Torre Arcobaleno, Milan’s rainbow tower within the Porta Garibaldi area gets a new night lighting system. The collaborative effort, curated by a group of Italian companies, repurposed the building as a tribute to the city and its people, turning it into a symbol of Milan’s modern transformation. Its strategic location, rich history, and exceptional architectural and design elements all contribute to its significance, boasting a “vertical ceramic mosaic” that, with its covered 1,000 square metres, is the largest mosaic of its kind in the world.

The new lighting system, equipped with Forum LED, adds a special fairy-tale charm to the 35-metre-tall Torre Arcobaleno, casting light onto the multitude of colours that have made it a beloved symbol for the people of Milan and a cult building for creative and design enthusiasts worldwide.

Indeed, Forum LED 397 W enable precise and targeted illumination of the tower’s silhouette, enhancing colour rendering while maintaining the low power consumption levels of the previous system. The service life of the new lights is about 100,000 hours.

At the helm of the project was the architecture division of Studio Original Designers 6R5 Network, headed by Francesco Roggero, Albino Pozzi, Rita Alfano Roggero, and Kiyoto Ishimoto. Acting as the “directors” of the initiative, they collaborated with other leaders of Made in Italy excellence, committing to preserving the beauty of the Torre Arcobaleno while enhancing its allure, particularly during nighttime. The companies involved in the project were:

• Bazzea Construction Technology (restoration works)
• Condor – Formwork, Scaffolding (metal multidirectional scaffolding)
• Disano Illuminazione (lighting)
• Fila Solutions (surface cleaning)
• Marazzi Group (tiles)
• Mapei (adhesives, restoration, and coating)

The Municipality of Milan and Rete Ferroviaria Italiana (RFI), the Italian railway infrastructure manager, have also sponsored this new initiative, continuing the commitment set out at the beginning of the redevelopment project.

Torre Arcobaleno and its story

The tower’s concrete load-bearing structure dates to 1964 when it served as a water tank in the railway yard of Milan’s Porta Garibaldi train station. Over time, settled limestone led to iron oxidation and concrete deterioration, resulting in significant external leaks.

During the 1990 FIFA World Cup held in Italy, the tower underwent a major renovation, that converted the tower from a functional structure to an urban landmark with a highly recognizable aesthetic value. This transformation involved cladding the tower with 100,000 tiles measuring 10 x 10 cm in 14 different colours.

The idea behind the design was to highlight the tower’s circular, concave shape, divided into twenty-two faces interrupted by as many raised ribs.

The restoration work included reinforcing the walls and ribs, waterproofing the surfaces, reconstructing damaged parts, and re-painting connecting elements.

The project, guided by Milan-based Studio Original Designers 6R5 Network, aimed to foster a renewed appreciation for the city’s urban heritage. Additionally, an old railway bridge between viale Forlanini and viale Corsica, later referred to as the “Northeast Passage”, was also renovated as part of the redevelopment plan.

In 2015, during the World Expo Milano, the tower underwent another round of restoration and modernization works, funded entirely by the same group of companies involved in the current project. This new intervention was intended as a tribute to the people of Milan, coinciding with a moment of exceptional visibility for the city, such as the international exposition.

Meanwhile, the Garibaldi area, particularly Piazza Gae Aulenti, has become a hub of design, fashion, and modern architecture, featuring futuristic skyscrapers. The Torre Arcobaleno stands as a “colourful ceramic totem”, representing the evolution of Italian master ceramists, who have moved from their artisanal roots into the industrial world and are now recognized worldwide as symbols of national excellence.

Today, the Torre Arcobaleno embarks on a new journey with captivating new lights, destined to amaze both locals and tourists arriving from all over the world.