Social housing “Fabio Filzi”

Built by the Istituto Fascista Autonomo Case Popolari, this is the most exemplary housing development in Rationalist style in Milan.

The housing stands in parallel blocks with north-south exposure and four or five storeys depending on the width of the street they overlook.

Each building’s layout is based on the juxtaposition of modular boxes positioned to achieve apartments with one to three rooms plus kitchen and bathroom. In plan, the centre of the ground floor is used for toilets, showers, washboards and drying racks, all for common use.

The facades along the street have slightly retracted square loggias, where the kitchen and bathroom windows are placed. The inward-facing sides are alternated by the tall stairwell boxes, which receive daylight from the sides and are fitted with prefabricated shelf steps in black granolithic concrete. The facades along Viale Argonne feature jutting rows of cantilevered bedroom balconies.

Other significant buildings by Franco Albini: IFACP ‘Gariele D’Annunzio’ district (lot A) (with R. Camus, G. Palanti, E. Battigalli, E. Cerutti, F. Fabbri, G. Minoletti, A. Putelli), 1939, Via Bernardo Zamagna; Via Privata Tracia 5/7; Via Privata Micene; Via Privata Preneste 6/8
FACP ‘Ettore Ponti’ district (lot A) (with R. Camus and G. Palanti), 1938-1941, Via Paolo Maspero 51; Via del Turchino 18/22; Via Monte Cimone 
Spazio Bocca (ex-Baldini and Castoldi bookshop), 1945, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II 12
INCIS Workers Houses III and IV in Vialba, 1950-1953, Via Felice Orsini 68
INA-Baggio House (with F. Merscotti), 1950-1953, Via delle Forze Armate 327/328; Via Cividale del Friuli; Via Palmi
Minorini and Immobiliare Paoli building and apartments (with F. Helg), 1961-1972, Via Filippo Argelati 28/30; Via Angelo Fumagalli 7/9
Restoration of Fossati block (with F. Helg), 1974-1980, Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi 17; Via Giorgio Strehler; Via Rivoli