Office building “Assicurazioni d'Italia” and garage (1965-1970)
piazza della Repubblica 14, 16 (Milano)
Structural Engineer: Eng. Ludovico De Lalla
Reinforced concrete structural consulting: Eng. Dieter Bachschmid
Glass and aluminium facade engineering consulting: Eng. Leo Finzi
Services Engineer: Eng. Gianfelice Bertolini
Contractor: Imprerama (Impresit-Ranza-Marcora)
piazza della Repubblica 14, 16 (Milano)
Structural Engineer: Eng. Ludovico De Lalla
Reinforced concrete structural consulting: Eng. Dieter Bachschmid
Glass and aluminium facade engineering consulting: Eng. Leo Finzi
Services Engineer: Eng. Gianfelice Bertolini
Contractor: Imprerama (Impresit-Ranza-Marcora)
Ten years after completing the residential building at the corner between piazza della Repubblica and viale Vittorio Veneto, Gho' has the opportunity to design a new architecture - this time for the tertiary company “Assicurazioni d'Italia” - on the adjacent site. The different functional destination is highlighted by the use of a curtain wall for the front facade, with a bronze-coloured aluminium frame, and made more dynamic by the recessed glass panels along the third floor and by a bow window-like element on the right-hand side.
The reflection on the urban space takes shape with a few very clear design choices - the continuity of the heights and the coplanarity with the two adjacent buildings - while the expressive solutions are still connected to the typical principles of the different use destinations. In the coming together of two such different architectures, which are ten years apart from each other, it becomes evident the progressive alignment of Gho’ - in his more mature phase - towards a pragmatic functionalism, less centered on the search of a personal code of expression and more solidly oriented towards the technical solution of a design question.
The offices are organised in two sectors, each divided by a central corridor. The plant is centered around the core with stairs, lifts, and services, which occupies the central part of the back of the building, characterised by a solid volume in dark clinker with rows of balconies. The top floor is an elegant roof garden, which functions as a “club room”. The building has a large parking area with independent access, consisting of six underground levels.
The reflection on the urban space takes shape with a few very clear design choices - the continuity of the heights and the coplanarity with the two adjacent buildings - while the expressive solutions are still connected to the typical principles of the different use destinations. In the coming together of two such different architectures, which are ten years apart from each other, it becomes evident the progressive alignment of Gho’ - in his more mature phase - towards a pragmatic functionalism, less centered on the search of a personal code of expression and more solidly oriented towards the technical solution of a design question.
The offices are organised in two sectors, each divided by a central corridor. The plant is centered around the core with stairs, lifts, and services, which occupies the central part of the back of the building, characterised by a solid volume in dark clinker with rows of balconies. The top floor is an elegant roof garden, which functions as a “club room”. The building has a large parking area with independent access, consisting of six underground levels.
Bibliography about this work:
“Industria delle costruzioni” n.84, ottobre 1978, pp.37-42
"Costruzioni" n.29
Jolanda Ventura (a cura di), Gigi Gho': progetti e architetture 1950-1995, [s.e.], 1997, pp.184-189
“Industria delle costruzioni” n.84, ottobre 1978, pp.37-42
"Costruzioni" n.29
Jolanda Ventura (a cura di), Gigi Gho': progetti e architetture 1950-1995, [s.e.], 1997, pp.184-189
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