Pirelli Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pirelli Tower |
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Torre Pirelli (Italian)
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East elevation from Piazza Duca d'Aosta, 2016
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| Alternative names | Pirellone Pirelli Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Commercial offices |
| Architectural style | Modernism |
| Location | Via Fabio Filzi, 22 Milan, Italy |
| Coordinates | 45°29′05″N 9°12′05″E / 45.48472°N 9.20139°E |
| Construction started | 1956 |
| Completed | 1958 |
| Owner | Regional Government of Lombardy |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 127 m (417 ft) |
| Roof | 124 m (407 ft) |
| Top floor | 113 m (371 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 32 2 below ground |
| Floor area | 24,000 square metres (260,000 sq ft) |
| Lifts/elevators | 6 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Giò Ponti Pier Luigi Nervi |
| Main contractor | Pirelli & C. SpA |
The Pirelli Tower (Italian: Grattacielo Pirelli), also known as Pirellone (meaning "Big Pirelli"), is a famous skyscraper in Milan, Italy. It has 32 floors and stands about 127 meters (417 feet) tall. The building's base covers about 1,900 square meters. It is approximately 75.5 meters long and 20.5 meters wide.
Builders used a lot of concrete, around 30,000 cubic meters, to construct it. The whole tower weighs close to 70,000 tons. The Pirelli Tower was one of the first skyscrapers to have a unique, tapered shape instead of a simple block. It also features a special outer wall made of glass and metal.
When it was finished, it was the tallest building in Italy. An expert in architecture, Hasan-Uddin Khan, called it "one of the most elegant tall buildings in the world." He also said it helped change how skyscrapers were designed in Europe. This building later inspired other famous towers, like the MetLife Building in New York City and the Banco Sabadell Tower in Barcelona.
History of the Pirelli Tower
In 1950, Alberto Pirelli, who owned the large Pirelli tire company, decided to build a skyscraper. He wanted it on the same land where his company's first factory stood in the 1800s. The main architect for this big project was Gio Ponti. He worked with other talented people like Pier Luigi Nervi and Arturo Danusso.
Construction of the tower started in 1956. This was a time when Italy was experiencing a strong economic boom, meaning the country's economy was growing quickly. The plan was for the tower to be surrounded by smaller buildings. When it was completed in 1958, the Pirelli Tower became a symbol of Milan. It also represented Italy's amazing economic recovery after the damage of World War II.
At 127 meters tall, it was the tallest building in Italy for many years, until 1995. In 1978, the Pirelli company sold the building to the Lombardy regional government. Today, it is still used as the main office for the Regional Council of Lombardy.
Incidents at the Tower
2002 Plane Crash Event
On April 18, 2002, a small, single-engine airplane crashed into the Pirelli Tower. The plane was from Switzerland and was supposed to fly to Milan. The pilot was running low on fuel, and Linate Airport was getting ready for an emergency landing. However, the plane suddenly changed course and hit the building.
Sadly, the pilot and two people inside the tower died in the accident. After the crash, the building needed a lot of repair work. The goal was to fix the damage while keeping the building's original design and strength. They also used the opportunity to add new technology and services to the tower.
See also
- Architecture of Italy
- List of tallest buildings in Italy
