Torre della Permanente

Originally designed in the 1950s by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni along with Luigi Fratino, the tower stands next to the Palazzo della Permanente, a late 19th-century masterpiece by Luca Beltrami. The redevelopment by Park Associati preserves the tower’s original architectural identity, enhancing its functionality while embracing contemporary expressions.

Located on Via Turati, a major urban artery connecting central Milan to the Central Station, the Torre della Permanente is a fine example of Milanese Modernism and has long been a symbol of innovation in the city’s architectural landscape. The redevelopment and expansion project, rooted in a profound respect for the architectural quality of the original structure, carries forward its legacy while introducing cutting-edge solutions tailored to contemporary office space requirements. The Torre della Permanente stands opposite Serenissima, one of Park Associati’s first adaptive reuse projects, strengthening the dialogue between heritage and modernity in this dynamic urban context.

The project safeguards the memory of the building through careful historical and philological research while offering a new vision for the future. This includes the removal of incongruous additions and the introduction of interventions that harmonize with the original structure in a balanced dialogue with the esteemed preexisting design. The result is a revitalized space that retains its office function, elevating spatial quality and environmental performance.

The addition of two floors atop the original twelve reinterprets post-war Milanese towers with a contemporary lens. The glass façade of the new volume completes the original structure, incorporating a material palette that pays homage to the mid-century origins of the tower. The design aligns with the original elevation; while the existing structure employs bush-hammered concrete and klinker cladding, the new volume uses anodized aluminum and brick cladding with alternating recessed and protruding courses, creating a fresh rhythm on the façade. Inside, natural light floods the office spaces, offering sweeping views of both Milan’s historic core and the contemporary Porta Nuova skyline.

The façade intervention emphasizes the formal purity of its vertical, linear, and parallel lines, enhancing its compositional rigor. Recessed window frames add dynamism through pronounced shadow lines, while the outer window reveals, clad in bronze-finished metal, echo the tones and finishes of the upper addition. An opaline LED diffuser above the windows highlights the rhythmic pattern of the main elevation at night.

On the tower’s internal side, the stairwell block and balconies are clad in micro-perforated bronze-finished metal sheets, referencing the addition and windows.

The tower’s entrance, featuring a semi-open vestibule on Via Turati adjacent to the museum entrance, is also part of the intervention. The redevelopment of the lobby, respecting the original 1950s design, removes later modifications and highlights its architecturally unique features. The mosaic floor decoration is restored and enhanced, illuminated by the original recessed lighting.

This project reflects Park Associati’s commitment to blending memory and innovation—two essential forces shaping the future of the built environment. Torre della Permanente creates a new workspace that honors the past while engaging in dialogue with the present.