Gruppo Mondadori

Palazzo Niemeyer, a masterpiece by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012) and the headquarters of the Mondadori Group since 1975, has undergone a major renovation, including interior refurbishment and redevelopment.

Two key concepts guided the design of the project: identity and coherence. The goal was to enhance the building, in Segrate, on the outskirts of Milan, while respecting the distinctive character of Niemeyer’s work, reinterpreting it in a contemporary way through innovative, functional and sustainable solutions that strengthen the collaborative nature of the open space areas that were part of the original project.

“The redevelopment of Palazzo Niemeyer has been an important opportunity to give new life to, and celebrate fifty years after its inauguration, a place that is an integral part of our identity and our history, as well as an example of architecture of international relevance,” said Antonio Porro, CEO of the Mondadori Group. “This significant intervention has allowed us to make our headquarters even more efficient, sustainable and inclusive. It is a new working environment that reflects the values we embrace every day: openness, innovation and care for people,” Porro concluded.

The works, which covered a total area of more than 20,000 square meters, were carried out by Generali Real Estate – owner of the building through the Mascagni fund managed by Generali Real Estate SGR – together with the Mondadori Group.

“Palazzo Niemeyer is one of the most well-known and iconic buildings in Generali’s real estate portfolio. We are proud to have completed a high-quality project that has renewed the contemporary value of the building, bringing it in line with a more modern and flexible approach to workplaces and with new technological and energy solutions, while preserving its unique historical and architectural identity. I would like to thank our team, who brought expertise and passion to this important project,” said Benedetto Giustiniani, Head of Southern Europe Region at Generali Real Estate.

This major redevelopment project was designed by the international architecture firm CRA Carlo Ratti Associati, under the creative direction of Carlo Ratti, founding partner and curator of the 2025 Architecture Biennale, in collaboration with Italo Rota (1953–2024), one of the most influential interpreters of Italian architecture.

Their vision led to a radical reinterpretation of the office layout, addressing the needs that have emerged in recent years for coexistence between in-person work and flexibility.

The spaces have been completely redesigned with new open space workstations that further encourage creativity and collaboration among colleagues, alongside shared areas, concentration zones and social spaces. The result is an open, fluid environment filled with greenery and in constant dialogue with the surrounding landscape.

«​“To step outside the comfort zone of Zoom calls, we must redesign the office as a space that is worth the trip,” said Carlo Ratti, founding partner of CRA Carlo Ratti Associati. “Starting from Oscar Niemeyer’s iconic design and the USM furniture he selected, we dismantled and reassembled each piece in new configurations, integrating wood, recycled materials, nature and an exclusive selection of Italian design objects. The result? A catalog of environments, from open to more intimate, where everyone can find their comfort zone and where collaboration and innovation can truly flourish.

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Launched in January 2023, the Palazzo Niemeyer redevelopment project is the result of collaboration between the Real Estate teams of the Mondadori Group, led by architect Chiara Capuzzi, Generali Real Estate, and the international studio CRA Carlo Ratti Associati.

The focus areas of the intervention were:

• The redesign of the interior layout across all five levels of the building, featuring flexible and multifunctional areas, open space workstations alternating with individual work zones, meeting rooms and phone booths equipped with the latest technologies, agoras, lounge areas, break spaces and service areas.
• Restoration and enhancement of the building’s original furniture, with the regeneration of more than 1,300 modules from Swiss manufacturer USM Haller, dismantled and reassembled, integrating wood and creating new types of furnishings.
• Special attention to natural light, acoustic comfort and visual continuity with the original park designed by landscape architect Pietro Porcinai, through solutions that help reduce environmental impact.
• The project also included upgrading and improving the energy efficiency of the systems according to energy-optimization criteria, eliminating the use of fossil fuels and making the building “Net Zero” in terms of CO2 emissions, with the goal of achieving LEED and WELL certifications.

Additional spaces have also been redeveloped in architectural continuity with the main building and Niemeyer’s original project, including the piazza facing Palazzo Niemeyer and the Centro Servizi, a circular structure overlooking the lake and park, which houses a café and a company restaurant. The restaurant has been made independently accessible, allowing more convenient and flexible use of the more than 5,000 square meters of multifunctional space.

