Torre Velasca, Brutalist skyscraper in Milan, Italy
Torre Velasca is a residential and office tower with 26 floors in central Milan, built in concrete and widening noticeably toward the top to reach 106 meters (348 feet). The upper floors project outward like an inverted mushroom above the narrower base and can be seen from a distance.
The architectural group BBPR designed the tower during the nineteen fifties as part of Milan's reconstruction after World War II, with construction completed in 1958. The building opened to residents and tenants in 1961 and marked a new Italian approach to high-rise construction.
The name comes from a street in central Milan, which in turn refers to a seventeenth-century Spanish governor. The building is now used mostly by residents and office workers who pass through its doorways every day.
The tower sits a short walk from Missori metro station and fits easily into a route through the historic center. The best views of the building come from several streets and squares in the area, especially on clear days.
The upper floors echo the shape of medieval Lombard fortified towers, giving the concrete structure a surprisingly historical appearance. This connection between old and modern motifs was a rare approach in postwar high-rise design.
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