Master Thesis_2020

SPATIAL PALINSESTO Urban regeneration project for the “Scalo di Porta Romana”.

A “Palinsesto” as a process for the construction of new experimental residences for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina 2026.

School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering MASTER DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE-BUILT ENVIRONMENT- INTERIORS

Thesis Title

Spatial Palinsesto Urban regeneration project for the “Scalo di Porta Romana”. A “Palinsesto” as a process for the construction of new experimental residences for the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina 2026.

Academic Period

2019 - 2020

Supervisor

Prof. Pasquale Mei

Co-Supervisors

Fabio Santonicola Raffaella Cavallaro

Authors Shally Gogna - 913032 Rithvika Bhandary - 914017 Angelica M. Ruiz C. - 913444

INDEX

01 ABSTRACT

02 TALKING ABOUT LOMBARDY 10

Mapping Lombardy Ecoregion

12

Green heritage and protected areas

14

Rail mobility within

03 MILAN IN FOCUS 18

Milan days of yore

21

Remnants of the past

21

The railway belt

23

Other transportation systems

26

Ecologycal Systems

28

Population to pollution

04 PORTA ROMANA 32 33

A quick look into the past How is it now?

05

09

2026 WINTER OLYMPICS

DESIGN STRATEGY

42

The Olympic Vision

74

Project strategy

44

Urban development plan

80

Identifying the scale

80

Layering rather than zoning

06 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 48

Urban design paradigms

52

Architectural paradigms

56

Landscape paradigms

07

10 THE PROJECT 84

Manifesto

86

Masterplan

90

Project details

118 Project management and sustainability 120 Conclusion

62

Design Brief

11

63

Phasing

ANEX

PROJECT GUIDELINES

08 STRATEGIC VISION 66

Urban Vision

70

Site Identity

71

Threshold as a new extended limit

122 Image Credits 123 Table of Illustrations 124 Bibliography and Sitography 126 Acknowledgment

ABSTRACT Palinsesto (Ita) / Palimpsest (Eng) noun From ancient Greek

Something such as a work of art that has many levels of meaning, types of style, etc. that build on each other.

Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy and is constantly growing and developing into one of the most competitive cities in Europe. But to achieve this long-term goal, it is important to confabulate about its development plans. Reading about the city’s infrastructural, morphological and ecological systems, we came across several hurdles that the city has fought to overcome; one such hurdle is the abandoned Railyard of Porta Romana. This 1,300,000 m2 area looks like a huge urban void, which is not only responsible for a disconnect in the built environment, but also affects the social and cultural fabric of the city.

The city of Milan has been trying for several years to re-qualify this area without success. The 2026 Olympic Games in Cortina-Milano and the resulting PGT for Milan in 2030 are the right occasion to reflect on the future of Milan and form the basis for the intervention of a new project. The Olympic Committee has already defined this intervention as a project that is both ecologically and economically sustainable, taking into account the current issue of climate change.

To further deepen our knowledge of the site, a thorough study was carried out, reading every defining element or pattern in and around the site and the city, leaving no stone unturned. The railway line, the urban void, the decaying ecological systems of Milan, the proximity to Agricultural Park in the south and, last but not least, the strict delimitation of the site, which makes it impossible to freely enter the area, were some of the basic factors taken into account in the development of the strategy.

The urban planning vision for the landmark was to integrate this space into the system. That is why we decided to create several green corridors that would connect Milan’s existing ecological systems into a single system and then connect them further to the agricultural fields and finally to the whole of Lombardy. At the urban level, green avenues have been traced, while at the regional level the railway line is proposed as a green corridor that connects not only the site with the city, but also the city with the region.

As for the architectural project, the strategy was simple: each designed element is a direct response to the context. A harmonious dialog with the existing building environment was therefore created.

Concepts such as “Megaspacestrucres” were studied and exploited, and since the proposed structure is a metamorphic structure, we incorporated modern building techniques of prefabrication and modularity to make this vision a reality.

Overall, we envision this project as a work of art that has many levels of meaning, style types, etc., that build on each other and reveal a palimpsest of historical changes that meet all the needs of the city in the present and future.

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TALKING ABOUT LOMBARDY

Mappi ng Lombard y Ecoregion Milan is the capital of the Lombardy region of Italy, influencing the area’s development and growth to its very core. To delve into the multitude of conditions that influence the urban project, the study of Lombardy region is of utmost importance.

