A double-arched bridge supporting a building: How often do you see that? That architectural choice defines the Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali. Today we will explore its history. This tower stands at Via Giovanni Battista Pirelli 39. It intersects with Via Melchiorre Gioia in Milan. It is right in the heart of Milan’s business district.
Let’s dive into some facts about the Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali. It reached completion in 1966. The architects Renato Bazzoni, Luigi Fratino, Vittorio Gandolfi and Aldo Putelli designed it. The tower soars 90 meters. It includes 25 floors. For years, it ranked among Milan’s tallest buildings. The construction occurred as part of an incomplete project called “Centro Direzionale”.
Here is an interesting feature of the Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali. A low-rise structure forms a bridge. It features a double archway over Via Melchiorre Gioia. Imagine this design element in 1966. It must have been quite innovative.
The Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali will soon be part of a modern cluster. This cluster includes existing skyscrapers. It also features new buildings in the Porta Nuova project. Previously, the 25th floor housed the telephone exchange.
The offices and employees relocated from the tower in February 2015. They moved to offices at Via Bernina 12. The building is currently undergoing renovations.
COIMA acquired the Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali in March 2019. They won a public auction with a bid of 175 million euros. By the end of 2019 an international competition was launched. In January 2021, COIMA revealed the winning design. Stefano Boeri Architetti and Diller Scofidio + Renfro presented it. The design features a complex system of buildings. It includes a bridge structure with a greenhouse. This greenhouse hosts a forest. It also incorporates cultural and leisure activities.
The design of the Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali stemmed from a competition in 1955. All national architects could participate. The design features two parallel building sections. A common section connects them. The first part is a slender, multifaceted skyscraper. It has twenty-six floors above ground. These floors accommodated offices with fewer visitors. The second section has four levels. It rests upon a portico. This bridge-like volume spans Via Melchiorre Gioia. It concentrated functions open to the public. The tower has an elongated hexagonal shape. The typical floor plan features two zones. A central corridor provides access. On one side are open-plan offices. The other side houses shared facilities and traditional offices. The bridge section features an open plan. Services and vertical connections run along the central axis. Both sections use a basic module of 1.60 meters. This measurement suited the minimum desk size. It also matches the width of the facade windows. Doubling the length corresponds to the mullion system. This system stiffens the curtain wall. Quadrupling it matches the spacing of the reinforced concrete pillars. These pillars support the complex.
Numerous modifications have altered the office layout over the years. These changes often involved removing original interior finishes. Ordinary and extraordinary maintenance adapted the complex. These adaptations addressed new safety standards. They also improved accessibility. Currently, many floors of the tower stand empty and unused. The Torre dei Servizi Tecnici Comunali stands as a testament to architectural innovation. It also represents the ongoing evolution of Milan’s urban landscape.