Built in 1964, the Torre Arcobaleno has become an emblem of the city's creativity over the years and was first renovated in 1990. This latest upgrade was overseen by the Architecture Division of Original Designers 6R5 and forms part of the “Wonderline” project that has generated various initiatives in the world of art and architecture in recent years, all revolving around the theme of colour.
The concave shape of the structure has now been accentuated by a new covering made up of 100,000 coloured tiles, which were installed after careful preparation of the underlying surface. This involved removing the old, loose tiles, cleaning the substrate, removing any unstable material and then repainting.
The initiative was partnered by several well known companies, including Bazzea - B Construction Technology, Condor and Fila Solutions, which supplied its Fila PH Zero, Fila NOPaint Star and FilaSTOP Dirt treatments, for removing dirt and graffiti and protecting surfaces.
Marazzi contributed to the project with the supply of tiles from its Sistem C collection, produced in a comprehensive range of 25 colours with three surface finishes (polished, matt and textured non-slip), four sizes and two 3D-effect relief patterns, while Mapei contributed various special adhesives and complementary tile-setting products, including Mapefer 1K corrosion-resistant cement-based mortar, Elastocolor Primer and Ultralite S1 Quick single-component cement-based adhesive.
The Garibaldi district and nearby Piazza Gae Aulenti are associated with Milan's movers and shakers in the worlds of business, fashion and architecture. Against this backdrop, the Torre Arcobaleno is a “Colourful Ceramic Totem”, recalling Italy's master ceramicists and the artisanal origins of an industry in which Italy is acknowledged as a worldwide leader.