Beyond Palazzo Niemeyer: redevelopment of the entire iconic campus

The drivers behind the redevelopment of Palazzo Niemeyer – employee wellbeing, environmental sustainability and energy efficiency – also guide the additional interventions planned across the rest of the iconic corporate campus. The aim of the redevelopment project initiated by Generali Real Estate is to further enhance the uniqueness of this green space on the edge of Milan, transforming it into a contemporary and sustainable workplace.

Between late 2025 and early 2026, work will focus primarily on Cascina Tregarezzo, a traditional Lombard rural farmhouse that has been expanded and redeveloped in a contemporary key. The integration of the historic building with glass structures and a steel portico has created a unique space where the charm of tradition is elevated by modern architecture. The current works, scheduled for completion in early 2026, aim at energy efficiency and decarbonization according to the highest standards (LEED certification is underway), as well as improving occupant wellbeing. The interior spaces, comprising about 4,000 square meters of offices over two floors, will also be made more flexible and accessible.

To mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November, Mondadori Store, Italy’s largest bookstore network, is launching the awareness campaign “Facciamo luce”: a week of events, testimonies and activities designed to spark shared reflection on the issue of gender-based violence.

The initiative, which begins on Monday 17 November, highlights knowledge as one of the key tools for building a culture rooted in respect and equality. The campaign’s claim, “Facciamo luce”(Let’s shed some light), is grounded in this very principle, celebrating the power of reading, books and words as drivers of change.

The project will unfold across all physical and digital Mondadori Store channels, from bookstores to social media and the e-commerce site mondadoristore.it. Stores across the network will take part through moments of dialogue and reflection, supported by collaborations with local organisations and associations.

The “Facciamo luce” program

Starting on 17 November, a calendar of events in various Italian cities will offer opportunities to explore and discuss issues related to stereotypes, language, representation and gender relations. Authors, journalists, cultural voices and social creators will take part, with the aim of creating open, inclusive spaces for dialogue.

The thematic strands include:

“Identity and women’s stories”:

• 18 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Piazza Cola di Rienzo 81/83, in Rome, Lucia Tancredi presents her book “Ersilia e le altre”;
• 19 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Corso Porta Romana 78/80, in Milan, Jennifer Guerra leads the workshop “Dissonanti: le donne soggetti e oggetti della musica”, a conversation on how women are represented in music, between objectification and agency. Guests include: Veronica Tosetti, author, and Riccardo Burgazzi, publisher and author;
• 23 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Galleria Alberto Sordi, in Rome, within the Rewriters Festival, journalist Rory Cappelli hosts “Le donne dimenticate: riscrivere la storia. Incontro con Melania Mazzucco”.
• 25 November, Mondadori Duomo bookstore, in Milan, journalist and TV author Marta Perego moderates “Quello che le storie ci dicono”, a roundtable bringing together theatre, literature, psychology and linguistics to explore how storytelling shapes our understanding of gender differences, relationships, power, the body and freedom. Speakers include: Valeria Perdonò, actress, speaker and co-founder of AMLETA; Lorenza Gentile, writer; Valeria Locati, psychologist, psychotherapist and bibliotherapist; and Veronica Repetti, linguist and communicator.

“Domestic Violence”:

• 19 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Piazza Cola di Rienzo 81/83, in Rome, Anna Tiziana Torti and Lorenzo Greco present “La distanza che ci unisce”;
• 10 December, Mondadori Bookstore, Galleria Alberto Sordi, in Rome, Irene Vella discusses her book “Era mia figlia”.

“The grammar of masculinity”:

• 20 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Piazza Cola di Rienzo 81/83, in Rome, Jennifer Guerra leads the workshop “Spogliatoi e chat del calcetto: dove gli uomini imparano a fare gli uomini”, focusing on the models that shape male identity. Guests include: Alessio Maronn, a communicator who focuses on masculinity, and Maria Anna Di Gioia, professor and author.

