092

TENNIS CLUB ALBERTO BONACOSSA EXPANSION


LOCATION Milan, Italy
YEAR 2010
THEME Architecture, Sport spaces, Tennis club
STATUS Project
DESIGNERS Antonio Monestiroli, Tomaso Monestiroli, Claudia Tinazzi
TEAM  Marcello Bondavalli, Federica Cattaneo


The renovation and expansion project of the Milan Tennis Club forces a number of considerations that for us become constraints of the project itself.
Absolute respect for the original design by architect Muzio (1923-29), which in fact constitutes the main value of the current venue. That design should not only be taken for what it is but enhanced as much as possible by ridding the buildings of all superfetations and restoring the changes made over time. Consideration can be given to modifying the bleachers of the tennis court intended for the trophy because they do not match the original design, which called for lighter, differently shaped bleachers.

Everything else, including the open pool with restaurant, locker rooms, and garden, should be preserved and restored in all their parts. The site of the open swimming pool is of great beauty and is representative of a language of twentieth-century architecture in Lombardy, so our choice is for careful restoration. The realization of the most important works requested by the members, which are: two underground garages, for a conspicuous number of cars; tennis courts with perimeter closure and fixed cover. This structure, built with a system of steel pillars and beams, contains four tennis courts separated by movable panels and includes a system of photovoltaic panels on the roof to make the entire complex self-sufficient from an energy point of view; a new gymnasium with attached locker rooms that can be easily divided into two parts with movable panels according to the needs of use, in which it is possible to carry out physical activities with equipment or free; an indoor swimming pool with a regulation-size pool with attached locker rooms. The swimming pool, which is basement level so as not to occupy the surrounding space, will be covered by a large skylight that can be opened on the perimeter walls made by means of a reinforced concrete coffered structure. On the two basement levels are the pool locker rooms and rooms for the spa; a conference center with two meeting rooms for 100 and for 50 people with associated basement garages. The conference center, located in the northern corner of the area, can be completely independent of the tennis club’s internal activities, although it is easily connected to the annual trophy court and can be used for special events; the “central” court intended for the Bonfiglio trophy and other ago- nistic events is equipped with two opposing bleachers, one of which is fixed with storage rooms contained within it, and a mobile one that will be set up from time to time on the adjacent soccer field; the building adjacent to the Muzio building is intended for meeting rooms, bar, television room, and services. In front of this building a new arcade (moreover, already provided for in the Muzio project) would form a pathway to the indoor courts, and the new indoor swimming pool; the tennis courts would remain a total of 16 of which four would be new with fixed roofing, one with new bleachers (intended for the trophy), and the other 11 pre-existing and properly restored; new energy-efficient facilities are planned for all buildings, old and new.

Aree verdi
Nel progetto originale dell’architetto Muzio sono previste aree verdi con pre- cise destinazioni che è nostra intenzione confermare: l’area prospiciente la palazzina è de- stinata al passeggio e alla permanenza dei soci e degli ospiti. È un’area molto accogliente con alberi ad alto fusto col- locati in circolo e a filari paralleli che va mantenuta con cura; la alberatura lungo i due lati del recinto, via Arimondi e Monte Generoso, che è nostra intenzione piantumare nuovamente, ha la funzione di proteggere i campi in direzione sud-est; inoltre tutti i campi da tennis sono delimitati con un sistema di siepi aperte al centro dei campi stessi dove sono sistemate le panche per i giocatori e per gli ospiti. Queste siepi vanno in parte ripiantate per ripristinare la loro configurazione originale.



IN

L. Cardani (edit by) Studio Monestiroli  Opere e progetti di Architettura Electa Milan 2021