are the most beautiful campsites around Lake Maggiore it is and remains a challenging and beautiful holiday destination.  Shopping climbing or lying by the lake: there is plenty to see and experience We understand that you want to know where you really need to be. That's why we have exclusively for the readers of This is Italy the best campsites around Lake Maggiore selected Discover the facilities and amenities of these campsites and what to do in the area Located on the border of Italy and Switzerland and one of the nicer campsites in this area: Camping Lago Maggiore this campsite is 8 hectares in size and has approximately 200 pitches and therefore a favorite among Dutch and Flemish people At Camping Lago Maggiore it is also possible to rent a mobile home, safari tent or rent a bungalow tent Take a refreshing dip in the pool and let the little ones play in the children's pool There is no shortage of sports activities: from boules to bicycle rental The nearest town is Arona. Climb the spiral staircase of the large statue of Charles Borromeo 23 meters up From here you have a breathtaking view over the castle of Angera and Lake Maggiore View Campsite Lake Maggiore Camping Valle Romantica is the oldest campsite on Lake Maggiore this is not reflected in the special design This campsite is located in the middle of a botanical garden with beautiful flowers The green location is therefore very popular with nature lovers Valle Romantica is a small-scale campsite with 188 pitches There is a large playground for the kids and various sports options This campsite is located 1,5 km from Lake Maggiore and directly on a river with a pebble beach Visit the medieval town of Cannobio with its cozy squares and old churches The site is close to the border of Switzerland View Camping Valle Romantica Holiday park Village Continental Lido is now called Camping Village Continental This is a pleasant shady site located directly on Lago di Mergozzo This smaller lake used to be part of Lake Maggiore and is therefore nearby There is sufficient space on the campsite: 343 pitches For lunch and dinner there is a restaurant and the option of takeaway dishes You will find cosiness in the pool bar or beach bar Of course there is also a grocery store and free Wi-Fi at the central facilities Water rats can enjoy the swimming pool with water slide Because this campsite is located directly on the lake there are also many opportunities for canoeing and pedal boating Animation is available for the youth in the languages ​​Dutch What is there to do in the immediate vicinity Get to know the small and shallow Lake Mergozzo Be sure to visit the villages of Mergozzo and Fondotoce di Verbania Here you can dream away on a terrace or enjoy a real Italian ice cream View Camping Village Continental Camping Isolino is a spacious family campsite with more than 450 pitches and many facilities Don't feel like taking the tent or caravan with you In the summer months there is an international animation team The 1.600 square meter swimming pool guarantees hours of swimming fun Camping Isolino is located directly on Lake Maggiore and has a beautiful sandy beach You can also visit the bar or pool bar (also for lunch) Discover typical Italian products in the camping supermarket Tip: Take a mini cruise or boat excursion on Lake Maggiore View Campsite Isolino Also directly on Lake Maggiore is Camping Lido Verbano It is also possible to rent a mobile home or bungalow tent Wi-Fi is available at the central facilities for a fee but in principle that is not necessary with Lake Maggiore at your feet Beach volleyball or table tennis: there is plenty to do The campsite even has a number of tennis courts There is also entertainment in the summer period (in English and Italian) The popular town of Arona is a 15-minute drive away. You can also go to Stresa. From here you can take a boat trip to the Borromean Islands. Once in Milan been View Camping Lido Verbano Are you not looking for a massive camping site but more in a cozy and well-organized holiday park for the whole family which is located about 800 meters from Lake Maggiore If you stay at this small-scale holiday park you can also use all the facilities of Camping Conca d'Oro (see further on in this list with the most beautiful campsites on Lake Maggiore) which is located directly on the lake and has its own sandy beach The managers of the holiday park are friendly and hospitable From the park you can easily make boat trips and trips For example to the Borromean Islands or to the Val Grande National Park There is plenty to do in the towns of Verbania View Camping Lido Verbano Camping Solcio is also a somewhat smaller and quieter campsite which is located directly on Lake Maggiore and has its own sandy beach On the beach you will find sunbeds and umbrellas that can be used free of charge The waterfront is safe for small children because it is shallow here Would you like to go canoeing or pedal boating There are also cozy dance evenings with lots of music and cheerful Italian entertainment The site also has an excellent restaurant where even locals from the area come to eat The campsite offers the possibility to rent mobile homes View Campsite Solcio Conca d'Ora is a very beautifully landscaped campsite This is located directly on a sandy beach on the lake You will find many special and modern accommodations here to rent The campsite is located in the middle of nature and has a great view of Lake Maggiore In the evening you see all those beautiful lights burning and you look at the island in the lake Click Camping Village Conca d'Oro green and level campsite with beautiful camping pitches (spacious by Italian standards) in the shade You'll also find some accommodations to rent here (be there early if you want a rental property) The campsite has a lovely private beach that slopes gently into the cooling waters of Lake Maggiore You will find more water fun in the swimming pool of this campsite The animation team also does its best to make your children happy View Campsite Orchidea A holiday on Lake Maggiore offers a mix of activity and relaxation One of the most beautiful sights around Lake Maggiore are the Borromean Islands These are a number of islands between Stresa and Verbania The largest island is Isola Madre with a beautiful palace and botanical garden This island can be visited from March to October be sure to take the funicular from Piazzale Lido to Mottarone The breathtaking view will remain on your retina forever The largest town on Lake Maggiore is Verbania This place is best known for its 16 hectares of botanical garden with more than 18.000 plant species Timelapse video Verbania on Lake Maggiore: Do you have another favorite campsite on Lake Maggiore Then tell us what your most beautiful campsite is Other tips for sights or activities around Lake Maggiore are also welcome campingsItalian Lakeslake maggioremost beautiful campsites This is Italy is a web magazine aimed at lovers of the country We have been coming to Italy several times a year for almost 25 years to enjoy la dolce vita On ditisitalie.nl you will find Italy news This is Italy is a web magazine by and for Italy lovers learn the Italian language with free and paid courses be inspired by Italian cuisine and culture Here you will also find everything about Italian regions the landscape of Italy and the famous Italian lakes Read more >> © 2009-2025 This is Italy is published by DYC media