Centro Direzionale di Milano

Coordinates: 45°29′04″N 9°11′49″E / 45.48444°N 9.19694°E / 45.48444; 9.19694
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Centro Direzionale di Milano
Quartiere of Milan
Country Italy
RegionLombardy
ProvinceMilan
ComuneMilan
Zone9
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)

The Centro Direzionale di Milano is a business district (quartiere) in Milan, Italy, part of the Zone 9 administrative division. It is located north-west of the city centre, between the major railway stations of Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi. The district developed in the second half of the 20th century; its realization was planned by the city administration to relieve congestion in the city centre by moving business and tertiary activities in the new area. Coherently with this plan, the district is mainly occupied by modern office buildings, including several of Milan's skyscrapers.

Milano Centro Direzionale in the 60s

History[edit]

The district was originally designed to accommodate office buildings for tertiary activities. A relevant part of the design effort focused on the realization of adequate infrastructures supporting heavy daily commute, although only some of the corresponding projects were actually implemented. The main transportation hub in the area is Porta Garibaldi railway station, with connection to the Milan Metro, the suburban network and national rail lines.

Overall, the realization of the new district took place between 1955 and 1962, but was later suspended as a consequence of the lack of an actual regulation preventing tertiary activities to be established in the city centre.

For several years thereafter, the Centro Direzionale remained an heterogeneous and sparse area. Some skyscrapers were built (including the Pirelli Tower, the Galfa Tower, and the Servizi Tecnici Comunali Tower) but other areas remained undeveloped and fell in decay. A major example of the inconsistent use of urban areas in the district was the establishment of the Varesine "Luna Park" (now dismissed) amidst a supposedly office and financial district.

The development of the district was resumed in the early 21st century, when a completely new project was approved by the city authorities. Centro Direzionale is now a large working site, with several urban renewal works in progress. These include the realization of a large shopping mall devoted to fashion (nicknamed 'Città della Moda', Fashion City), residential blocks, new skyscrapers, and a large city park.

Transport[edit]

The main transportation hub in the area is Porta Garibaldi railway station, with connection to the Milan Metro M2, M3 and M5 lines (Garibaldi FS), the suburban network and national rail lines.

Complex[edit]

Name Height (m) Floors Year
UniCredit Tower A 231 31 2009 - 2011
Palazzo Lombardia 161 39 2007 - 2010
Torre Solaria 143 37 2010 - 2013
Torre Diamante 140 30 2010 - 2012
Grattacielo Pirelli 127 31 1956 - 1960 - R2005
Gioia 22 121 25 2019 - 2021
UnipolSai Tower 120 23 2019 - 2023
Torre Breda 117 30 1950 - 1955 - R2009
Bosco Verticale 111 24 2009 - 2014
Torre Galfa 109 31 1956 - 1959 - R2018
UniCredit Tower B 100 23 2009 - 2011
Torre Garibaldi A 100 25 1984 - 1992 - R2011
Torre Garibaldi B 100 25 1984 - 1992 - R2012

References[edit]

  • Maurizio Grandi and Attilio Pracchi (1980), "Il Centro direzionale", in Milano. Guida all'architettura moderna, Zanichelli, pp. 320–327. ISBN 88-08-05210-9.

External links[edit]

45°29′04″N 9°11′49″E / 45.48444°N 9.19694°E / 45.48444; 9.19694