The innovative application of the curtain wall in the Galfa Tower

In the US, after the Second World War, buildings’ outer shells made of glass and steel were the result of highly specialised technical processes and industrialization in compliance with the requirement framework of the emerging use of the business centre. In Italy, however, the curtain wall would not be used before the end of the 1950s. The GalfaTower (102.37mhigh), was built during this period in Milan, and was designed by Melchiorre Bega. Every component of the project (façade, plan, internal arrangements, load-bearing structure) was defined by a precise rule referring to modularity, but different criteria were used to offer space adaptability and flexibility.The study about curtain wall evolution and Galfa Tower highlights the innovative application of this technological solution in this representative Italian building, in terms of architectural composition together with the refurbishment necessity to ensure the contemporary use while respecting the original language.