On May 15th, 2025, Torre Velasca was officially reintroduced to Milan with a grand open-air concert in the newly designed Piazza Velasca. The event, attended by Mayor Giuseppe Sala and key stakeholders including Mario Abbadessa (Hines Italy), Paolo Asti (AA Asti Architetti), and Alessandro Spada (Assolombarda), marked the culmination of an ambitious restoration project that brings new life to one of Milan's iconic architectural landmarks.
Image from historical archive.
Originally designed by the renowned architectural collective BBPR (Banfi, Belgioioso, Peressutti, and Rogers) and completed in 1958, Torre Velasca is a bold statement of post-war Italian modernism. After nearly three years of careful restoration, the tower once again asserts its presence in the cityscape — renewed, revitalized, and reimagined for the 21st century.
Image from historical archive.
The project focused on a conservative restoration of the façades, a full regeneration of the interiors, and the creation of a brand-new public piazza—an urban oasis that reconnects the tower to the city's fabric.
Image from historical archive.
As Paolo Asti explains:"The BBPR project still feels strikingly contemporary. Our goal wasn't to fossilize the building but to bring it into the present as a living skyscraper. Its original design language — the chromatic and formal clarity, spatial flexibility, and high-quality materials — has allowed us to project it forward into the future."
© Albo
The restoration began in late 2020 with an innovative façade treatment that revived the tower's original, ever-changing tones. The custom-designed plaster shifts with the daylight, echoing the tower's dynamic presence. Inside, the original 1950s spirit was carefully preserved through respectful reuse of artisan ceramic finishes, rare woods, historic linoleum floors, and signature design details such as the bronze-and-glass pendant chandeliers and mahogany boiserie in the lobby.
© Albo
The renewed Piazza Velasca is a central feature of the project. Fully pedestrianized and landscaped with olive trees and magnolias, the square is envisioned as a civic destination—an open space for gathering, culture, and community. Urban furniture, shaded areas, and soft greenery complement the tower's powerful verticality.
© Albo
The project aligns with top international environmental sustainability standards and digital infrastructure standards. Torre Velasca now boasts LEED Gold certification for energy efficiency and WiredScore Gold for its high-level digital connectivity.
© Albo
Covering 34,000 square meters across 29 floors — including mixed-use spaces for retail, offices, and residences — Torre Velasca stands once more as a forward-looking landmark.
*
Cover image: © Albo
13
2
comment