GROUP 08
Professor: Laurent Gilles Jacques Devisme
Students: Ahsaas Tarwani Geronimo Felici Fioravanti Mariam Shaishmelashvil Elene Machaidze
Unexpected Interventions The other side of Centrale
Index
1
Introduction
2
Research
3
Controversies
1.1 Historical Context
2.1 Interviews with Locals
3.1 Who Occupies Centrale?
1.2 Timeline and Geography
2.2 Local Image
3.2 Controversies-Timeline of Activities
1.3 Transformation of the Central station concept
2.3 Actors Involved
3.3 Example of contraversies
2.4 Media & News
3.4 Patterns of Activities - when controversies happen?
4
Conclusion
4.1 Conclusion
1.1 Historical Context Milan Centrale Station Since 1898, the insufficiency of the railway installations particularly striking in the case of the Central Station , now inadequate to respond to the ever-increasing number of travelers. The Ministry of Public Works therefore prepared a reform commission. The commission’s work was based on twenty-five-year growth estimates (valid until 1925). Following the establishment of the Ferrovie dello Stato ( 1905 ) the general manager prepared The Milan Central Station under a project to reform the entire Milan railway junction, which substantially construction in the 1920s still corresponds to the surface railway infrastructure: the creation of a line was planned of outer belt and placed in embankment , and of a new central station, wider and head structure. The reorganization plan was drawn up in parallel with the new city expansion plan. In 1906 , on the occasion of the inauguration of the universal exposition , King Vittorio Emanuele III laid the first stone of the new station.
Remaking of 2005-2010 The station has been the subject of major restoration and redevelopment The Galleria delle Carrozze, in 1938. work, begun in August 2005 , by Grandi Stazioni , a company of the Italian State Railways . On 30 September 2008 the new ticket office was activated. the official inauguration took place the following December 14th 2008 , coinciding with the inauguration of the Milan-Bologna high-speed line , but various parts of the station were still the subject of ongoing work. The restyling of the station, initially designed by Marco Tamino, already responsible for the redevelopment of Roma Termini(later expelled from the construction management) included the cleaning of the friezes and decorations; the pedestrianization of the Carriage Gallery and the movement of taxis outside; the opening of new spaces inside the station, with the movement of the ticket offices. The “Head Gallery” Source: https://www.wikipedia.org
Introduction and history of Centrale Timeline and Geography
1.2 Timeline and Geography Looking through the development of Milan one can easily spot the dinamic growth of reality Centrale Alternative realityclearly of Centrale isnt necce the city.Alternative On the plan ofof1832 we isnt cannecce see that- Milan was small, defined by certain good or bad, it is just phisical something ccarily good or bad, is just something edges ccarily and the most important and functional center hadit been Duomo by that that visitor doesnt expects before that visitor doesnt expects before time. coming here.Alternative reality of Cen - coming here.Alternative reality of Cen Centrale station started togood be built in 1864, by that its’ location was considered Milano Centrale was built trale isnt necceccarily or bad, it is andtrale isnt time necceccarily good or bad, it is as outskirts of MIlan. that visitor doesnt just something just something that visitor doesnt However, city before developed and time by time centrale became one of here.Alternative the most important expects coming here.Alternative expects before coming attraction points in theisnt central part ofgood Milan. reality of Centrale isnt necceccarily good reality of Centrale necceccarily or bad, it is isjust something thatcity, visitor or bad, it is just something that dimentions visitor Nowadays Milan a metropolitan uniting various patterns and multiple doesnt expects before coming here.Al doesnt expects before coming here.Al of the global world. Therefore, centrale station has several meanings for the local and ternative reality of Centrale isnt neccec ternative reality of Centrale isnt neccec global scales. carily good or bad, it is just something carily good or bad, it is just something There had been several reasons for Milan’s rapid growth and here’s why. that visitor doesnt expects before that visitor doesnt expects before The political of Italy cemented commercial dominance comingunification here.Alternative reality of Cen -Milan’s coming here.Alternative reality ofover Cen northern Italy. It also led to a flurry of railway construction that had started under trale isnt necceccarily good or bad, it is trale isnt necceccarily good or bad, itAustrian is patronage Milan the rail of northern just (Venice–Milan; something that Milan–Monza) visitor doesntthat made just something thathub visitor doesnt Italy. Thereafter with the opening of the Gotthard (1881) and Simplon (1906) tunnels, expects before coming here. Alternative expects before coming here. railway Alternative reality of Centrale isnt South necceccarily good rail focus reality for of Centrale isntand necceccarily goodmoveMilan became the major European business passenger bad, is just something visitorRapidorindustrialization bad, it is just something that visitor ments or e.g. theit Simplon Orient that Express. and market expansion doesnt expects before coming here.Al