15 | Porta Nuova, Milan: rebuilding “La grande Milano”?

Pta. Nuova

Contemporary City: Description and Projects Prof. Laurent Gilles Jacques Devisme Politecnico di Milano MsC. Urban Planning and Policy Design Farnoosh Goudarzi, Luis Obregon, Philipp Rier, Yao Xi

Index Introduction

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Timeline

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Impressions

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Actors

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Controversy

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Conclusion

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References

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Rebuilding ‘la grande’ Milano?

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

In the report “Porta Nuova: rebuilding le grande Milano” we try to understand the background of actors, reasons, factors and implications which lead to the development of one of biggest urban regeneration projects in Europe. Through this report it is intended to understand at the same time the points of view of those who support and invest in projects like this one and those who belive that huge developments like this one destroy heritage and drive homogenity in a city.

The Porta Nuova regeneration project located at the heart of one of europe’s most important urban centres, Milan, came to reality due to the cooperation of many local, regional and international actors interested in creating a new concentration of activities in an area which was considered to be left over the years to decay and become a liability for the city rather than an asset.

The project has been target of a lot of press for many different reasons and that is why it has become not only and economical centre but a controversial one as well. Over the years of development the Porta Nuova project has been under attack by different outlets for its different investors, size of the infrastructure and the reasons behind the project.

When we look at reports from the companies backing the project, their aim and sell point is one of providing a torndown, old forgotten area a fresh new and sustainable look. Their strategy is to create an area of multiuse and that can become “an excelent model of planning and innovative sustainable design for Italy and Europe”.

The overall project is divided into three sub-areas: Porta Nuova Garibaldi, Porta Nuova Varesine and Porta Nuova Isola. These three are the most important new areas of infrastructural development, but if we look at the territory surrounding the project we also find previous developments and important elements of the city which make this an strategic area.

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Each one of the areas has had different actors involved and incorporated architectural projects which make it authentic in its own right while being interwooven by an open public space designed to be a meeting place and a social place for the inhabitants of the city. We will identify the projects in each district and the actors behind them and why it has become an area to dicuss about.

Porta Nuova might be the new modern attraction for the inhabitants and visitors of the city of Milan but that does not make it a success. High profile urban cases like Porta Nuova have had its fair share of critizism over the years and there may be some right reasons behind this criticism. Can developments like this one represent the dead of the heritage of the city? Will cities loose their character through the homogenization of space? Will citizens needs be overlooked by money and ownership?

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande� Milano?

Historical Map

1840 As many important transport routes in Milan, Porta Nuova was characterized by a water passway.

1860 Trainstation of Porta Nuova completed.

1911 PGT 1944 Vision of a group of rationalist architects (Albini, Bottoni, Gardella) for Garibaldi area.

1956 PGT

1960 Highest building of Milan, the Pirelli Skyscraper

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

1991 International architecture competition for Garibaldi area.

1992 Stop of the project for lack of urban quality of proposal.

2000 PGT - defines the creation of “cittá della moda”, two parks and a “super” parking area. First protests of citizens.

2003 Development Office of the Garibaldi area sells land to international real estate firm HINES. 2006 Gehl Architects wins the competition to design the public space. EDAW landscape proposal wins.

2007 Stefano Boeri’s project, Bosco verticale, wins competition for development.

2014 The “sustainable face” of the area Bosco Verticale - is finished.

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2002 Decision to create the tallest building in Milan for offices for the Milan municipality and Lombardy Region.

Start of the construction of the Garibaldi Tower designed by Cesar Pelli.

2011 Garibaldi Tower is finished and leased 100% to Unicredit.

2018 “Library of trees” a recreational greespace of 90,000 sqm is finished.

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Public Impressions

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Pta. Nuova Garibaldi

Reviews from public

“This is Milan's modern neighborhood…… Not to be missed the famous VERTICAL FOREST ( the residential towers ) and the park where you can rest and walk with your dog. Worth visiting !!!”

