Projects / 6/4/2024

New LED night lighting for the Rainbow Tower in Milan

Six Italian companies have collaborated on a project that further enhances one of the symbols of modern Milan. Mapei is among them and in 1990 the company had contributed to the renovation of the tower, supplying materials for concrete repair and the installation of ceramic tiles creating a “vertical ceramic mosaic”

The Rainbow Tower in Milan, located in the Garibaldi area, has a new LED night lighting system created thanks to the collaboration of six Italian companies, including Mapei which is an institutional partner. The project, sponsored by the City of Milan and the Italian national railways, continues to enhance this iconic monument, loved by the Milanese and tourists from all over the world.

The Rainbow Tower in Milan, located in the Garibaldi area, now shines with a new night lighting system. This intervention, completed in collaboration between six Italian companies, including Mapei which is an institutional partner of the project, further enhances the charm of a unique jewel of industrial design. The Rainbow Tower has become one of the symbols of modern Milan, thanks to its location, history and architectural and design content.

The new lighting system uses powerful LED spotlights, giving the 35-m, 1,000 m² Rainbow Tower a special charm and fairytale effect, transforming it into a beautiful 'vertical ceramic mosaic'. This lighting highlights the many shades of colours that have made the tower so recognisable and loved by the Milanese. It has become a cult object for creative people and design enthusiasts all over the world.

The project and Mapei's contribution

The design project was led by the architecture division of the Original Designers Studio 6R5 Network. This group of Made in Italy excellences joined forces to preserve the beauty of the Rainbow Tower, also enhancing it in its night vision.

Over the years, the Italian company has already supported the project of the Rainbow Tower in Milan on other different occasions. In 1990, Mapei took part in the first significant renovation, supplying the materials needed to repair the concrete and install the ceramic tiles.

In 2015, during the Milan Expo, it contributed to the new restoration plan. The company was involved in repairing several concrete elements of the structure, installing the new ceramic tiles, grouting the joints and sealing the joints. The Mapei Group's subsidiary, Polyglass, also intervened in the project by supplying products to repair the waterproofing system of the Tower's circular roof.

A new restoration phase is planned for next year, involving the renovation of some of the tiles on the exterior. Mapei will still be a partner in the project.

Rainbow Tower in Milan

The History of the Rainbow Tower

The Rainbow Tower, originally built in 1964 as a water reservoir for the Milan Porta Garibaldi railway station, has undergone numerous transformations. Over the years, sedimented limestone had caused oxidation of the strengthening rods and deterioration of the concrete, leading to significant external leaks.

In 1990, on the occasion of the World Cup in Italy, the tower underwent its first significant renovation. The work, originally conceived for service purposes, was transformed into an urban element with a strong aesthetic and symbolic value. This was achieved by applying 100,000 tiles in 14 different colours, covering a structure with a circular plan and concave shape, divided into twenty-two faces interrupted by raised ribs. The project, by Original Designers Studio 6R5 Network, aimed to promote a new attitude of care and pride in the city's urban heritage. The redevelopment also included the rehabilitation of an old railway bridge between Viale Forlanini and Viale Corsica, renamed 'Northeast Passage'.

In 2015, on the occasion of the Expo, the tower was again restored and renovated by the same group of companies involved today. This intervention was seen as a tribute to the Milanese on an occasion of international visibility. Meanwhile, the Garibaldi area, close to Piazza Gae Aulenti, has become a nerve centre of Milan's design, fashion and modern architecture, with its futuristic skyscrapers. The Torre Arcobaleno, with its 'coloured ceramic totem', represents an evolution of the artisan origins of Italian master ceramists, now recognised worldwide as a national excellence. Today, the Rainbow Tower continues to amaze and fascinate with its new lighting, destined to delight the Milanese and tourists from all over the world.