Nave e Trifoglio buildings

Cliente: PoliMi

Location: Milano

Prodotto: 7,5 x 15 diamond tile + 3d mosaic 5 x 5

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The two buildings are part of the Leonardo campus of the Faculty of Architecture of the Milan Polytechnic. Designed in 1953 by Gio Ponti, Piero Portaluppi and Giordano Forti, the campus represents an extension of the historic site in Piazza Leonardo. In the intentions of the designers, the architectural complex was to develop around a courtyard but only two wings were built, postponing completion until, in the 1970s, Vittoriano Viganò designed the structure in via Ampère, built around the large void of the patio. In the 1960s, on the other hand, the other two buildings on via Bonardi, known as the Nave and the Trifoglio, were built.
The facades of these buildings are covered with ceramic tiles which were designed by Gio Ponti to obtain various chromatic effects when the sun’s rays hit the facade of the building. Strengthened by the experience gained on other facades designed by Gio Ponti, we contributed to the conservative restoration of these two buildings with glazed porcelain stoneware tiles of various sizes

Edificio Nave

For Nave we created 7.5×15 cm tiles: one in relief with a “diamond tip” effect, the other flat and simpler, with an irregular shape.

Reproduction of the 7.5 x 15 diamond tile
Edificio Trifoglio

For Trifoglio we produced 5×5 cm relief tesserae that faithfully reproduce those designed by Giò Ponti in terms of shape, surface structure and color tone.

Reproduction of 5x5 relief tiles

In both cases, after a careful study aimed at the creation of the molds and the subsequent creation of the pieces, we concentrated on the search for the enamel shades most faithful to the originals. The new ceramic material was used to cover the areas damaged by time, replacing the original damaged tiles, restoring prestige to two very representative works by the great Milanese architect.

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COLOUR
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green
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blue
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white
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cream
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grey
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yellow/orange/gold
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pink
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pink
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bronze
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bronze