doesnt expects before coming here.Al stone put Milan at the centre of Italy’s leading industrial region, including extensive ternative reality of Centrale isnt neccec - ternative reality of Centrale isnt neccec quarries that have led to much of the air pollution we see today in the region. In the carily good or bad, it is just something carily good or bad, it is just something 1890s Milan was shaken by the Bava-Beccaris massacre, a riot related to a high inflation that visitor doesnt expects before that visitor doesnt expects before rate. Meanwhile, as Milanese banks dominated Italy’s financial sphere, the of cityCen became coming here.Alternative reality of Cen - coming here.Alternative reality the country’s financial trale isntleading necceccarily goodcentre. or bad, it is trale isnt necceccarily good or bad, it is In the just 1980s, with the that international success ofjust Milanese houses Armani, Versace something visitor doesnt something that(like visitor doesnt expects before coming here.Alternative expects before coming here.Alternative and Dolce & Gabbana), Milan became one of the world’s fashion capitals. The city saw reality of Centrale isnt necceccarily good reality of Centrale isnt necceccarily also a marked rise in international tourism, notably from America and Japan,good while the or bad, it isincreased just something that visitor or bad, it is than just something that visitor stock exchange its market capitalisation more five-fold.[This period led doesnt expects before coming here.Al - doesnt expects before coming here.Al the mass media to nickname the metropolis “Milano da bere”, literally “Milan to drink”. ternative reality of Centrale isnt neccec - ternative reality of Centrale isnt neccec In the carily early good 21st or century, Milan underwent a series of sweeping redevelopments. Its bad, it is just something carily good or bad, it is just something exhibition a much larger sitethat in Rho. New business districts such as that centre visitor moved doesnt to expects before visitor doesnt expects before Porta Nuova the decline in manufacturing, the city comingand here.CityLife were constructed. With coming here. has sought to develop on its other sources of revenue, including publishing, finance, banking, fashion design, information technology, logistics, transport and tourism.
1832
1864
Centrale 1870
Centrale 1903
Centrale
Present
https://www.oldmapsonline.org/en/Milan
Research Team
Transformation of the Central station concept Transformation of the Central station concept
1.3 Transformation of the Central station concept
How stations tansform into multifunctional - “ centers??? Rail centers??? stations will become destinations and lifeHow stations tansform into multifunctional How stations tansform into multifunctional style centres that further blend our - “ Rail stations will become destinations andcommute lifestyle with Central stations have had very important centers? “ Rail stations will become destinations and lifestyle Centralforstations our further lives. People arecommute increasingly using stations, centres that blend our with our lives. meaning the cityhave in thehad past.very Theyimportant have centres that further blend our commute with lives. meaning fordestination the city inpoint the past. They have People notincreasingly just as places to catch a train, but asour centres are using stations, not just as places been the main for travellers. People arebut increasingly using stations, not just as leisure and business. Of nearly a million weekbeen thestations main for travellers. Central have hadpoint very important to catch afor train, as centres for leisure and business. Of places and travelling had destination been luxury by then. There -meaning lymillion visitors tobut London’s St London’s Pancras a quarter to acatch a train, as centres for leisurestation, and business. Of and travelling had luxury by then. There for thebeen past. They have been nearly weekly visitors to St Pancras fore wethe seecity old in central strations being monu -the -main come to eat, drink orshop rather than take a train. nearly a million weekly visitors to London’s St Pancras fore we old central strations -station, destination point for travellers. and monu travelling had a quarter come to eat, drink orshop rather than mental andsee glamorous giving visitorsbeing sense of ThisThis willwill continue asas stations become atrend quarter come to eat, drink orshop ratherplaces than mental and glamorous giving visitors sense of been luxury by then. Therefore we see old central take station, a train. trend continue stations become grateness and intensity. of experiential retail and also provide facilities such take a train. Thisretail trend will continue stations become grateness and strations being monumental andmobility glamorous giving places of experiential and also provide as facilities such However, time hasintensity. changed and the ashairdressers, gyms, hairdressers, meeting spaces and offices. places of experiential retail and alsoand provide facilities such sense of grateness and However, time has changed and the mobility as gyms, meeting spaces offices.New hasvisitors developed. central stations are nointensity. longer New York’s Grand Central Terminal is also a destiHowever, time has changed and the mobility has as gyms, hairdressers, meeting spaces and offices.New has developed. central stations are no longer York’s Grand Central Terminal is also a destination in its the subject of luxury but the