Steam Factory
A pioneering tramcar manufacturing complex that shaped Milan’s industrial identity during the early twentieth century, now repurposed as a cultural and creative venue.
At a glance
The Steam Factory occupies a city block in Milan’s industrial north, bounded by via Messina, via Procaccini, via Nono and Piazza Coriolano. Originally home to Carminati Toselli, one of Italy’s leading tramcar builders, the site has evolved from manufacturing hub to cultural space hosting exhibitions, fashion shows and film production.
History
On 26 January 1899, the Carminati, Toselli & C. company was founded near via Messina to repair and build rolling stock for railways and tramways. Milan’s position as the industrial heart of Italy made it ideal for such ventures during the industrial revolution.
By 1907, the original firm was dissolved and reformed as the Italian Society of Carminati Toselli, which expanded aggressively across the entire city block. Between 1907 and 1920, the company developed its first patents while constructing new buildings to house expanded operations.
Production flourished in the 1920s. By 1926, Milan’s tramway network had grown to 151 kilometres with 700 cars in daily service—a dramatic expansion from the 99 kilometres and 125 cars of 1886. Carminati Toselli supplied many of these vehicles.
The fascist regime’s rise triggered economic stagnation. The Italian Carminati Toselli Society was dissolved in 1935. Thereafter, various textile, pharmaceutical and logistics companies occupied the buildings, each modifying them substantially to suit new purposes. The via Procaccini warehouses, damaged in Second World War bombing, were eventually demolished.
What you see
The complex comprises industrial buildings spanning the entire block between four streets. Designed to accommodate manufacturing and assembly of tramcars, the structures reflect early twentieth-century factory typology with covered passages and substantial sheds.
Successive occupants altered the buildings dramatically. World War II bombing destroyed sections of the via Procaccini warehouses; post-war demolition created an open yard. Later adaptive reuse for cultural events and film production has introduced contemporary interventions, creating visual palimpsests of the site’s layered history.
Cultural significance
Carminati Toselli exemplifies Italy’s rapid industrial modernization at the turn of the twentieth century. The company’s tramcar innovations directly enabled Milan’s urban expansion and became vital to the city’s economic growth.
Today the Steam Factory represents industrial heritage in transition—a working landscape transformed by historical pressures and repurposed for creative use. Its evolution from manufacturing to cultural venue reflects contemporary approaches to preserving industrial sites.
Key facts
- Address: Via Giulio Cesare Procaccini, 4, 20154 Milano
- Coordinates: 45.4850824, 9.1746637
- Phone: +39 392 2943656
- Website: https://milanooff.com
Practical information
Hours and admission details for cultural events vary. Check the official website for current exhibitions, fashion shows or film production schedules.
Getting there
The Steam Factory is located in Milan’s Maciachini neighbourhood, accessible via public transport and automobile. Use the coordinates above with your preferred navigation tool for precise directions.
Sources & resources
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