“My love with Milano was for its heritage and history. But then it also has modernity with skyscrapers and all that jazz. Piazza Gae Aulenti is that square which presents the new Milan.”

"A touch of modern architecture in the middle of the classic urban texture of Milan."

"I loved visiting the piazza and the nearby park with my children. Lots of opportunities to entertain them."

"A modern new development with beautiful fountains and waterways, a high rise building and fancy shops. However this is not my idea of tourism, I prefer history and beautiful architecture."

"After spending enough time in Milan this place is really refreshing. Probably the most modern area of Italy not Milan."

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Pta. Nuova Isola

Reviews from public "Beautiful structure overlooking a huge green area with a park benches surrounded by some of Milans tall financial buildings."

"There is small playground near this building for children. This is symbol of modern Milano. Greenary makes this building alive and beautiful."

"How can live together the nature and human.

I like this kind of solutions to grow green places in the cities."

International critics 去看过很多次，也许在意大利只有米兰这座都市能如此包容，整个建筑所在区域的规划就是一个巨大的商业区，靠近 unicredit tower（cesar pelli）的商业广场及 shopping mall，商业街，其实跟中国建设好的新区没太大差别。这是个文化快餐下的作品，高颜值，吸引眼球。是一个被商品 化的建筑，它的出现改变了原先工业区与交通荒地的意向，使这块区域可以被居住。

This is the answer from an urban designer about " how do you think of the " Vertical Forest" and surrounding area in Milan? " in a Chinese academic forum. That means: "I have been visited it many times and maybe Milan is the only city can show this kind of inclusive in Italy. The whole area is like a huge business zone which near the square and shopping malls of unicredit tower, it's not big difference from Chinese new zones thesedays, just like a project of fast-food culture. It transferred this area from industral zone and wasted areas into residential projects.

However, it did not change the city or explored so much in architectural aspect, so the value of this project is much less than Seagram Building of Mies.

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande� Milano?

Pta. Nuova Varesine

Reviews from public "A big open space suitable for many kind of events, art and photo fairs, fashion exhibitions, parties and showrooms - it is in a perfect location in the heart of Porta Nuova district"

"Not worth the time to go to. Nothing much actually."

"It's a very dynamic space depending on the the time of the year. You'll discover different exhibits that go from art to culinary shows and concerts not forgetting TV shows, you name it."

"A great equilibrium among the formal and the informal, the syntax and the semanthic, the "by-law" and the social. A splendid walking through the beauty, the style, and the kids laughing..."

"Awesome place in the new beating heart of Milan"

"One of the new iconic buildings of the renovated neighbourhood"

"one of the most impressive steel structures .. from there the city of Milan, diamond tower is the tip of a district which is embellishing Milan."

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

POSTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA 14

Actors

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande� Milano?

Areas of masterplan: 1. Porta Nuova Garibaldi 2. Porta Nuova Varesine 3. Porta Nuova Isola

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Pta. Nuova Garibaldi Area:

Owner: Developer: Designer:

Qatar Holding LLC HINES Pelli Clarke Pelli

Area:

230,500 sqm

230,000 sqm

Unicredit Towers Type: Offices Architect: Cesar Pelli

Unicredit Pavilion Type: Culture/Exhibition Architect:Michele De Lucchi

Novetredici Type: Residences Architect: Cino Zucchi Arch.

The Showroom Type: Mixed use Architect: Piuarch

Corso Como Type: Residences Architect: Muñoz and Albin

La Corte Verde Type: Residences Architect: Cino Zucchi Arch.

Developer U.S.

Italy

Qatar

Pta. Garibaldi

La biblioteca degli Alberi Type: Green Open Space Architect: Inside Outside / Coima

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Owner

Argentina

U.S.

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Pta. Nuova Varesine Area:

Owner: Developer: Designer:

Qatar Holding LLC HINES KPF

85,000 sqm

230,000 sqm

Torre Diamante Type: Offices Architect: KPF Architects

Diamantini Type: Offices Architect: KPF Architects

Porta Nuova Varesine Type: Residences Architect: Studio M2P

Solea Tower Type: Residences Architect: Caputo Partnership Owner

Qatar

U.S. Pta. Nuova Varesine Developer

U.S.

