The “Cathedral” of the Fabbrica del Vapore

Historic project
Type Historic building
Intervention Renovation
Location Milan, Italy
Roof insulation Isotec by Brianza Plastica – 60 mm thick, 342 mm pitch
Roof cladding Interlocking clay tiles
Completion date 2011

History

The Fabbrica del Vapore (Factory of Steam) is an industrial complex located near the Monumental Cemetery of Milan. Until 1935, it was home to Società Italiana Carminati e Toselli, a company specialising in the production of transport equipment, including railway carriages and steam locomotives. Since the 1990s, the entire site has undergone an extensive redevelopment programme led by the Municipality of Milan, aimed at restoring and repurposing the nine buildings within the complex as a hub for meetings, events and the exchange of ideas. Among these, the large building known as the “Cathedral” stands out. This impressive and expansive space was originally used for the assembly of railway carriages.

The intervention

The renovation project aimed to restore the industrial building to its original splendour, highlighting its exposed brickwork both inside and out, large windows with geometric-patterned frames, and the double-pitched roof clad with interlocking clay tiles. In particular, the roof was completely dismantled to reveal the original iron trusses, which were left exposed on the interior. These trusses became the support for a new secondary timber framework, onto which Brianza Plastica’s Isotec ventilated thermal insulation system was installed. Thanks to its integrated stiffener, the Isotec panel enabled rapid and safe installation of the insulation while simultaneously creating a ventilation cavity between the insulation layer and the interlocking clay roof tiles. The ease of handling and workability of Isotec — even at height — made it possible to construct, in a single step, a load-bearing, thermally efficient deck that is both micro-ventilated and resistant to accidental water infiltration from the roof covering. The energy efficiency upgrade, achieved using Isotec rigid polyurethane foam panels (density 38 kg/m3), resulted in a thermal transmittance value (U) of 0.35 W/m2K, significantly improving the energy performance of the roof.

The building today

The Fabbrica del Vapore is now one of Milan’s most prominent venues for cultural events and youth gatherings. Managed by the Municipality of Milan, it serves as a dynamic centre dedicated to creativity and entertainment, with a particular focus on contemporary art.
The large building known as the “Cathedral” stands out as the complex’s main exhibition space, hosting a wide variety of cultural exhibitions, installations and events.