'600 - '700
From 1535 to 1713 Milan was occupied by the Spaniards: the status of “occupied territory” continued, with changing fortunes, after the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714), and also with the Austrian occupation, until the Second Italian War of Independence, although with the short period of Napoleonic occupation. For this reason, Milan probably holds the Italian record for longest foreign occupation.
The restoration works we are presenting concern monuments built between the XVII and XVIII century up to the Napoleonic Era. During these years the town shows, in sync with the Western world, the distinguishing Baroque and Neoclassic features, often with local and original characteristics: a rich period of aesthetic and technical innovations regarding materials, construction techniques and new decorative setups.
A slow but gradual urban development, initially contained inside the town walls wanted by Charles V, participated to the development of the major works altready started at the end of the XVI century , like the Seminario Vescovile (the Bishopric Seminary), Brera Palace, the Collegio Elvetico (the Swiss School), and the continuation of other works such as the Duomo - Milan cathedral - always at the core of the architectural debate - the Cà Granda and the massive realization of hydraulic works aiming to complete and improve Navigli (Milan canal system) waterways. The town was filled with a constellation of new aristocratic buildings, such as Palazzo Litta, Palazzo Dugnani, and new churches like Sant’Alessandro, Santa Maria alla Porta, San Bernardino alle Ossa and San Vito al Pasquirolo.
In the late XVIII century, after a long period of peace and knowledgeable and steady administration, Milan was considered a farsighted town, driven by his economic and cultural growth. The heritage of this period can be seen in significant artworks such as, among others, the Rotonda della Besana, the Scala, Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Cusani, Palazzo Clerici, Villa Belgiogioso, Palazzo Serbelloni, the Arena Civica and also the first public green areas among which we have to mention the important compound of Villa Reale in Monza.
Arch. Libero Corrieri
Commission for the Architectural and Landscape Heritage of Milan
Highlights
The executive project aimed at renovating the three levels of the wing on via Boschetti (underground, I and II floor) to host a permanent warehouse, a storage place for dirty and clean materials, a restoration lab, a copy center, a room for the air treatment unit, and a storage for compressed nitrogen cylinders.
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Clerici Palace is located at number 5 of the street carrying the same name, among the XVII century buildings of Contrada del Prestino dei Bossi (Quarter of Bossi Bakery). The building itself is a typical example of late baroque architecture and still one of the most rich and splendid dwellings of the XVIII century, despite the various losses and tamperings suffered during the XIX and XX century.
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The vault of the “Manuscripts Hall” has suffered from major static problems for many lustrums: problems which were faced in accordance with the construction techniques available at the time.
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The aim of this urgent intervention on the façade was the reconstruction of a proper and efficient protective coat of the wall coverings. The first procedures affected the removal of heavily deteriorated elements and portions endangering the support structures that could not be restored, replacing them with new transpiring coats made of natural lime.
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