Italy is an amazing place in which per square meter has a lot of interesting sights, beautiful views, architectural masterpieces. The country is known all over the world thanks to such "stainless" values as excellent cuisine, excellent wine, sunny weather, and the burning character of local residents. If you ask a woman what Italy is for her, you will probably hear words such as high fashion and great shopping. The man, without hesitation, will call football and the most beautiful of cars - Ferrari.
This article will focus on the sights, which perfectly combines the refined taste and belonging to the automotive industry - this is a high-rise building of the famous tire manufacturer Pirelli (Grattacielo Pirelli).
Pirelli Company History
In early 1872, the young Italian Giovanni Batista Pirelli laid the foundation for the production of rubber products in his homeland. The company was named G.B. Pirelli & C. and engaged in the production of an extensive assortment of soft rubber products. At the disposal of Pirelli and his companions was a small factory, bought with total money. Several chemical technologists have piled over the development of the chemical composition of the products, including the head of the company, who received higher education in this field in Switzerland. Production itself required the labor of a couple of dozen workers.
By the end of the 19th century, the company's specialists developed a special composition for creating bicycle tires.
Pirelli filed a patent for his first invention in 1894.
As the automotive industry began to gain more and more popularity, the company became interested in the manufacture of tires. Pirelli and Co. received a patent for automobile "shoes" in 1901. Already after 4 years, a separate unit of the Pirelli concern began to deal with the needs of motorcycles and cars.
Pirelli's immersion in racing
In order to show a high level of production and provide good advertising for its production, Pirelli sponsors a race car team. Active participation in various racing events did not go unnoticed, both for companies manufacturing cars and for spectators. In 1907, the Pirelli team won the Paris-Beijing road trip, which had a great effect on the status of the company.
The First and Second World Wars strongly crippled the European economy, naturally, the automotive industry also suffered. Pirelli and Co. were not in the best of circumstances either. In the 50s of the last century, at the helm of the company was the son of the founder - Alberto Pirelli. It was he who came up with the idea to support not just motorsport, but the Formula 1 queen of races. Brand tires brought victory to the teams Alfa Romeo, Trident and, of course, Ferrari. Ferrari high-speed car, supplemented by Pirelli tires, under the control of racer Alberto Askari, is an incredible Italian trio that made a splash in the world of F-1 racing in 1952-53.
In 1956, Pirelli left the F-1 to start developing a new revolutionary product.
Their return to auto racing will take place only in 1981, when they undertake to “shoe” horses from Lotus JPS and Toleman. And in 1983, the young Brazilian child prodigy will be driving Toleman (now Benetton) cars Ayrton Senna. Subsequently, Pirelli will expand its clientele with the teams Brabham-BMW, Minardi, Ligier, Osella, Renault. Three-time world champion in Formula 1 racing, Nelson Piquet won many beautiful victories in 1985, 86, 89 and 91 on fireballs armed with Pirelli tires.
The modern look of Pirelli
150 years of continuous research in the production of soft rubber products, brought Pirelli and Co. many innovations and progressive finds. The concern's interests are divided into two large parts: the production of tires (Pirelli Tire) and rubber products of a wide range (Pirelli). All production facilities comprise about 20 factories located both in Italy and abroad. Continuing a long tradition, Pirelli maintains contact with the world of sports - provides financial support to the Milan football club Internazionale, and is also an exclusive supplier of tires for the F-1 and rally races. Private tires Pirelli, if I may say so about the products of the famous brand, is produced for cars, motorcycles and scooters. At the same time, there are various tire collections designed for urban coverage, race track, poor terrain and the like. People who buy Pirelli tires thus emphasize their status, love of speed and comfort on the road. The cost of a standard set of tires of this Italian brand reaches a couple of thousand euros, but experienced car owners do not spare money for their "horses."
Pirelli Tower
The true pride of the company is its headquarters in Milan, the multi-story Pirelli Tower (Grattacielo Pirelli), also known as Pirellone. As conceived by Albert Pirelli, the head office of the company was to capture the imagination of the inhabitants of Milan and its guests. In addition, the location of the building was directly related to the history of the company. It was in this area that the first factory of G.B. Pirelli & C. was once located.
