Metro Bits

giolumi · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: MILANO

I read you pages about Milano and about the "M" sign variations

I have to correct you.

Italian "M" sign was first used in Milano and not in Rome

It was designed by international designer Bob Noorda (born in Nederland but living in Milan). Bob Noorda designed also Milan's metro graphic who than inspired Massimo Vignelli for the New York's subway graphic.

Some architectural information: Milan first 2 lines was designed by famous modernist architetc Franco Albini, with his wife Franca Helg and Antonio Piva

Milan's metro is considered the biggest social (pubblic) quality architecture in Italy. The functional spaces, innovative materials and modern graphic are mile stones.

Also "Passante Ferroviario" (railway link/suburban railway) was designed by famous architect Mangiarotti.

Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 57

[quote="metrobits"]

giolumi · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: MILANO

A part of the book (260 pages) on Milan underground that I wrote for the university degree, and about 20-30 books from Metropolitana Milanese society you can read the book "The architecture of underground railway stations (Die architektur von u-bahofen)" written by Rauch Jurgen, you will have some information about this, in English and German.

Last week Italian Ministery for Art declared AMENDOLA (MM1) and CAIAZZO (MM2) national monument. Problaly the firts and only underground stations considered as monuments in Italy (they already call them as open museum)

Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 57

giolumi · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: MILANO

Realy I do not understand why they chose Caiazzo instead of San Babila or Cadorna, probably beacuse is one of the oldest station that will be not modified in the nex few years.

In the picture you see tha station after 40 years of life! Without any kind of restoration of original colour, and without the correct lighting.

But the three main caracteristic are still perfect: the innovatice grafich signal (first in the word built as "strip" long all the platform), the green handrails tha t help the people as the "Ariadne's thread", and the very simply functionality of the station, tipical of the international/modernism style.

Difference between other famous architecture in Italy? This is the problem, too many people in Italy see only building built from 1000BCto 1700AD, but we have many masterpieces built in the 20Th century also!

You cannot find renaissance in the undeground, (as doric columns in Berlin's u-bahn). In Milan we have an undeground built in the correct architectural style of 60s! This is art history, not only emotion!

giolumi · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: MILANO

amendola in the 60s

cadorna perfect functionality

san babila control room (demolished)

official pictures made in 1964

graphic project realised by Bob Noorda

Bob Noorda helped Massimo Vignelli to design New York vary famous Subway's graphic, after the positive experience of Milan's undeground

Mike · Site Admin Joined: 07 Apr 2007 Posts: 57

giolumi · Joined: 24 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: MILANO

there are different reasons:

amendola MM1 is the only one station of the first two line (built togheter in the 60s) that was partially designeg by another architect: Arrigo Arrigoni.

Arrigo Arrigoni was the "official" architect of all Milan public building from 60s to 70s. He designed the roof of the stations with triangular windows. All the orther part of the station was designed by Franco Albini, Helg (his wife), and Piva architects.

Caiazzo station has all the carateristics of the tipical MM2 station, but it was already modified, as Amendola, expecially the Bob Noorda's graphic signal.

Probably they choose Caiazzo because they want to refurbhis Centrale, Garibaldi, Loreto stations. Then Cadorna was refurbished last year and S. Ambrogio will be modified whit the construction of the new MM4 that will start next month.