Why this stark black base? We are standing here in front of Casa Ghiringhelli. You might wonder about that striking black base. Let me enlighten you. This eight-story residential building in Milan’s Isola district boasts a distinctive design. The architects, Pietro Lingeri and Giuseppe Terragni, chose black serpentine stone for the base. This contrasts beautifully with the beige plaster surfaces on the rest of the building.
Casa Ghiringhelli is a prime example of Italian rationalism. This architectural style emerged in the 1920s. It emphasizes functionality, clean lines, and geometric shapes. The architects, Lingeri and Terragni, completed Casa Ghiringhelli between 1934 and 1935 . Imagine, they achieved this just a year after the initial designs were approved!
One of the challenges they faced was the unusual shape of the plot. It was a trapezoid! To overcome this, they incorporated a system of recesses and projections. This clever design choice masks the asymmetry caused by the diverging streets surrounding the building. Today, Casa Ghiringhelli stands as a testament to their ingenuity. It’s a harmonious blend of architectural vision and functional design.