Palazzo Mezzanotte, Stock exchange building in Piazza Affari, Milan, Italy
Palazzo Mezzanotte is the headquarters of the Italian Stock Exchange in Piazza Affari in central Milan. The travertine facade rises 36 meters (118 feet) above the square and displays three floors with large windows through which the financial activity inside can be seen.
Paolo Mezzanotte designed the building in 1927 following the principles of the Novecento movement, which combined classical forms with modern function. The building opened its doors to traders in October 1932 and became the center of the Italian financial market.
The glass ceiling in the Grain Market Hall displays linear compartments, while the auction room features a celestial dome by Gio Ponti that directs light onto the trading floor. These decorations reflect the importance that stock exchange trading held during the early years of Italian nationalism.
The palace still functions as a financial center, and large luminous displays show stock market indices from the square. The entrances are closed to the public, but the architecture and exterior details can be viewed from around the square.
Maurizio Cattelan's sculpture L.O.V.E. stands directly in front of the entrance, showing a raised hand in a provocative gesture. The sculpture was installed in 2010 as a temporary installation but was so well received by Milanese residents that it became permanent.
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