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Area:

Italy

Solaria + Aria Tower Type: Residences Architect: Arquitectonica

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Qatar Holding LLC Area: HINES Boeri Studio

Pta. Nuova Isola

Owner: Developer: Designer:

Bosco Verticale Type: Residences Architect: Boeri Studio

Incubatore per l’arte Type: Culture Architect: Boeri Studio

31,500 sqm

Residenze dei Giardini Type: Residences Architect: Lucien Lagrange

Developer

U.S.

U.S.

Piramide Type: Offices Architect: William McDonough

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Pta. Nuova Isola

Italy

Owner

Qatar

Topics of controversy

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande� Milano?

Does this look like reality?

OR Do you think it's photoshop?

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande� Milano?

Architectural + Structural Porta Nuova has become an example of radical urban change inside european cities, and the size and attention the project has gotten has not been all good.

When we look at the architetural and specifically visual aspects of the area, many say it is a fresh look needed within an industrial city like Milan, even some of the new architectural solitaires found have been known for its innovative way to portray sustainability (Bosco verticale). Although there are many positive good things to say about aesthetics it is at the same time important to mention that the

typology of buildings so tightly confined within a small amount of space is not typical in Italian cities and it can raise a question of identity.

When we think about Italian cities we think of Roma and its great historic portrays of architecture, or Cinque Terre with the incredible way the city is built on mountains, but not of New Yorkesk skyscrapers with reflective glass facades that jump out from the ground to the sky. All of these characteristics are found on Porta Nuova and some people think they are eliminating the heritage of italian cities to become part of any other metropolitan megacity.

Economical Mega projects like Porta Nuova are not only based on the government’s interest to develop more residential and office space for possible international investors. When a mega project like this one is developed in relies on a lot of economically powerful actors which make a bet in an area and its potential to become something more profitable and attractive.

Porta Nuova has become the most exclusive and expensive area of Milan do to these decisions made by investors, and one may think that investments might have come from italian actors which know the

context and understand the necessities of the culture now a days, but the most surprising element of it all is the investors background. 100% of the development in material elements is owned by Qatar Authorities, the development management of the whole area was done by HINES an English Real Estate company and finally when we analyze designers of the buildings we see that many firms are from foreign design firms.

So realizing that one of the most profitable and successful areas of Milan, the italian commertial capital, is owned by foreigners is a shock to anyone.

Social On the social aspect of the project we know that the project includes art, cultural centres and major commertial shops that are a main attraction to the italian market. It is considered by many to be a great new asset to the urban life on Milan and because of the big open areas found in the area, they attract visitors immediately.

Like everything, there is two sides to every story, although there are important open areas included in the project, one can argue that the gentrification and exclusion the project provokes is inevitable.

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When mega projects take over an area of a city, most of the time they push lower income classes further and further away from the centre, and this is no exception. Prices on the area have become so competitive and the type of businesses found in the commertial areas of the project are not friendly to ones pockets.

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

Conclusion

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Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande� Milano?

When it comes to new transformations in the urban space, each of the areas deals with a different group of challenges, actors and resources that might be found previously on the area, so they may link the new development to generate continuity or like Porta Nuova they may be a representation of a new era for a block, a district or a whole city.

Having this characteristic does not mean that the space is not where culture is shaped and where discussion among citizens is generated. It is important to understand that economical progress and decisions does not take their right of ownership away, after all they are the physical live element which gives identity to the form.

Porta Nuova is a project which represents and generates many topics of discussion; like we mentioned before the area has had its fare share of critics and opposition, but at the same time people from Milan have made it their own and part of their identity.

When we analyze each of the topics of controversy separately we realize that they all have grey areas of perception and as urban planners we need to understand that projects face not only the critical review of peers but that also those from the general public.

