Built in 1912, the Ex Cinema Maestoso is a symbol of Milan’s collective memory. Today, it reopens as a Virgin Active sports centre. Having closed in 2007 due to the cinema crisis, the building has undergone renovations that preserve its historical identity while acknowledging its past. The 5,000-square-metre project incorporates parts of the 1930s façade and reimagines historical features such as the marble that once adorned the entrance, combining them with contemporary designs. The complex comprises three sections: the entrance (historical shape, new materials), the restored Viale Umbria façade, and the large hall extending into the depth of the plot, which preserves an existing tree. These elements merge to form a single architectural body that encapsulates nearly a century of transformations. Large windows reveal the internal activities, fostering dialogue with the city, while special materials such as glass tiles and brass cladding reflect light in ever-changing ways. The building has regained its public role and is set to play a key part in the future urban regeneration of the Porta Romana and Piazzale Lodi area.
