架构师提供的文本描述。与米兰的哥特式教堂、建筑、雕塑和穹顶混合在一起的托瑞·韦拉斯卡(TorreVelasca)是这座城市古老中心为数不多的现代建筑之一。

Text description provided by the architects. Mixed in with the Gothic Cathedrals, buildings, sculptures and domes of Milan, the Torre Velasca stands out as one of the few modern buildings in the city’s ancient center.

托瑞·韦拉斯卡计划以近1000米的高度逼近周围的建筑，这是米兰天际线的一个重要补充。因此，建筑师，BBPR，找到方法将1958年完成的Torre Velasca的设计与历史上的米兰的经典建筑美的设计相结合是至关重要的。

The Torre Velasca, planned to loom over its surrounding structures at a height of nearly 1,000 meters, was to be an important addition to Milan’s skyline. For this reason, it was crucial that the architects, BBPR, find ways to blend the design of the Torre Velasca, completed in 1958, with that of the classic architectural beauties of historic Milan.

建筑物的上三分之一，从较低的层向外突出，被设计成类似中世纪的了望塔。在战争时期，这种防御塔被用来保护意大利城堡不受入侵。通过使用Torre Velasca建立在古代建筑理念的基础上，BBPR能够将现代建筑与其历史的过去联系起来，并使新的附加物的设计不再显得不恰当。

The upper third of the building, which protrudes outward from the lower levels, was designed to resemble medieval watchtowers. Such defense towers were used in times of war to protect Italian castles from invasion. By using the Torre Velasca to build upon the ideas of ancient architecture, BBPR was able to connect the modern building to its historic past and keep the design of the new addition from feeling out of place.

这座塔的石料和支撑为其突出部分增加了稳定性，不仅使其与意大利中世纪的防御塔更加相似，而且还模仿了其周围建筑的一些哥特式特征。

The tower’s stone material and supporting struts that add stability to the projecting section not only further its resemblance to Italy’s medieval defense towers, but also mimic some of the Gothic features of its surrounding structures. 

通过观察米兰的天际线，很明显BBPR在设计TorreVelasca时考虑到了周围的环境(特别是考虑到像这样的高层建筑中玻璃幕墙的发展趋势)。然而，该设计也有许多重要的功能用途。

By looking at Milan’s skyline, it is clear that BBPR designed the Torre Velasca with its surroundings in mind (especially considering the growing trend toward glass curtain walls in high-rises like this one). However, the design had many important functional purposes as well.

许多较新的建筑是沿着城市的街道正面建造的，而TorreVelasca则是在它的中心建造的，以鼓励人们使用广场的空间。

Whereas many newer buildings were constructed along the city’s street fronts, the Torre Velasca was built in the center of its site so as to encourage use of the plaza space. 

塔的狭窄底部不仅允许创造这样的广场空间，而且符合建筑物的多功能用途。较低楼层的狭小空间举行商店、办公室和展览，而更宽敞的上层楼层则有可以俯瞰城市的壮观景色的公寓。

The tower’s narrow bottom not only allowed for the creation of such plaza space, but also fit with the building’s multifunctional purposes. The narrow spaces of the lower floors held shops, offices and exhibitions, while the more spacious upper stories contained apartments with spectacular views overlooking the city.

在这个城市的许多地方，办公大楼的建立被认为是用来推倒住宅建筑的。然而，在Torre Velasca的商业和住宅用途的结合是为了防止城市中心的削弱，这通常发生在写字楼取代住宅的时候。

In many parts of the city, the creation of office buildings was known to push out residential structures. However, the combination of commercial and residential use in the Torre Velasca was meant to prevent the weakening of city centers that typically occurred when office buildings replaced residential ones.

功能的重要性甚至反映在塔的窗户布置上。

The importance of functionality was even reflected in the tower’s window arrangement. 

在大多数现代建筑中，窗户、门和材料的方案一次又一次地重复。然而，在Torre Velasca上，许多图案都是用空墙、开着的窗户和反光玻璃表面创造出来的，这些都是通常需要窗户的地方。这使得这座建筑能够满足许多使用它的人的不同需求。

On most modern buildings, schemes of windows, doors and materials are repeated over and over again. However, on the Torre Velasca numerous patterns were created using empty walls, open windows and reflective glass surfaces where windows would normally be expected. This allowed the building to play to the varied needs of the many people using it.

尽管托瑞·韦拉斯卡因为这座建筑的沉重感觉以及由此而失去的错综复杂的细节而受到批评，但许多人还是称赞了这座塔将米兰的过去和现在联系在一起的方式。它的功能，加上建筑师对周围环境的关注，使得TorreVelasca成为一个无缝的，以及功能的补充，古老的城市米兰。

Although the Torre Velasca has been criticized for the building’s heavy feeling and for the intricate details that get lost because of it, many people have praised the way in which the tower has managed to connect Milan’s past to its present. Its functionality paired with the architects’ attention to the surrounding environment made the Torre Velasca a seamless, as well as functional addition to the ancient city of Milan.