A bassorilievo titled Architettura Moderna (Modern Architecture) by sculptor Giuseppe Maretto adorns the Torre Locatelli in Milan, completed in 1939. The relief forms part of the architectural embellishment of this monumental tower, designed by architect Mario Bacciocchi and situated at the corner of Piazza della Repubblica and Via Vittor Pisani.
The Torre Locatelli rises 67 metres across 17 storeys and was conceived as one of a pair of twin towers intended to mark a monumental gateway towards Milano Centrale station. The tower’s base, clad in light marble across its first three storeys, features a double-height portico on the Via Pisani façade. Upper storeys are articulated by terracotta cornices at regular intervals. The sculptural relief by Maretto contributes to the decorative scheme characteristic of Rationalist architectural practice in fascist-era Italy.
About Giuseppe Maretto
Maretto (Milan, 1908–1984) was an Italian sculptor, painter, enameller and medallist whose practice centred on Milan in the early-to-mid twentieth century. He exhibited at the V Triennale di Milano in 1933 and produced monumental works for major architectural commissions throughout the 1930s.
Details
- Creator: Giuseppe Maretto, sculptor
- Year: 1939
- Location: Torre Locatelli, Piazza della Repubblica 27, Milan
- Building architect: Mario Bacciocchi (1936–1939)
- Type: Bassorilievo (sculptural relief)
- Subject: Architettura Moderna (Modern Architecture)
Frequently asked questions
Who created this sculptural relief?
Giuseppe Maretto, a Milan-based sculptor active in the early twentieth century, executed the bassorilievo. Maretto was also a painter, enameller and medallist who participated in major cultural exhibitions and architectural projects of the 1930s.
What is the Torre Locatelli?
The Torre Locatelli (also known as Palazzo Locatelli) is a residential tower completed between 1936 and 1939 in Milan’s Piazza della Repubblica, designed by architect Mario Bacciocchi. It stands 67 metres tall and was originally conceived as the first of two monumental twin towers.
What was the building’s original purpose?
The tower functions primarily as a residential building, with office space for tertiary uses. The twin-tower scheme was intended to serve as an architecturally prominent gateway along the avenue leading to Milano Centrale station.
.jpg?w=768&resize=768,0&ssl=1 "Manifesto by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, 1932")
