In fact, the external finish of the vertical facades has been graphically redesigned, which, following the bar code model, renews the image of the building, making it innovative and symbolic. The rhythm of the colour scale that characterises the ‘bar code’ creates striking visual glimpses, capable of varying significantly depending on the perspectives from which they are observed. In addition, in conjunction with the existing stairwells, the design envisages the introduction of access doors jutting out from the building, made using a drywall structure and fibre reinforced concrete slabs to indicate the main accesses along the facade and thus facilitate way-finding for users.

However, for the interior spaces – still in line with Mind’s founding principles – the ground floor is kept highly permeable, incorporating a range of social functions, such as communal spaces, food courts, gyms and services, and bicycle parking. These spaces are flanked by an outdoor green area, called hortus, intended as an area for relaxation that extends the ground floors, visually permeable, with collective functions such as public space fixtures, seating, outdoor meeting areas and spaces for playing sports. This area, acting as an informal incubator of ideas, encourages iteration among users, facilitating meet-ups, generating connections and thus increasing the sense of community.

Highly re-configurable, flexible open spaces are envisaged on the first floor. However, given the numerous stairwells, there is the possibility of dividing up the interior spaces into smaller units in order to accommodate multiple users. The outdoor service and connection spaces, characteristic elements of the building, have been transformed into large, usable verandas that enjoy a view over the hortus (from above), and which enable not just permeability between indoor and outdoor spaces, but also connection and interaction between users.