In 1950, the design of the 32-story building was designed by architect Giovanni Ponti with the participation of engineer Pierre Luigi Nervi. Both Italians professed an innovative approach in the field of architecture and design. Thanks to their bold ideas, the first skyscraper of Milan got the shape of a hexagon (base - 60 x 18 m), and not the look of a dull "brick". The construction of the high-rise building took place from 1956 to 60, during which time the construction company used more than 30 thousand cubic meters of concrete mass. The highest point of the building was 127 m above the ground, the total surface area - 1900 m2.
The main entrance to the building has long been facing Duca d'Aosta Square. Then, in order to get inside the Tower, it was necessary to climb the stairs above a kind of "hill", inside which there was an audience for presentations. Now, you can get to the main office of Pirelli from the opposite side of the building. A few days a week on the roof of a skyscraper open access to everyone who wants to look at Milan from a bird's eye view. In addition to the picturesque panorama of the city, visitors can look at the temporary exhibitions, which are often exhibited in the premises of the Grattacielo Pirelli.
Interior design
The interior decoration of the Pirelli Tower is able to impress visitors much more than its exterior mirror beauty. The interior is permeated with the ideas of futurism and functionalism.
The floors of a chic skyscraper are lined with rubber, which serves as a kind of symbol. The hall of the building is decorated with an original decor element resembling a giant tire.
In this office building, visitors are waiting for unexpected design solutions everywhere, demonstrating the extraordinary talent of the people who had a hand in its creation.
In 1960, the Grattacielo Pirelli building surpassed in its height the main spire of the Duomo Cathedral, on which the statue of the Madonna was strengthened.
According to the city decree, no building was supposed to overshadow the heavenly abode of the stone patroness of Milan.
In order to resolve the impending conflict, the architects of the Tower decided to install an exact copy of the holy Madonna on its roof. Sadly, in 2002, a small private plane crashed into the upper floors, causing significant damage to the office skyscraper.
At present, the Pirelli company building is the eighth in height in Italy and second in Milan.
Places nearby Pirelli Tower
The Pirelli headquarters is located at Milan Central Station. The old building of the 19th century was reconstructed in the first half of the 20th century and now represents a curious example of architecture. This is one of the largest railway stations in Europe, equipped with 24 platforms.
Pirelli's contribution to pop culture
In 1964, in order to popularize the Pirelli brand, the company's management turned to the photographer who worked with The Beatles, Robert Freeman. The main task of the photographer was to capture beautiful ladies on the background of hot sand and the azure sea. At first glance, there were no special references to the core business of the company.
Every year, with the exception of 1975-83, young promising fashion models, actresses, singers and other divas related to culture and art became the heroines of the calendar from Pirelli. The process was led by photographers who managed to become famous for their unusual works: Steve McCary, Mario Sorrenti, Karl Lagerfeld, Patrick Demarchelier, Richard Avedon, Annie Leibovitz, Bruce Weber and others. pirellical.com
The idea to sell beautiful images to middle-class motorists and truckers, eventually turned into a real work of popular art. We managed to visit as models: Sophia Loren, Naomi Campbell, Natalia Vodianova, Jennifer Lopez, Hilary Swank, Penelope Cruz, Christy Tarlington, Mila Jovovich, Adriana Lima, Heidi Klum, Keith Moss and many other stars. All these stunning beauties fit perfectly into the bright scenery of heavenly places: Mallorca, Provence, Tunisia, Seychelles, Jamaica, California, United Kingdom, Brazil, China, Bahamas.
Now the first editions of the calendar are hunted by avid collectors and can cost several tens of thousands of euros! And the presentation of each new calendar from Pirelli turns into a social event for the rich and chosen.
- Official Pirelli Calendar Website: pirellical.com
- Pirelli official website in Russian: www.pirelli.com/tyre/ru/ru/homepage.html