“Rights and protection”:

• 21 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Galleria Alberto Sordi, in Rome, as part of the Rewriters Festival, journalist, host and human-rights activist Claudia Conte curates “Donne, diritti, dignità: educazione al rispetto e alla non violenza”. Speakers include: Marta Schifone, head of her party’s delegation on the Labour Committee at the Chamber of Deputies and first signatory of the bill establishing STEM Week; Simona Baldassarre, Lazio Regional Councillor for Culture and Youth Policies; Emanuele Prisco, Undersecretary at the Ministry of the Interior with responsibility for victims of violent crimes; and Paola Di Nicola, judge of the Court of Cassation and legal consultant to the Parliamentary Commission on Femicide.
• 23 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Galleria Alberto Sordi, in Rome, again as part of the Rewriters Festival, “La violenza informatica contro le donne: l’emergenza sociale”, curated by journalist and TV host Myrta Merlino, with Roberta Mestichella, Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Italian State Police.
• 24 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Piazza Cola di Rienzo 81/83, in Rome: Costanza Jesurum presents her book “Violenze di genere. Prevenire, comprendere, curare”.
• 27 November, Mondadori Bookstore, Galleria Alberto Sordi, in Rome, presentation of “In rivolta. Manifesto dei corpi liberi”, a collective volume whose proceeds will support WeWorld’s projects for women’s rights in Afghanistan and Palestine.

“Education is prevention”:

• 23 November, Mondadori Bookstore in Vimodrone, inside the Vimodrone Shopping Centre, in collaboration with Leo Scienza, the educational workshop “C’e una bella differenza” will explore diversity, prejudice and gender stereotypes.

The full calendar of events scheduled in bookstores across the country is available on mondadoristore.it.

On the occasion of “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” on 25 November, the Mondadori Group stands alongside all abused women with the #InPiediControlLaViolenza project.

The heart of the initiative is the art installation devised by the Mondadori Group with photographer Nicola Ughi and director Tommaso Casigliani to raise awareness about gender-based violence.
On display from 18 to 25 November at Palazzo Niemeyer, the work showcases 100 red chairs, which, in the artists’ vision, become a powerful symbol of collective commitment. In the exhibition only one chair stands upright and open, an emblem of strength and resistance, surrounded by closed “knocked-down” chairs: a silent but powerful tribute to all women whose lives have been interrupted by violence and who fight every day to overcome abuse and injustice.

The project is part of the social responsibility pathway the Mondadori Group has been following for some time, together with publishing houses, digital media, magazines and bookshops: it is an invitation to think about an issue that concerns everyone, and its purpose is to promote a culture based on respect and equality, against all forms of gender-based violence.

“Increasingly, companies are becoming places for social reflection, promoting debate and cultural change, and going beyond their business objectives. As Italy’s leading publishing group, we feel a strong responsibility to continue our commitment through awareness-raising initiatives like #InPiediControLaViolenza,” said Francesca Rigolio, Chief Sustainability Officer at the Mondadori Group. “We believe that the fight against gender-based violence should also be an active part of the workplace and that people’s personal and professional lives should be integrated into a “unified” vision of the human being that considers the individual and the community,” Rigolio concluded.

The #InPiediControLaViolenza awareness-raising project also extends to the lighting at Palazzo Mondadori. Exceptionally, until Monday 25 November, the lights of the arches of Oscar Niemeyer’s iconic building will change colour, turning red in solidarity with abused women and as a symbol of Mondadori’s commitment against gender-based violence.
The evocative video illustrating the art installation and the extraordinary lighting at Palazzo Mondadori will be posted on the Group’s website and social profiles, reaching millions of people and amplifying the message.

Special group media content

Awareness of these issues is also expressed through the Mondadori Group’s media, which are taking an active part in the project with a special program as part of the organisation’s year-round commitment and responsibility.
Specifically, The Wom and Webboh, respectively Mondadori Media’s first 100% inclusive social magazine and the first digital community for the new generations, will offer content to raise awareness about an issue of great current interest. In addition, The Wom website will publish a special feature with analyses, interviews, personal accounts and insights on the topic of gender-based violence.