part of our daily nation in its ownofright. Some features the station developed. central stations are no longer sub-York’s Grand Central Terminal isinclude also a destination in its right. Some features the station theof ceiling theMCdonalds, subject of luxury but Vodafone the part ofhave our dailythe own lifes. Zara and include the ceiling mural above the vast main conject of luxury but the part of our daily lifes. MCmuralown above theSome vast main concourse, the famous Oyster right. features of the station include the ceiling occupied station corridors. Morover, accordhavelifes. MCdonalds, Zara and Vodafone course, the famous Oyster Bar, and The Campbell Zara andcorridors. Vodafone have occupied station Theabove Campbell Apartment, an elegantly ingdonalds, to the vision developed by ARUP future of mural the vast main concourse, the restored famous Oyster occupied station Morover, accord -Bar, and Apartment, an elegantly restored cocktail lounge. corridors. Morover, tointerna the vision cocktail stations also has an delis, bakeries, railway even developed moreaccording intense - develBar, lounge. and TheThe Campbell Apartment, elegantly restored ing towill thebevision byand ARUP future of Theastations also has delis, bakeries, newsstands, oped by ARUP future railway and will be even -more newsstands, gourmetThe and stations fresh foodalso market, annex tional in 20 years itmore willofcontinue to grow cocktail lounge. has an delis, bakeries, railway will be and even intense interna a gourmet and fresh food market, an annex of the and international in 20 years and it will conof the New York Transit Museum, and more than forty to intense the same direction. newsstands, a gourmet and fresh food market, an annex tional in 20 years and it will continue to grow New Transit Museum, and more than forty retinue grow to the same direction. retailof stores. “ York the New York Transit Museum, and more than forty to theto same direction. tail stores. “ retail stores. “ “Future of Railway” by ARUP “Future of Railway” by ARUP “Future of Railway” by ARUP Source: https://www.gettyimages.it/immagine/sydney-central-train-statio
2.1 Interviews with Locals Interviews are taken from two residents of Centrale. Each person has its’ own understanding of space, time and situation. There are two contrasting interviews represented which show a drastic contraverse of the space and its’ understanding of 21 years old female student and 42 years old emigrant fruit seller. One’s understanding of space strongly depends on many different social-cultural end economical layers that form our vision. Therefore, at the end of the day the people are the ones who make places scary or attractive.
Name: Francia
Gender: Female (Age 21)
Nationality: Mexican Ocupation: Student
How long have you been living here? 8 months Why did you choose this area? It is easy for me to get around from here. What makes this place attractive for you? I like that I have several options for transportation and I really like diversity of markets, I love cooking and I can find all types of food here from all over the world. What do you find as a negative aspect of Centrale? At night I feel very unsafe to walk around as some groups of people are drinking and calling me “Ciao Bella” as I just pass by. Have you ever had negative experience in this neighborhood? Once I was coming back from the party late night, guys started calling me-Ciao Bella, as I did not resopond, they started to follow me, I had to run and I started shoutig to them, that I was going to call the police, luckyily I was close to home. It was ver unpleasent night. Research Team
Name: Hassan
Nationality: Bangladeshian
Gender: Male (Age 42) Ocupation: Fruit Seller How long have you been living here? 4 Years Why did you choose this area?
My friend from Bangladesh told me that this area is good for small business so I decided to choose this place to live and work as well. What makes this place attractive for you? I do not have to go far from home to work, I have all my friends from Bangldesh who are living here. When I need to go out of Milan this area is also ver conveniant so for me it is perfect. What do you find as a negative aspect of Centrale? There is no such thing as negative for me, but I am unhappy that I do not have chance to meet a lot of Italian people, assimilation in this community seems impossible for me and my family. Have you ever had negative experience in this neighborhood? No, I have never had anything like that.
2.2 Local Image By interviewing two local residents of Centrale we depicted two types of realities. Which differs according to Nation and Gender. If for young woman it is challenging to live in this area, on the other hand for adult man who works/lives in Central it is a great place where he feels like at home. Interesting insight for us was that during daytime they co-exist in harmony more or less, negative things happen when sun goes down. Once “eyes on the streets” are gone and streets are empty. If group of emigrants occur it feels like as a threat for female (and even for male). What is interesting about this two different persons that we interviewed is that they enjoy this diversity of the place. Technically they face the same problem that emigrants are not assimilated to locals/ Italians and they always stick together hang around together and someone who is “white” is still a stranger for them. Image from Central Area- “Just Eat” workers- All from same race, Hanging out together.