Hence the analysis goes beyond the administrative borders and built environment of Milan.

Lombardy is crossed by numerous rivers and is bathed by hundreds of lakes of natural and artificial origin. The resurgence line responding to the morphology of the territory, dividing the southern floodplain with northern dryland passes through the city. Milan as a metropolitan city acts as a threshold between the two areas.

The most relevant of the factors is the ecosystem of Lombardy region. The territorial conformation of the region can be considered as rich and varied, mainly divided into four areas: a mountainous area, a hilly area, a flat area called the Po Valley and the area south of the Po river. The Lombard plain called the Po valley covers almost half of the region and Milan finds itself in it. As depicted in the territorial scheme (Figure 1), majority of the space is occupied by agricultural lands, parks with an interception of water bodies, canals and lakes.

Reading the figurative map, one discovers that the province expansion happened more towards the northern part which provided more suitable settlement conditions.

On contrary the southern region is dominated by agricultural vast lands which exploits vast agricultural stretches and countryside feeling.

The dualism when studied under one big green network forms the unique Ecoregion of Lombardy.

Ill. 1 Facing page. Green Eco-region of Milan and outskirts

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A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

F.

G.

H.

I.

Green herit age and Protec ted areas Today the set of protected areas in Lombardy covers more than 25% of the entire Lombard territory and includes 24 regional parks, 105 parks of supra-municipal interest, 3 state nature reserves, 66 regional nature reserves, 33 natural monuments, as well as a part of the Stelvio National Park, the largest in Europe.

Another great “green heritage” of Lombardy is represented by the 20 regional forests which, from the alpine valleys to the expanses of the plain, offer an important mosaic of natural ecosystems, inhabited by an extraordinary variety of fauna and flora, and are the scene of events and initiatives open to all to promote knowledge and passion for the environment. “ The environmental values of the park area are those characteristics of the Milanese irrigation plain, intensely used by agriculture over the centuries”, starting from the first reclamation carried out in the Middle Ages by the monastic Orders. The same agricultural works, including the complex of the irrigation network, the canals and the fountains, as well as the hedges and rows, have perfectly

integrated into the landscape to enrich it with values aesthetic and natural.

One of the most interesting areas to be taken into account for further in-depth analysis is Parco Agricolo Sud, a protected park particularly close to the southern periphery of Milan that includes agricultural and forest areas. The Park constitutes a “territorial entity of vast dimensions, practically extended to almost the entire southern semicircle of the Province of Milan.

However, it is obvious that, nowadays, the built environment is perceived as an impenetrable crack in the ecosystem, physically dividing habitats that would have been connected in case of a better permeability or in absence of the city itself. Due to the urban confirmations and growth in the absence of a strong plan. The city today finds itself without large green spaces within its consolidated fabric.

The upcoming urban projects together become responsible to address the issue from grassroot level, helping the integration the scattered green areas in the city.

Fig. 1 Facing page. Green Eco-parks of Milan and outbounds

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Rail mobilit y within After the unification of Italy, the newly formed government decided that the creation of a railway network, which connected the main cities and the north of Italy with the south, would be fundamental to the effective unification of the country, both geographically and economically.

This goal was reached by the end of 1875, with a total of 9,077 km of railways. At this point the government then decided to move towards creating a network which would link together the minor towns, running further inland through hills and mountains.

The railway system in Lombardy is very well articulated and is widely used by commuters, business people and tourists. The system is so extensive that on working days more than 2,300 trains run, with over 700,000 travellers.

New high-speed and high-capacity lines have been developed to allow mixed traffic of passenger

and freight trains for long and medium distance, reducing travel times from Milan to major Italian and European destinations.

The Regional Railway Service links Milan with the rest of the Region and joins the national railway network. The network is also shared by long distance services (Intercity, Eurocity, Eurostar) to other major Italian cities, which mainly use Milano Centrale as a hub. Several infrastructure developments are being planned or being built which will place Milan on a key pan-European high-speed rail route.

The Milan heavy rail network is a radial/throughrunning hybrid network shared by suburban service (Servizio Ferroviario Suburbano) and regional service (Servizio Ferroviario Regionale).