Meeting for employees and collaborators

The promotion of a culture based on respect and equality, against all forms of gender-based violence, will be examined during a meeting for employees and collaborators entitled “Beliefs and Microaggression. Between Bias and Artificial Intelligence”.
The event will take place tomorrow, Thursday 21 November, as part of Mondadori’s “Diversity & Inclusion” project to foster an inclusive culture and equal opportunities in the organisation. It will explore how cognitive biases influence personal beliefs and generate phenomena like microaggressions, which are often invisible.

The panel will feature Mondadori Group CEO Antonio Porro, and experts in various fields, from neuroscience to psychology, economics and gender equality:

• Raffaella Tonini, Scientist and Research Director at the Laboratory of Cortical and Subcortical Circuit Neuromodulation at the Italian Institute of Technology;
• Vittorio Lingiardi, Psychiatrist, Psychoanalyst, Full Professor at the La Sapienza University in Rome;
• Andrea Notarnicola Cociani, Newton Management Consultant and Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Global Inclusion Foundation art. 3 ETS;
• Azzurra Rinaldi, Economist, Director of the School of Gender Economics at the University of Rome Unitelma Sapienza.

Credits

The art installation is by Nicola Ughi and Tommaso Casigliani, based on the “Sediarossa” format.
Photographer: Nicola Ughi.
Director: Tommaso Casigliani.
Director of photography: Paolo Palladino.
Assistant director: Raffaello Terreni.
Music: Tommaso Casigliani and Pietro Pagnes.

Segrate, 1 October 2024 – The Mondadori Group announces that Mondadori Media has today completed – in execution of the binding offer signed and disclosed on 22 July – the acquisition of 51% of the share capital of Fatto in casa da Benedetta S.r.l. (formerly Waimea S.r.l.), which holds all the intellectual property and economic exploitation rights pertaining to the image of Benedetta Rossi, as well as all the social media assets and the related content library.

The price of the acquisition, paid in full in cash, is € 6.9 million and reflects an enterprise value for 100% of the company, on a cash & debt free basis, of € 13.5 million.

The transaction, which sees Benedetta Rossi and Marco Gentili (through Maui Media) keeping a 49% stake in the company and remaining executive directors, is part of a targeted strategy to consolidate Mondadori Media’s role as a leading multimedia player in food & cooking, a driving sector for the country’s economy and one of Italy’s distinguishing features worldwide.

A highly successful cookbook author and star of TV programmes dedicated to the world of cooking, Benedetta Rossi is Italy’s most important creator in the food sector, a point of reference for over 17 million social media followers and 4 million unique monthly website users.
Through this acquisition Mondadori Media strengthens, therefore, in a synergistic and integrated way, its own position in the sector, where it already operates with GialloZafferano, the most-followed food media brand in Italy, and Zenzero, the talent agency that manages the best creators in the sector. This strategic partnership, moreover, enables the Group to become one of the world’s most important social media players in food, thanks to a total audience of over 87 million cooking enthusiast followers reached jointly by Benedetta Rossi and GialloZafferano globally.
Thanks to the synergies with GialloZafferano – in terms of audience, content production and know-how – Mondadori Media will focus, moreover, on the creation of increasingly innovative content, to boost the success of both brands, in Italy and abroad, and offer high-impact special projects and solutions to partner companies.

In terms of future developments, Mondadori Media will provide its team and expertise to promote Benedetta Rossi’s characteristics and core values with the aim of consolidating the brand Fatto in casa da Benedetta as well as launching its growth in new sectors. Strategic investments are planned to explore sectors adjacent to the world of food, with the aim of diversifying the business model and expanding the range on offer.

“With today’s signing Marco and I are writing a new page of our story, to transform what we’ve built into an even more robust company. After an initial phase that was highly satisfying and full of emotions, our ambition is to achieve even more challenging results, while still focusing on the primary objective of being close to, and actually helping, our audience”, commented Benedetta Rossi.

“For years our group has collaborated with Benedetta Rossi and Marco Gentili in making highly successful books. We have thus established a very strong relationship of trust and respect, which will also be fundamental to this new collaboration. We will provide them with our skills and passion to ensure that their project becomes even more of a point of reference for the many Italians who follow Benedetta Rossi every day with great fondness and trust”, comments Andrea Santagata, Chief Executive Officer of Mondadori Media, who is also Chairman of the company Fatto in casa da Benedetta.

