Pirelli Tower refurbishment

YEAR

2002 – 2004

CLIENT

Lombardy Region

VALUE

€ 12 million

TASK

Refurbishment design

and construction site assistance.

LOCATION

Milan – Italy

CREDITS

ISA
Grassi & Crespi
Marcora

architectural designer:
Sarno, Multari e Corvino

The renovation of the Milan offices of the Lombardy Region was necessary after the airplane accident which severely damaged the façades. Despite the crash, they were already in a poor condition in the blind parts while the glazed sections were not adequate to modern standards concerning acoustic and thermal insulation. The intervention’s object is one of the most famous buildings realized by the architect Giò Ponti and is considered a prestigious example of Italian and world architecture. Taking the above into consideration, the tender design drafted by the architects Sarno, Multari and Corvino excluded any replacement of façade elements, but a careful restoration respecting the drawings made by Ponti and the conservation and renewal of the original materials.

The design and construction contract was launched by the Lombardy Region was awarded to a joint venture of companies: ISA, Grassi&Crespi and Marcora, with BMS in charge of the final design. The draft design proposed for the glazed sections the complete dismantling and removal of the existing elements with the replacement of the damaged sections only. All the other elements, precisely marked, will be restored, in order to be remounted exactly how they were in their former positions. However, the façade performance will be improved by modern, highly efficient thermal and acoustic glass elements.

Regarding the blind sections, which are clad with mosaic tesserae, a detailed survey of the surfaces which were missing was performed and a physical and chemical analysis of all the parts of the facing was carried out. Afterwards, a further consolidation procedure was made based on the injection of specially formulated epoxy resins. The missing sections of the mosaics previously fallen off were replaced by means of purposely produced tesserae which are the exact reproductions of those adopted at the time by Giò Ponti after a lengthy study and careful selection of the manufacturer.