Building for apartment, offices and shops (1954-1955)
via Boscovich 14 (Milano)
via Boscovich 14 (Milano)
This project is of great interest for its peculiar settlement configuration in relation with the street and the shape of the site. The building is arranged with a lower block facing via Boscovich with retail at the ground floor and offices at the upper floor, and a taller, stepped back block intended for residential use. The peculiarity of the typological solution, which allows a substantial use of the land, recalls the buildings realised by Luigi Mattioni during the same period (Building Pollux in via De Amicis 28, 1952-1955, Elios Estate in via Domenichino 2, 1952-1954), and it has as ‘forefather’ in Milan, Palazzo Argentina (1946-1951) in corso Buenos Aires 36, designed by Pietro Bottoni and Guglielmo Ulrich. Such a configuration is especially significant in light of its widespread adoption in the near future in the following years across the city. The multiple construction and typological variations on the theme of the urban multifunctional building, explored during the 1950s by multiple Milanese architects, are well known to Gho', who through this project feels the need to express his approach to the theme.
The two blocks are diversified by the use of two different materials. The street elevation of the lower block, which is characterised by the large span of the shop-windows and by the ribbon window system at the first floor, is cladded in “Botticino” marble, whereas the taller building is cladded in ceramic and fulget render. Three internal voids allow to obtain small outdoor areas as ancillary space to the offices, while the roof of the lower block facing the street is used to create large terraces for the apartments at the second floor.
In an initial project variation - not realised - an additional block appeared along the south side of the building which, decreasing toward the top, would have allowed additional terraces at the upper floors.
The two blocks are diversified by the use of two different materials. The street elevation of the lower block, which is characterised by the large span of the shop-windows and by the ribbon window system at the first floor, is cladded in “Botticino” marble, whereas the taller building is cladded in ceramic and fulget render. Three internal voids allow to obtain small outdoor areas as ancillary space to the offices, while the roof of the lower block facing the street is used to create large terraces for the apartments at the second floor.
In an initial project variation - not realised - an additional block appeared along the south side of the building which, decreasing toward the top, would have allowed additional terraces at the upper floors.
| Design drawings |
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