Church of San Francesco d'Assisi al Fopponino

A masterpiece of modern architecture by Gio Ponti in Milan

Located in a particularly dense urban context in the western area of Milan, the Church of San Francesco d'Assisi al Fopponino stands out for its ability to open up to the neighborhood while maintaining a strong architectural identity. Designed by Gio Ponti and built between 1958 and 1964, represents one of the most refined and recognisable examples of modern sacred architecture in Italy.

A unique floor plan

The church is set back from the road, preceded by a small public square which enhances its civic as well as religious role. The plan, asymmetric hexagon, recalls the idea of a complete form and takes up the scheme already used by Ponti in the famous Pirelli skyscraper, always in Milan.

The most iconic element of the entire complex is the main facade on Viale Paolo GiovioExtending beyond the limits of the liturgical hall, it connects to the adjacent parish buildings, forming a sort of “urban stage” for the celebration of outdoor rites. This scenographic vision is typical of Ponti's poetics.

The facade: light, form and material

The façade is marked by four vertical openings facing the sky, which take the shape of the Diamond, so loved by Ponti. The windows, closed by polychrome stained glass windows created by Cristoforo De Amicis in the 1970s, they generate ever-changing plays of light and shadow, accentuated by the external cladding.

The surface of the facade is in fact completely covered in diamond-shaped ceramic tiles, enamelled and reflective, which multiply the reflections of natural light creating an almost vibrant effect.

Interiors: structural rationality and a cosy atmosphere

Inside, the distribution of spaces takes up the model already experimented by Ponti in the Church of St. Luke the Evangelist (1955-1961). A very wide central nave It is flanked by two narrower side naves, separated by a series of reinforced concrete pillars with variable section. These structural elements, tapering towards the top, elegantly fit onto the exposed beams of the gable roof, creating an orderly but not rigid visual rhythm.

Behind the façade (…) the temple will appear in the evocative perspective of its successive portals and the motifs that will adorn it along the high walls. As on the outside, so on the inside, the architecture will express its Franciscan vocation through the simplicity of the white walls.
The devotion that desired and inspired it by dedicating it to Francis will show its measure in the solemnity of its dimensions"
Gio Ponti, project report, as reported in F. Zanzottera, San Francesco al Fopponino, Milan 1961-63

Here too, as in many other works by Ponti, the spaces for parish activities are placed in the basement, hidden from view but fully integrated into the project.

Furnishings, art, and details by Gio Ponti

One of the most fascinating aspects of this church is the full drawing of the building: all the sacred furnishings, the furnishings and even the liturgical vestments They were designed by Ponti himself, who also took care of the artistic and decorative aspects.

Among the works of art present, one stands out Wrought iron Via Crucis, personally created by the Milanese architect, a testament to his versatility and his vision of architecture as a synthesis of art, function and spirituality.