Gio Agostino Balbi Palace

History

Its architecture is thought of as being the link between the residential models of Strada Nuova and the compositional solutions of Via Balbi. It was designed by Bartolomeo Bianco for Gio. Agostino Balbi early in the 17th century, ably meeting the client's request for a traditional U-shaped floor plan despite the triangular plot of land available. A strong architectural element of the design is the nucleus of the diverging stairs on the courtyard, separated by a monumental staircase: a real path covered by the rooms on the mezzanine floor. Also typical of the architect is the use of the external spaces which are divided to the east and the west, allowing a gradual view of the hanging gardens along the road.

The building was added to the Rollo of 1664 in the first Bussolo, the highest category, intended to host cardinals, princes, viceroys and governors. Financial problems forced the new owner, Bartolomeo Balbi, to rent out part of the building to Giuseppe Maria Durazzo. He finally sold the whole building to Marcello Durazzo in 1710. From 1735 onwards the main floor rooms were redecorated by Giacomo Boni, Giuseppe Davolio, Paolo Gerolamo Piola and Francesco Maria Costa. In 1774 the architect Emanuele Andrea Tagliafichi was commissioned to design the area upstream of the building. …