Research Team
2.4 Actors Invloved Centrale Area has wide diversity of actors. Here we can find Global brands, such as Bershka, Mango.... We can really feel globalization at all central stations of the world and Centrale is not different. What makes central stations more local is involvement of non-official actors. Street sellers who are selling very interesting goods depending on time of the year, season, weather and trend... Some dealers occur just at night, when they can sell drugs. This area is a hot spot for prostitutes as well and for other different orientation people which makes the street of Via Giovanni Battista Sammartini, something very festive during weekend, But in normal days it is a “Closed World” for pedestrians.
“Closed World” During day time ...
2.3 Actors Invlolved (Illustrated) There are two types of actors presented in Centarle area: official and non-official. Non official actors are hardly to be detected for the first sight since they occupy different spaces in different ways, so that you can strongly sense their presense in the place but hardly undestand their “pattern”. On the other hand, there are huge brands and even some glocal actors in Centrale. However, they do not really interact with the real residents of the place. There is a huge gap between these actors that you can simply sense when you notice homeless person sleeping in front of the shiny shop window of Zara.
Non-official Actors:
Offical Actors: Global Actors
Day
Glocal Actors International Restaurants Ristorante Shu-China Ha Long Bay - Vietnamese Restaurant New York Lounge Pizza Italiana
Local Actors -Coffee shops -Mini Markets -Taxi/Bus Services -Mobile Services -Tabacaria -Police Research Team
-Street Sellers Night
-Skateboarders
When Underground life begins... -Prostitutes -Drug Dealers -“Residents” of Centrale
2.4 Media & News Headlines-Media image of Centrale
Dealers in action in Central Station in Milan: Three arrests in three days of the polfer. “Meeting of convicted and pushers”: Licenses suspended at the Bangla Touch Milan
Central Station, Two violent robberies in a single night: they grab the victims by the neck. He threatens himself, then bolts an agent: man pursued and arrested in the Central Scary Centrale Wants to give a piece of “smoke” to an 18-year-old, he refuses and a fight arises: pusher arrested.
Punches in the face, strangulation attempts and shoving: three violent robberies in a few hours.
Source: Milano Today
After analyzing news about Centrale on Social Media, We can say that Image of Centrale is extremely negative it is associated just with crime, rape, drunk emigrants... Reputation of this area is famous for every Milanese, but this headlines is a vivid truth that depicts reality. Therefore, according to the media, we can understand that the image of Centrale is a SCARY place!
Who Occupies Centrale? - Current image VS Alternative reality
Who 3.1There areOccupies two images of Centrale? Centrale that co-exit at
the same time. One is the current image of the The current image - Current image VS we Alternative reality Current image place. The one that recognize from internet, the basic perceptions about Milanese central station which is full of travellers, busi- at There are two images ofpeople, Centrale that co-exit andOne shops.isHowever, thereimage is alternathe ness samemen time. the current of the tive image of Centrale which is not so presented place. The one that we recognize from internet, for theperceptions first sight which of stathe basic aboutincludes Milanesevariety central underground communities including prostition which is full of people, travellers, business deaers and homeless emigrants. mentutes, and drug shops. However, there is alternative imAlternative reality is not supposed to be neccesage of Centrale which is not so presented for the sarily good or bad, it is just something that is not first sight which includes variety of underground shown and presented for the first sight. communities including prostitutes, drug deaers and homeless emigrants. Alternative reality is not supposed to be neccessarily good or bad, it is just something that is not shown and presented for the first sight. Source: Art, Carlo Stanga What happens when two scenarios inteact??? Business People What happens when two scenarios inteact? Drug Dealers Prostitutes Business People
Shops
Underground Travellers Drug Dealers Communities Shops Travellers Fashio People
Prostitutes Street Sellers Fashion People
Underground communities Homeless Residents/Italians Emigrants Homeless Emigrants Residents / Italians
Research Team
Alternative reality of Centrale reality Alternative
VS
Business People Drug Dealers Shops Business People Travellers
Shops Fashio People
Underground Communities Prostitutes
Street Sellers Underground communities
Travellers Residents/Italians
Prostitutes Drug Dealers
Fashion People
Residents / Italians
Homeless Emigrants Homeless Emigrants
3.2 Controversies-Timeline of Activities
Mobile services Global Commercial Activities Coffee shops Street sellers Airport Bus companies Metro Travellers (Airport/train departure/arrival) Local People walking around Local workers/Residents Skaters 08:00
12:00
16:00
20:00
00:00
Black community meeting point Homeless people sleeping Drug Dealing Prostitution
Critical activities overlapping period (16:00-00:00) The most critical period (20:00-23:00)
Research Team
04:00
3.4 Example of contraversies
Example
Ciao Bella
Ciao Bella Ciao Bella
Drugs?