The Suburban Railway Service currently consists of 8 “S lines” (though this is set to increase to 12 in the final configuration) and serves the ‘Greater Milan’ metropolitan area.

Ill. 2 Facing page. Mobility within the Region

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milan in focus 17

1158

3.

HISTORICAL TIMELINE OF MILAN

1698

4.

1995

5.

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Milan-days of yore Previously a Roman city by the name of Mediolanum, Milan, became a hub of the Christian religion through the 6th century. Despite a period of decline following the invasion of the Lombards in 568, the city once again thrived under Charlemagne in the eighth century and the supremacy of the Ambrosian rite returned the city to the centre of religious activities of the Catholic Church. There followed the period of city-states, which came to an end with the Visconti family in power.

The period 1277 to 1447 saw the construction of both the Duomo and of the city wall s, which were built on the present-day Canal ring. Fourteenthcentury Milan saw the construction of a canal system (the Navigli) to defend the city and for commercial use, and this became a determining factor in the economic importance of the city. In the fifteenth century power passed from the Visconti family to the Sforzas when Francesco Sforza became Duke of Milan. The city lived its greatest splendour during the Renaissance (Rinascimento) when both Leonardo and Bramante worked in Milan, witnessed by the Santa Maria delle Grazie church where Da Vinci painted the Last Supper, and the Maggiore Hospital (now the site of the State University).

The most splendid architectural monument in this period of the city’s history is the Castello Sforzesco, nowadays both monument and the repository of several art collections. The most important architectural work in the seventeenth century was

the circular Spanish City Walls, which today delimits the historical city centre. Hapsburg domination followed Spanish rule at the beginning of the eighteenth century and Maria Theresa saw development in all sectors, from the economy to culture and from the government to the arts. It was to this period that we owe the founding of the Brera Academy and the construction of the Scala Opera House, the Villa Reale, and the Royal Palace. With Napoleon Bonaparte, Milan fell under French rule and became the capital of the Cisalpine Republic at the end of the eighteenth century. Austrian domination returned in the nineteenth century but then in 1848, there was a popular rebellion the Five Days of Milan -, which failed to succeed at the time although liberation from Austrian rule came a few years later with the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy under the House of Savoy (1861).

At the beginning of the twentieth century, Milan like the rest of Italy - was under a fascist dictatorship.

Significant architectural works were built in this period, such as Central Station and the Arengario as well as innovative buildings like the Triennale.

At the end of the Second World War, Milan led the way for the reconstruction of the rest of Italy.

Today, Milan is recognized as being a major centre in Italy and Europe for finance, commerce, industry, the tertiary sector, fashion, design, and - more recently - communications and new technology.

Fig. 3 Historical map of Milan 1158 Fig. 4 Historical map of Milan 1698 Fig. 5 Historical map of Milan 1995

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Remnants of the past The city Milan has had three different systems of defending walls. The oldest, Roman walls were developed in two stages, the first in the Republican and the second in the Imperial era; the second wall system was realized in the Middle Ages, after the destruction of the city by Frederick I Barbarossa.

The latest wall system was built by the Spanish rulers. While little remains of these walls, their structure is reflected in the urbanistic layout of the city. Modern Milan has two circular rings of streets, namely the “Cerchia dei Navigli” and the “Cerchia dei Bastioni”, which correspond to the Medieval and Spanish walls, respectively. Note that a third ring of roads just beyond the Inner Ring Road, called the External Ring Road, does not owe itself to any old city walls.

The second line to be constructed was aimed to connect Lombardia with the Veneto region, therefore a new trail from Milan to Venice was finished by 1838. This time building Porta Tosa Station (Porta Vittoria Station today) just outside the walls as it was prohibited to construct inside it. In 1859 a new trail was built to connect both stations added to the line connecting with Turin. In 1857 the first Central Station started to be build and was finished by May of 1864. Although it was an imposing building space was not enough and the station got shifted to the place where it is today. It was the biggest train station in the entire country.

Was planned to hold a lot of train tracks keeping in mind the future routes that were going to be implemented. Therefore, the railway began to wrap the perimeter to the northeast of the city.

The Railway Belt As an important and growing economic center, Milan starts to develop its railway system as many other relevant cities were doing after 1830. The initial plan was to construct a segment from Milan to Como, but this didn’t happen until much later, making the Milan-Monza trail the first one to be built in 1839 by Holzhammer di Bolzano. Being the first railway built entirely by an Italian company with Giulio Sarti as the head engineer. The Porta Nuova Station is the first one to be constructed just outside the Spanish walls.

