CityLife

What CityLife does

CityLife S.p.A. is a privately-held Italian real estate developer and urban district operator, wholly owned by Generali Group, one of Italy's largest insurance conglomerates. Founded in 2004 and selected through an international design competition, the company redeveloped Milan's former Fiera Campionaria (trade fairgrounds) into a 366,000 sqm mixed-use district combining Class A office towers, premium residences, a large retail destination, public parkland, event venues, and sports facilities, all anchored by the M5 metro Tre Torri station.

The commercial portfolio comprises three architecturally significant office towers—Isozaki Tower (202m, Italy's tallest building, leased to Allianz), Hadid Tower (170m, occupied by parent Generali Group), and Libeskind Tower (175m, occupied by PwC)—plus the forthcoming CityWave complex by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, adding 63,000 sqm of office and retail GLA under a 200-meter photovoltaic canopy with completion targeted for December 2026. Adjacent operations include Italy's largest urban shopping district (~100 brands, 1,200-seat cinema), a 178,000 sqm public park with over 2,000 trees, the CityOval Milano event arena (3,800-person capacity), the ArtLine Milano open-air art collection, and a sports cluster anchored by the Golden Goose Arena padel facility and Mediolanum Tennis CityLife.

CityLife generates revenue primarily through recurring commercial office and retail leasing, supplemented by event venue rental, district management services delivered through jointly-controlled subsidiary SmartCityLife S.r.l. under a 10-year concession with the Municipality of Milan, and residential unit sales. Leasing is executed via enterprise field sales channels through commercial real estate brokers CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield. The district is the first in the world to achieve Platinum certification across LEED for Cities and Communities, WELL for Community, and SITES for Existing Landscape, establishing CityLife as a global benchmark for sustainable urban regeneration.

Name

CityLife

Legal name

CityLife S.p.A.

Website

https://city-life.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CityLife S.p.A., wholly owned by Generali Group, redeveloped Milan's former trade fairgrounds into a 366,000 sqm mixed-use district comprising three Class A office towers (Isozaki, Hadid, Libeskind) leased to Allianz, Generali, and PwC; Italy's largest urban shopping district; premium residences; a 178,000 sqm public park; event and sports venues; and the forthcoming CityWave complex.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mixed-Use Urban Real Estate Development

NAICS

Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

SIC

Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Operators Of Nonresidential Buildings (6512)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Government & Municipal Event Venues (THAHAAAE)

Keywords

• Mixed-use real estate
• Commercial property leasing
• Urban district development
• District management services
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Commercial Office Leasing: CityLife generates revenue through leasing office spaces in the Three Towers (Hadid Tower, Isozaki Tower, Libeskind Tower) and the upcoming CityWave complex. Major tenants include Generali Group, Allianz Group, and PwC.
2. Retail Leasing: The CityLife Shopping District, Italy's largest urban shopping district opened in November 2017, hosts approximately 100 retail brands, restaurants, and a 1,200-seat multiplex cinema. Revenue is generated through retail space leasing.
3. Event Venue Rental: CityOval Milano (formerly Palazzo delle Scintille) serves as an event space for fashion, innovation, design, sports, culture, and art events. The 4,000 sqm arena with 3,800-person capacity hosts national and international events.
4. District Management Services: SmartCityLife S.r.l. manages and maintains public and private areas, including security, surveillance, and advertising initiatives within the district through a 10-year agreement with the Municipality of Milan.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CityLife develops, owns, and manages a large-scale mixed-use urban district in Milan, comprising iconic office towers (Hadid, Isozaki, Libeskind, plus the upcoming CityWave), premium residences, the CityLife Shopping District, public parkland, event venues, and sports facilities. Revenue is generated primarily through long-term commercial office and retail leasing to enterprise tenants, residential unit sales, event venue rentals, and district management services operated under a 10-year agreement with the Municipality of Milan via the SmartCityLife S.r.l. joint venture.

