Marble restoration in Milan

The cathedral is clad in Candoglia marble, quarried in the Val d’Ossola and carried for centuries along the waterways into the city. Ceppo di Gré, pink Baveno granite and Botticino from the Brescia area appear on façades, plinths and staircases across whole districts. That familiarity with stone carries indoors: in the nineteenth-century palazzi of Brera and Magenta, the Liberty buildings around Porta Venezia, the rationalist apartment blocks of the 1930s, the generous lobbies of the 1950s and 1960s, and the contemporary towers of Porta Nuova and CityLife.

Each period brings its own marbles, laying methods and typical problems. An old floor may have slightly uneven slabs and yellowed layers of wax. A 1960s lobby often shows a dull track between the front door and the lift. A modern Calacatta bathroom mostly suffers from the hard Milanese water. Recognising these differences is the first step towards a sound restoration.

Logistics matter too. Vehicle access to the centre is controlled by the Area C scheme, parking is scarce, lifts are often narrow and building regulations set working hours. We plan equipment and deliveries around all of this, and during Design Week in April we agree dates with showrooms and shops either side of the event.

These photos come from Les Traitements du Sud projects on the French Riviera: the same techniques, the same teams and the same standard of care we bring to Milan.