Swiss center – Wikipedia

The Swiss center It is a management complex in Milan, located in Piazza Cavour. Known in particular for its tower (80 meters) – the second in Milan after the Snia Viscosa Tower in Piazza San Babila (1937) – was the skyscraper highest in the city since 1952 (year of its inauguration) to about 1954, when it was overcome by the Breda Tower of Piazza della Repubblica.

It consists of two separate bodies: the so -called Low house , four floors, which constitutes the road front on Piazza Cavour and the connection element with the pre -existing building of the via Palestro, and the Tower , 80 meters high for 21 floors, arranged more entirely. Architects were the Swiss Armin Meili and the Italian Giovanni Romano.

Starting from the early twentieth century, a Swiss community was formed in Milan, who in the following years was organized by meeting around the so -called Swiss association ( Swiss circle ), for which an headquarters in via Disciplini was found at first. The activity of the circle continued in alternate phases through the two wars, until the destruction of the historic headquarters, which took place during the bombing of February 14, 1943. Starting from the post -war period, a new location was thought, which would be built on land a east of Piazza Cavour, previously occupied by the historian Hotel Cavour , offered to Swiss association from the Municipality of Milan.

An internal competition was therefore called in 1947 to which the architects Armin Meili and Giovanni Romano were invited, who would become the first designer, the second workshop manager. Several projects were presented, among which the solution with the tower was preferred, accompanied by a low body overlooking the road. Several changes to the original project were made over the years and under construction. The laying of the first stone took place on November 6, 1949, accompanied by a parchment that reported the following.

The new complex was designed entirely self -sufficiency, both in the supply of electricity and in the equipment of drinking water. For the finishes, valuable materials were used, such as marble, travertine, granite and maple, which gave the building – both internally and externally – a particular elegance. The works lasted for a couple of years: already in the autumn of 1951, however, it was ready and inaugurated the Low house , in the presence of the federal councilor Enrico Celio; In 1952 it was then the turn of the Tower .

The Swiss Center today hosts the most important institutions that represent Switzerland in Milan and in northern Italy. In addition to the Consulate General of Switzerland, they are based there: the Swiss Institute of Rome , Swiss Chamber – Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Italy, Switzerland Tourism, The Swiss company and Swiss Italian -speaking radio and television.

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• ( OF ) Das Swiss center in Mailand , in Swiss construction newspaper , year 72, file 5, 30 January 1954, pp. 57-61.