Product overview

CityLife is a comprehensive smart urban district development in Milan, Italy, built on the former Trade Fair area. The portfolio consists of iconic office towers (Hadid Tower, Isozaki Tower, Libeskind Tower, CityWave), residential buildings (Hadid Residences, Libeskind Residences), the CityLife Shopping District (Italy's largest urban commercial district), the 178,000 sqm public CityLife Park with Orti Fioriti gardens, the CityOval Milano event venue, and ArtLine Milano outdoor art project with 19 sculptures. The SmartCityLife App serves as the digital platform for district management, event discovery, court bookings, and security services. Additional amenities include BabyLife Nursery, Golden Goose Arena (padel), Mediolanum Tennis CityLife, pickleball courts, outdoor fitness areas, dog areas, and children's playgrounds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CityLife District A large-scale 366,000 sqm mixed-use urban district in Milan built on the former Trade Fair area, combining residential buildings, offices, retail, services, and public green spaces designed by world-renowned architects. Sells and leases space within the integrated district to enterprise tenants, residents, and retail operators.
• Hadid Tower A 170-meter LEED Platinum-certified office tower designed by Zaha Hadid serving as the Milan headquarters of Generali Group. Available for office leasing to enterprise tenants seeking prestigious, sustainable workspace.
• Isozaki Tower A 202-meter LEED Platinum-certified office tower, the tallest building in Italy, designed by Arata Isozaki. Serves as the headquarters of Allianz Group and offers premium office leasing opportunities.
• Libeskind Tower A 175-meter LEED Gold-certified office tower designed by Daniel Libeskind featuring a steel crown structure with rooftop photovoltaic panels. Houses PricewaterhouseCoopers offices and offers premium office leasing.
• CityWave A new commercial gateway development by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, comprising two buildings connected by a 200-meter wave-shaped canopy covered with photovoltaic panels. Provides 63,000 sqm of additional GLA for office and retail leasing.
• CityLife Shopping District Italy's largest urban shopping district with approximately 100 retail brands, restaurants, a 1,200-seat multiplex cinema, food court, and coworking space. Generates revenue through retail space leasing to fashion, F&B, and entertainment tenants.
• CityOval Milano A 4,000 sqm event venue with a 30-meter dome and approximately 3,800-person capacity, housed in a renovated historic building. Hosts fashion, innovation, design, sports, cultural, and corporate events for event organizers.
• Hadid Residences Premium residential buildings designed by Zaha Hadid on Via Senofonte, featuring sinuous flowing lines, sculptural forms with natural wood and fiber cement panels. Overlook CityLife Park and Piazza Giulio Cesare. LEED Platinum certified, Energy Class A.
• Libeskind Residences Premium residential buildings designed by Daniel Libeskind on Via Spinola, featuring sculptural volumes with simple arches and faceted surfaces, inspired by courtyard model. LEED Platinum certified, Energy Class A.
• SmartCityLife App Mobile application enabling users to explore the CityLife district, receive event updates, book tennis, padel, and pickleball courts, and access an SOS emergency security system. Available on iOS App Store and Google Play.
• Golden Goose Arena Powered by Atlante A 12-meter-high padel facility spanning 2,800 sqm featuring 7 padel courts, panoramic terrace, and refreshment area. Designed by Fabio Novembre Studio, operated by City Padel Milano, and bookable via SmartCityLife App.
• Mediolanum Tennis CityLife A tennis facility with five covered and heated courts including three clay courts and two synthetic grass courts for year-round play, located at Piazza Carlo Magno. Bookable via SmartCityLife App.
• Pickleball Courts Dedicated pickleball court available for booking through the SmartCityLife App, designed for both beginners and seasoned players.
• ArtLine Milano An open-air contemporary art project featuring 19 site-specific works by international artists including Riccardo Benassi, Shilpa Gupta, Alfredo Jaar, Kiki Smith, and Jeremy Deller, curated by Roberto Pinto. A cultural offering that enhances district brand and visitor appeal.
• BabyLife Nursery An educational nursery facility designed by 02Arch within the CityLife park, featuring small house-like units surrounding a 3,000 sqm garden. LEED Platinum certified and focused on children's well-being.

Quantifiable outcome

• First district globally to achieve triple Platinum sustainability certifications
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, primary, secondary and minor.