Lastly, and as already announced, it should be noted that the terms of the transaction also provide for a variable component (so-called earn-out) – to be defined on the basis of the results of the two-year period 2023-2024 and of the financial year 2026 – the value of which, also due a contractual “cap” mechanism, is estimated to be € 3.2 million.
The agreements signed also provide for put & call options on a further 19% stake in Fatto in casa da Benedetta‘s share capital (exercisable after the approval of the 2028 financial statements), the exercise terms/strike price of which are linked to the company’s performance (turnover and EBITDA) in 2028.
Exercising these options would allow Mondadori Media to increase its stake to 70%, while keeping Benedetta Rossi and Marco Gentili shareholders at 30%, consistent with the long-term strategic partnership established by the transaction.

The Mondadori Group has launched an initiative in support of Italian newsstands to express its gratitude and provide tangible support to all those operators who continue, in these moments of health emergency, to guarantee a crucial service for the whole Country, with outstanding commitment and responsibility.

Through this initiative, the Mondadori Group, Italy’s leading magazine and digital publisher, will recognize newspaper and magazine retailers an additional 3% discount on the price, net of VAT, of all the Group’s weeklies and monthlies sold on newsstands, excluding gadgets and attachments, until the end of April.

Thanks to this extraordinary measure, the Mondadori Group intends to provide further support to the chain of newsstands, in order to continue the fundamental work of disseminating editorial products, a primary asset to ensure that the public is properly informed and entertained.

The Mondadori Group has announced the launch of uARe, a new tool for the creation of augmented reality content, produced together with Focus, the brand that is an international point of reference in popular science and entertainment.

The platform was developed thanks to support from the Innovation Fund of Google’s Digital News Initiative won by Focus and which has certified the leadership of the Mondadori Group brand in the management of interactive content and experiences.

uARe, developed in collaboration with the technological partner Magma, is a solution that comprise of a platform for the development and layout of cloud-based AR content and a customisable mobile application for each client through which it is possible to access interactive and immersive experiences.

It is now much easier to create and put on the page 360° videos and photos, 3D animations 3D and audio content. uARe is characterised by an easy-to-use interface, the speed of the productive workflow, dashboard analytic marketing with data on the use of the experiences, geo-tracking of AR experiences and shared functions on the main social networks.

The platform, with which the Mondadori Group will innovate the augmented reality market, is ideal for use in a range of sectors, from publishing to education, as well as retail, communication and events.

The Mondadori Group is Italy’s leading publisher on the web: this is the assessment of the latest Comscore data for May, which show that Mondadori properties are out in front with a total audience of 28.7 million unique users per month, a rise of 22% compared with the same period of last year. At the same time, market reach is up to almost 76% of Italy’s digital population.

The Mondadori Group boasts Italy’s richest and most diversified digital offer.
With over 30 authoritative and successful brands on the web, the company is also leader in the high-value vertical sectors, such as women, food, wellness, fashion and education, thanks to the 16 million unique users of Donna Moderna, the more than 12 million of GialloZafferano, the 5.8 million of Starbene, and over 3 million of Grazia as well as the 9.3 million users of Studenti.it.

This result has been achieved thanks to the development path followed by the Group’s digital magazine area since the acquisition of Banzai Media until today.
All of the main sites in the portfolio have been involved in an ongoing renewal and updating process, including Donna Moderna, which has a new look nad feel to give users an even more immediate and intuitive experience; Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni with its new digital Guida Tv making it easier to navigate through a continually evolving television panorama; Grazia, through its Grazia Factory project, which presents and gives voice to the most interesting emerging influencers in fashion, beauty and lifestyle; and the redesign of Nostrofiglio and Panoramauto, with enhanced content and a more structured approach to the channels.

To all this should be added the recent additions of Oroscopo.it, Italy’s leading astrology site, and Design D’Autore, the international social system. leader in the design sector, with which the Group has consolidated its positioning in the women and design sectors, expanding also the audience on social networks, where the presence of Mondadori brands is similarly strong, with over 20.2 million fans on Facebook over 46 pages, up by 56% compared with the same month of the previous year.