Living Inside the Tower

P. 158

Loving the Torre Velasca (and living there) means understanding its beauty out of the box

I have lived on the 24th floor of Torre Velasca for five years. Before I moved in there were signs of time left by people in the past who had done as they pleased, paying no attention to the essence of the place. They had painted the walls in fluo colors, covered the floors with dust-color carpeting, and even refurbished the bathrooms with flowery tiles! But in Torre Velasca you cannot and should not do anything new; the architecture demands respect for its original forms and materials. There are no other options. The corridors lead to windows facing the city; other internal partitions are “classic”: the kitchen is a small closed passageway with two doors. A landing leads to separate bedrooms, each with a bathroom (a real novelty at the time). The living area faces a loggia with a breathtaking view of Milan, with China blue tiles, like a pool without water. Other levels are in bright green, like a lawn.

The loggia’s rust-color ceiling blends with the hue of the external façades. Inside, the floors are all in wood, next to wall cabinets painted by hand in a cream color, close to the hue of the walls but slightly more intense. The furnishings, including drawers and shelves, are in mahogany. The bathrooms and kitchen have the same floors as the loggias, with contrasting vertical surfaces in a pale pink mosaic. The window frames are in satin-finish aluminium or painted wood, with the brass “Velasca” handles, designed for the occasion.

My space had been modified, and my sole concern was to take it back to its original splendor. In tune with the dictates of the heritage authorities, since this is a listed building. Of course the furnishings are mine, a sort of recording of my life, items found through strange coincidences, personal memories. Everything looks good in this setting. Though in the tower, less is better.