• SmartCityLife S.r.l.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024SmartCityLife S.r.l. is a special-purpose company owned by CityLife S.p.A., Allianz S.p.A., and Generali Real Estate SGR S.p.A. Since January 2024, it has a ten-year agreement with the Municipality of Milan for managing public and private areas including maintenance, security, surveillance, promotion, and communication.
• CBREprimaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCBRE handles leasing information and marketing for CityWave office and retail spaces. Located at Piazza degli Affari 2, Milan.
• Cushman & WakefieldprimaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCushman & Wakefield handles leasing information and marketing for CityWave office and retail spaces. Located at Via F. Turati 16/18, Milan.
• AtlantesecondaryTechnology or IntegrationAtlante is a leading fast and ultra-fast EV charging network in Southern Europe. Since December 2023, Atlante inaugurated the first fast charging station at CityLife, available 24/7, compatible with all EV models. Part of the Priceless Planet Coalition, planting two trees for every Mastercard charge at CityLife.
• VideowallsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationVideowall, a Mediaset Group company operating in Out Of Home since 2019, partnered with SmartCityLife to create digital communication installations throughout the park and square via digital installations and spaces, in collaboration with advertising concessionaire Mediamond.
• Sistema EnergysecondaryTechnology or IntegrationSistema Energy specializes in delivering self-consumption photovoltaic solutions for businesses. Within CityLife, they partnered with SmartCityLife to provide renewable energy production through on-site PPA model for the Golden Goose Arena powered by Atlante.
• Golden GoosesecondaryGTM or Marketing PartnerGolden Goose, a Next Gen global luxury company founded in 2000 with 2 million Dreamers community and 225 stores, became Naming Sponsor of the Golden Goose Arena powered by Atlante since 2025, providing a space dedicated to padel, community, and wellness.
• Novembre Studio (Fabio Novembre)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFabio Novembre's studio designed the Golden Goose Arena powered by Atlante, the largest public-private architectural project in Italy dedicated to padel. Selected through an invitational competition launched by SmartCityLife.
• City Padel MilanosecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCity Padel Milano, founded by Demetrio Albertini and Lorenzo Alfieri, is a top-tier padel organization managing the Golden Goose Arena with 7 padel courts, panoramic terrace, and refreshment area.
• Gustafson PortersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based landscape studio that won the 2008 international competition with the project 'A Park Between the Mountains and the Plants' for CityLife's 178,000 sqm park design.
• Orticola di Lombardia AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership created the Orti Fioriti, a 4,000-square-meter urban garden project designed by Filippo Pizzoni, promoting Italian horticultural tradition and sustainability since 2015.
• Cooperativa del SoleminorOthersSince 2017, Cooperativa del Sole manages the Orti Fioriti urban garden and conducts botanical workshops for adults at CityLife park.
• Roberto Pinto (ArtLine Curator)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoberto Pinto curated the ArtLine Milano open-air contemporary art project launched in 2014, featuring 19 site-specific works by international artists including Riccardo Benassi, Shilpa Gupta, Alfredo Jaar, Kiki Smith, and Jeremy Deller.
• 02ArchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner02Arch won the design competition for BabyLife Nursery, imagining a child-drawn home as a continuous line sketching its outline. The nursery is located within the park surrounded by a 3,000 sqm garden.
• Federabitazione LombardiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CityLife in 2014 to launch a design competition for BabyLife Nursery within the park, along with Confcooperative and AAA architetticercasi.
• ConfcooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with CityLife in 2014 to launch a design competition for BabyLife Nursery within the park, along with Federabitazione Lombardia and AAA architetticercasi.
• AAA architetticercasiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign competition platform partnered with CityLife in 2014 to launch the BabyLife Nursery competition, along with Federabitazione Lombardia and Confcooperative.
• Comune di Milano (Municipality of Milan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Municipality of Milan partnered with SmartCityLife S.r.l. through a ten-year agreement (since January 2024) for management of public and private areas in CityLife district. The city also sold Palazzo delle Scintille to Generali Real Estate in December 2019 and collaborated on ArtLine Milano.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hines: Global real estate developer and investor active in Italy (including Porta Nuova alongside Coima) — a broad incumbent with significant mixed-use urban regeneration experience relevant to CityLife's master-planned development model.
• Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: Global operator of premium retail and mixed-use destinations including flagship urban shopping centers — relevant as a broad incumbent comparable for the CityLife Shopping District's premium retail positioning and large-format urban destination economics.
• Hammerson: European retail and mixed-use property owner/operator with destinations across the UK, Ireland, and France — relevant as a broad incumbent comparable for CityLife's premium retail and event-venue operations within a mixed-use urban setting.
• Klépierre: Pan-European shopping center operator focused on premium retail destinations — broadly comparable to CityLife Shopping District's positioning as Italy's largest urban shopping center with strong footfall metrics (10M+ visitors in year one).
• Covivio: Major European REIT (France/Italy/Germany) with significant Italian office portfolio including former Beni Stabili assets — a broader incumbent operating in CityLife's primary office-leasing market but across multiple geographies and asset types.

Direct peers

• Coima SGR: Coima is the leading Italian real estate investment manager that developed the Porta Nuova district in Milan — including the UniCredit Tower — making it the closest domestic comparable to CityLife in terms of mixed-use urban regeneration in central Milan with premium office and retail.
• Argent: UK developer behind the King's Cross regeneration in London — a comparable brownfield-to-mixed-use transformation combining offices, retail, residential, public parkland, and universities, with phased delivery akin to CityLife's 2004-onwards build-out.
• Canary Wharf Group: Developer and operator of the Canary Wharf estate in London — a large-scale mixed-use district combining iconic office towers, retail, event venues, and public realm — directly comparable to CityLife on master-planned urban regeneration, blue-chip tenant base, and recurring district management.
• Battersea Power Station Development Company: Joint venture developing the Battersea Power Station district in London — an iconic mixed-use regeneration with offices, retail, residential, and public realm — directly comparable to CityLife's model of converting landmark industrial sites into premium mixed-use districts.
• Related Companies: US-based developer behind Hudson Yards in New York — a comparable master-planned mixed-use district with iconic architecture, premium office towers, retail, and public space — relevant to CityLife as a benchmark for trophy mixed-use urban regeneration economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/smartcitylifemilano

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CityLife