Autogrill Villoresi Ovest: design of automatic entrances
The new Autogrill Villoresi Ovest, located along the A8 Milan–Varese motorway near Lainate, is an emblematic example of how historic architecture and contemporary technological solutions can coexist harmoniously. GEZE contributed to the major redevelopment project affecting the building by providing sliding door automation systems designed to ensure reliability, safety, and architectural integration, even under conditions of heavy use.
Technology and design enhancing an icon of Italian architecture
GEZE’s automatic entrance systems were engineered to guarantee reliable performance under continuous use. Designed for demanding public spaces, the sliding door automation enhances accessibility, optimises indoor climate control, and supports sustainable building standards.
A masterpiece of Italian modernism reinterpreted in a contemporary key
Autogrill Villoresi Ovest in an archival black-and-white photograph. The image highlights its iconic suspended circular structure and modernist architecture, a symbol of Italian design innovation in the post-war period. Source: photographic archive Urbanfile. © Urbanfile
Designed in 1958 by architect Angelo Bianchetti, Autogrill Villoresi Ovest is still considered one of the most representative works of Italian infrastructural modernism. Created in collaboration with entrepreneur Mario Pavesi, the building stands out for its futuristic circular shape, enclosed by glass walls and topped by three imposing self-supporting arches that have become an iconic feature of the motorway landscape. In February 2020, after more than sixty years of operation, the complex underwent a major reconstruction and design update led by Andrea Langhi Design. The objective of the redevelopment process was to preserve the architectural identity of the original work while introducing construction and plant solutions aligned with contemporary standards of efficiency, safety, and comfort.
The reopening of Autogrill Villoresi Ovest: historic identity and future vision
The sliding entrance door improves accessibility and creates a welcoming atmosphere, while the architecture blends historical memory with innovation, offering functionality and comfort to travelers. © GEZE ITALIA
The reopening of Autogrill Villoresi Ovest in November 2020 marked a significant moment in the history of this iconic building and offered a concrete sign of continuity and confidence in the future. The intervention maintained the recognisable architectural language while integrating components and technologies aimed at maximising safety, sustainability, comfort, usability of spaces, and user experience. Within this delicate balance between design identity and technical performance, GEZE’s contribution supported the architecture and facilitated visitor flows, ensuring smooth access, operational reliability, and functional integration.
Automation for high-traffic entrances: GEZE’s contribution
The GEZE ECdrive T2 sliding door with BO emergency break-out function combines safety, accessibility, and modern design. © GEZE ITALIA
In the design of the new Autogrill Villoresi Ovest, GEZE supplied automatic sliding door systems developed to meet the needs of a public building characterised by continuous flows and intensive daily use. The adopted solution is GEZE ECdrive T2, a linear automatic sliding door system combining a slim, compact design with high mechanical performance and great design flexibility. With a cover height of only 100 mm, ECdrive T2 offers extensive architectural integration freedom, making it particularly suitable for contexts where visual discretion of entrances is a central design requirement.
Technical performance, safety and reliability
The GEZE ECdrive T2 sliding door system is designed to manage automatic linear leaves up to 140 kg and, thanks to the double roller carriage, ensures reliability and operational continuity even in high-traffic environments.
The use of the GEZE GE50NR aluminium profile with full break-out system for sliding and semi-fixed leaves also enabled the creation of escape routes compliant with EN 16005 standards (which define safety requirements for automatic pedestrian doors), improving overall building safety and user protection.
Additional distinctive technical features include:
- Efficient installation thanks to pre-drilled sliding tracks and slots.
- Continuous floor guide for controlled rainwater drainage.
- Integrated battery backup for emergency opening and closing in the event of a blackout.
- Self-recognition and independent error memory.
- Reduced maintenance requirements thanks to the self-cleaning carriage.
Automatic sliding doors and Building Automation: a winning synergy
The GEZE ECdrive T2 sliding door system is prepared for integration into Building Automation systems via the open BACnet standard, enabling centralised access control and intelligent building management. This feature is particularly relevant for contemporary facilities focused on operational efficiency, sustainability, and service continuity.
GEZE: technology serving architecture and user experience
The intervention carried out at Autogrill Villoresi Ovest demonstrates how GEZE automatic door solutions can concretely contribute to enhancing historic infrastructure, supporting its stylistic and functional evolution while respecting its architectural identity. It is a project in which technology, safety, and integration translate into a smooth experience for travellers and the efficient modernisation of one of the most recognisable icons of Italian motorway architecture.
