Sanatorio regina Elena, Art Nouveau sanatorium in Legnano, Italy
Sanatorio Regina Elena is an Art Nouveau ensemble with a two-story main building and basement, flanked by single-story side wings with large windows and terraces. The complex was designed for therapeutic needs, with several pavilions featuring curved facades oriented to the southwest.
The complex opened on June 19, 1924, inaugurated by Queen Mother Margherita of Savoy and named after Elena of Montenegro, wife of King Victor Emmanuel III. After 1970 the building was repurposed and now houses services for disabled individuals and various offices.
The building shows attention to patient comfort in its design, with generous windows and terraces that bring light and fresh air inside. The Art Nouveau style deliberately avoided a cold institutional look and created a welcoming space for recovery instead.
The building today houses social services and offices distributed across its various wings. Visitors should note that some areas remain active workspaces and are not fully open to the public.
The pavilions with curved facades were specially oriented to maximize exposure to natural elements like sun and wind, which were considered therapeutic. This therapeutic architecture was an innovative application of modern medical theories from the 1920s.
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