Porta Nuova is a representation of the new contemportary projects within cities and the new language in architecture, at the same time it is home to the international actors of Milan and their contribution to the local economy. When we look at the overall impact of a mega project like this one, we should consider the user and its opinion to create local identity and recognition from local perception.

Regarding one of the main criticism the area faces, which deals with the heritage and identity of Milan, we understand that Porta Nuova is an attempt to represent maybe a new era of the city and the general Italian state. The attempt by foreign developers is to take Milan seriously as a global centre and a player within the power of the world. This might mean that some things from the past will be lost, but at the same time some new will be gained. The identity wont be deleted, but transformed constantly.

Secondly, having foreign investments in an urban centre like Milan and where ownership is in the hands of foreign actors does not mean the space is not Italian. Being a group of urban thinkers we know that cities nowadays are a melting pot of nationalities, cultures, languages and backgrounds and this can also be reflected in the infrastructure and the spaces.

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So what is meant by rebuilding la grande Milan?

This term was first used in the middle of the 19th century, when after the unification of Italy the Municipality of Milan unified with smaller sorrounding municipalities and extended its territory. It changed the perspective from a weakend city at that time to an important centre of Italy. So calling the development of Porta Nuova the rebuilding of la grande Milano is somehow essagerated and maybe mostly used because it sounds good.

But looking more closely at the projects we can also see that with the start of the development of this area Milan changed again perspective. It was the starting point, not of a territorial extension but of a vertical extension. in the last years many more international development areas started their construction, changing Milans Landscape. Porta Nuova was one of the pilot projects in the italian context and functioned somehow like a trigger to start this global trend of vertical growth also in the country with the highest density of World Heritage Sites. (49 cultural sites)

Pta. Nuova: Rebuilding “la grande” Milano?

References Research: Kipar_LAND, Andreas. “Porta Nuova: La Nuova Immagine Della Città - 2018.” Issuu, issuu.com/andreaskipar_land/docs/porta_nuova_la_nuova_immagine_della_693a2fc2fb8d32. http://www.porta-nuova.com/pdf/PORTA%20NUOVA.pdf Porta Nuova, www.porta-nuova.com/area/progetti/.

“Milano Nuovo: Quartiere Isola, Porta Garibaldi and Porta Nuova |.” La Tua Italia, it.latuaitalia.ru/ where-to-go/milano-passeggiando-per-il-quartiere-isola-porta-garibaldi-e-porta-nuova/.

Media Articles: S.p.a., Edilportale.com. “Milano: Nasce L’area Porta Nuova.” Archiportale, www.archiportale.com/ news/2007/06/architettura/milano-nasce-l-area-porta-nuova_10034_3.html. https://www.teknoring.com/news/urbanistica/riqualificazione-urbana-larea-varesine-nel-progetto-globale-porta-nuova-a-milano/ https://www.teknoring.com/news/urbanistica/riqualificazione-urbana-a-milano-larea-garibaldi-repubblica-nel-progetto-globale-porta-nuova/ “Al Fondo Del Qatar Tutti i Grattacieli Di Milano Porta Nuova: Il Progetto Vale 2 Miliardi.” Il Sole 24 ORE, www.ilsole24ore.com/art/notizie/2015-02-27/a-fondo-qatar-tutti-grattacieli-milano-porta-nuova-122532.shtml?uuid=ABVD2c1C&refresh_ce=1.

Andy, et al. “Il Grattacielo Più Bello Del Mondo Si Trova a Milano.” KEBLOG, 2 June 2018, www.keblog.it/bosco-verticale-grattacielo-milano-stefano-boeri/.

Projects: http://www.coima.com/pdf/COIMA_Gioia22_Brochure.pdf Le Residenze Dei Giardini - Residenze Porta Nuova, www.residenzeportanuova.com/it/residenze-le-residenze-dei-giardini/index.html. http://www.porta-nuova.com/pdf/RESIDENZE%20PORTA%20NUOVA.pdf

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