Pirellone

In 1950 Alberto Pirelli, the president of the Pirelli Company, required that a skyscraper be built in the original area where the first factory was constructed in the 19th Century. The project was developed by architect Gio Ponti[?], with the assistance by Pierluigi Nervi[?] and Arturo Danusso[?].

At 127.1 metres, it is the highest building in the city, and was built of concrete (est. 60,000 tons). Upon its completion in 1960, it became one of the symbols of Milan and of the national economical recovery. The building was later sold to the Lombardy region, of which is now the head-office.

The building was hit by a single-engined aeroplane, a Swiss registered Rockwell Commander 112 on April 18, 2002. At the moment, it is uncertain whether it was a simple flight accident or if the elderly pilot committed suicide, and hypotheses regarding a deliberate terrorist act are doubtful. The aircraft was apparently expected to fly from Locarno to Milan and some reports allege that the pilot disobeyed air traffic control instructions transmitted from Linate airport prior to the crash. He was among those killed in the incident.