Join Party!
Actors who appear during daytime. Research Team
Join Party!
Drugs?
Drugs?
Ciao Bella
Join Party!
Actors who appear after 20:00
Possible Track after 20:00
We illustrated One area of Centrale, It is a residential Building with a small square and playground. Here interesting controversies occur. During daytime this area is very active, young mothers and kids spend time. Once it is late evening, some other emigrant hang out on this street, they do not even use benches, but just sit on the sidewalks and drink. If you are passing by from work or Drugs? party, after 8 pm, most propbably you will meet them and get comments like- Ciao Bella! Wanna Join Party! join Party? This groups of people represent different race, which makes especially female residents very uncomfrortable and for this reason many people try to avoid that types of spots, which are many in Centrale area.
Controversies
3.4 Patterns of Activities - when contraversies happen? Patterns of Activities - when contraversies happen? Controversies There are verious activities happening in the Centrale and they coexist in a peaceful Patternsarea of Activities - when contraversies happen? way until different types of patterns start to overlap. process starts around in4pm There This are verious activities happening the and area and they coexist inDuring a peacefulthis way time lastsCentrale almost until midnight. untilpeople, different types of patterns startworkers to overlap.meet Local travellers and This process starts around 4pm and lasts almost homeless emigrant, drug dealers, prostitutes until midnight. During this time Local people, accompanied with skaters and different travellers and workers meet homeless emigrant, underground communities. drug dealers, prostitutes accompanied with skaters and different underground communities.
16:00
20:00
00:00
There are verious activities happening in the Contraversies different Centrale area and theyhappen coexist inbetween a peaceful way of people, between until kind different types ofnot patterns startactors. to overlap. Therefore, arealmost representThis process startsCompanies around 4pmwhich and lasts ed as branches of worlwide brands never get until midnight. During this time Local people, involved in this process. These emigrant, kind of shops travellers and workers meet homeless have their schedule of working and do not drug dealers, prostitutes accompanied with skatmake muchunderground difference with their existance in ers and different communities. the place. Even though Global commercial brands, coffee shops, Airport bus companies or Metro have its’ schedule and for the first sight these activities seem to be relevant for the level erea, we can conclude ac16:00 of livability of this 20:00 00:00 cording to the research that mentioned activities co-exist with the social aspect of this area without major interaction. The features that make Centrale station area unique, interesting, vibrant and scary at the same time are the people who visit, live or travel in this location.
Patterns of activities that don’t interact Mobile services
These contraversies basically happen between different kind of Global people,Commercial not between actors. Activities Therefore, Companies which are represented as branches of worlwide brands never get involved Coffee shops in this process. These kind of shops have their schedule of working and do not make much Street sellers difference with their existance in the place.
Airport Bus companies Metro Travellers (Airport/train departure/arrival) Source: https://www.google.com/search/commercialclosed Local People walking around
These contraversies basically happen between different kind of people, not between actors. Therefore, Companies which are represented as branches of worlwide brands never get involved in this process. These kind of shops have their schedule of working and do not make much difference with their existance in the place.
4.1 Conclusion - Diversity of population creates controversies because emigrants are not assimilated to local people. The large part of the residents of centrale are emigrants and international people from different parts of the world. These people arrive for different reasons and they are not assimilated to the Italian culture and people most of the times. They are workers most of the times and sometimes they are presented as fruit sellers and in local shops which one can easily associate to some other culture (like chinese small supermarket or Turkish fast food).
-Most problems start when night begins Centrale area hosts various activities during the day. However after 6pm different layers of the area show up and the place starts to host illegal and ungerground activities. These patterns contradict with the daily life of the residents and citisens of Centrale. As a result Centrale transforms into a dangerous area at night with various conflicts between different people.
-Non-official actors create different dinamics of the area There are many actors presented in the Centrale area. However contraversies happen between non-official actors and citizens. We can conlude that official commercial activities do not have anything to do with the characteristics of Centrale area. In fact, they make no difference with their existance for the social aspects of the place.
-Controversy happens between different people of different nations. Even though Centrale is a diverse place with variaty of patterns, these patterns coexist in a peaceful way. However, more diverse the place is more difference one can spot between its’ layers and this is what makes centrale contraversory place. Research Team
Bibliography “Future of Railway” by ARUP https://www.wikipedia.org https://www.oldmapsonline.org/en/Milan https://www.gettyimages.it/immagine/sydney-central-train-statio https://www.google.com/search/commercialclosed http://www.milanotoday.it http://www.google.com/search/commercialclosed