Peeking out from behind the Duomo, the Torre Velasca awaits. This skyscraper, built in the 1950s by the BBPR architectural partnership, is a unique part of Milan. The Torre Velasca stands tall. It measures 75 meters to the roof. An antenna spire adds another 23 meters. That makes it 98 meters tall.
The Torre Velasca has a peculiar mushroom shape. Some call it the “skyscraper with straps”. It stands out against Milan’s skyline. The structure is reminiscent of Lombard tradition. It recalls medieval fortresses and towers. These fortresses had narrower lower parts. The higher parts were propped up by wood or stone beams. The building’s shape is a modern take on the medieval Italian castle.
BBPR designed the Torre Velasca to meet functional needs. They wanted narrower surfaces on the ground and wider spaces on top. Town planning laws dictated specific volumes. The tower serves mixed functions. It has both residential and commercial spaces.
The Torre Velasca is near the Duomo and the University of Milan headquarters. It sits between Corso di Porta Romana and Via Larga. An exit from the Missori metro station is right in front of it.
Some call the Torre Velasca “the world’s ugliest building”. Others find a strange beauty in it. It resembles a structure from a dystopian science fiction film. In 2011, it was declared a national monument.
The Velasca Tower offers a silent background in the city center. It is never a protagonist but always present. During Design Weeks, designers have illuminated the twenty-six floors with neon lights. Passers-by walk with their noses up. The Velasca Tower proudly stands among the city’s peaks. It gives a nod to the Duomo and the Castello Sforzesco. It also recognizes the modern towers of Isola, Garibaldi, and City Life.
One of its architects described the building as a sort of medieval nostalgia. The eight-story overhang is reminiscent of Lombardy castles. The Torre Velasca is an icon of Milan. It is a testament to architectural vision. It is a blend of history and modernity.