'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 use of Villa di Breme Gualdoni Forno as a higher education centre of the University of Milan-Bicocca, allowed to protect the original plant of the villa, through an almost natural adjustment procedure of the new spaces to the existing ones.
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Interventions included the following works:
- Construction of an entry path
- Cleaning and elimination of bushes on the walls (river Adda side)
- Stabilization of pillars
- Restoration of beams and of existing road base
- Restoration of the historic walls (river Adda side)
- Placement of steel shelves for base strengthening
- Diagnostic tests
- Construction of poles and tie-rods
- Shot concrete
- Demolition and removal of roadbed
- Hydro demolition of the reinforced concrete curb and suction of the demolished materials
- Construction of new reinforced concrete curbs
- Construction of a new road base
- Structural steel reinforcement
- Renovation of granite parapets
- Completion of the road by means of binder, wearing course, rainwater drainage system and new guardrail and road signs.
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Palazzo Reale - besides being one of the most valuable buildings of the town - has always been considered as the major exhibition venue by both citizens and tourists willing to attend important international exhibits.
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The restoration of Cascina Cuccagna architectural complex is an example of the transformation of the rural areas within the wider town growth.
It was essential therefore, since the beginning, to take into consideration all phases of this transformation.
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