Ill. 3 Facing page. Growth of the city of Milan over time

Fig. 6 Railway system in Milan 1888

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With a new proposal to connect Milan to Turin, a new station on the south was built in 1868 just on the Porta Ticinese area, where all the new industrial projects were being created. After a new opening to the Spanish wall was made, this station became Porta Genova. With this new route, the city was connected to Turín, Venice, Monza, Como, Vigevano, and Piacenza. As a need for a station that took in the industrial connections, Porta Garibaldi was built, along with Porta Romana, Cadorna, and Rogoredo. All taking an important role in the carrying and storage of the goods towards and outwards Milan.

By 1918 the belts interconnecting the stations at the north and east side were finished and in 1931 the new central station was ready to open. In 1963 the new Garibaldi station was finished. Although there were quite very good connections between the stations, there was not a direct link between the south-east and north-east trails. Therefore in 1984, the underpass was starting to be constructed just as the route that was working during the 30s going from Venice to Piacenza, now going from Garibaldi - Liberazione -Tunez-Regina-Giovanna-Dateo.

Now with the underpass, Milan has a completely interconnected system just like the big metropolis of the world.

Fig. 7 Railway system in Milan 1941

Fig. 8 Railway system in Milan 2020

Other transpor tation systems Early public transport service in Milan dates to 1801, operated with horse-drawn carriages. After the relocation of the Capital of the Italian Kingdom in Milan in 1805, national and international transport services were inaugurated, all operated with carriages, to Vienna, Marseille, and several Italian cities. Transport via the Navigli canals was also an important transport mode in that period. The first bus line was opened in 1827, connecting Milan to Lodi. The first railway, to Monza, was inaugurated in 1840.

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Public transpor t ation in Milan Today Milan has an extensive internal transport network and is also an important transportation node in Italy, being one of the country’s biggest hubs for air, rail, and road networks. The transportation system in Milan includes: Subway lines - The network consists of 4 lines, identified by different numbers and colours, with a total network length of 96.8 kilometres (60.1 mi), and a total of 106 stations, mostly underground.

Suburban rail link, mostly underground (AKA “Passante”) Trams and Buses - about 70 surface bus lines and 17 tram lines operating Along with taxi, car and bike sharing services.

Fig. 10 Public Transportation system diagram

Fig. 9 High traffic areas

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Ecological systems The material welfare of Parks and green open spaces of Milan is characterized by concurrent aspects; the absence of a system that structures the green open spaces, although with extensive facilities, the difference between the extension of public and protected areas and the areas that can be effectively use and maintain, the density of initiatives aimed at the care and the culture of green areas of the city.

organized expressions of public life, as sports and music events and seasonal festivals, are also interested by intensive use by old and new citizens, as foreign population that have changed the way of use of public spaces of the city, since they are easily accessible and relatively small (as Sempione Park, Porta Venezia public garden, Ravizza Park, Solari Park, Forlanini Park and Lambro Park that not exceeding 40 hectares).

The starting point in Milan is a picture of facilities not particularly poor, but fragmented and hardly recognized, characteristics consistent with a complex and unfinished urban condition. In this perspective, the city is confined in the administrative borders and the associated social and economic dynamics belong to a mega-cityregion of nearly five million inhabitants, extended between the Po River and Switzerland. This situation causes an overlapping of powers and the presence of peripheral conditions regardless of the distance from the centre of the city, with a state of multiple identities and centralities, expression, and representation of many new forms of citizenship of urban populations. Hence, at different levels the green spaces of Milan swing between three recurring conditions of wear and over-use, care without full recognition, abandonment, and decay.

At one end there are overcrowded and overexposed historical spaces, subjected to an excess of multitude uses and pressures. For example historical parks, ‘city squares’ in a city without squares, able to host the multiple needs of free and

In Milan recently is occurring a new idea of collaboration between citizens, associations, committees, and the public administration. There is a wish to produce creativity and innovation, starting from some epiphanies that occur directly from people and from the experience.

Fig. 11 Green Ecologycal system in Milan

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The Green Rays project is one such initiative that defines and promotes a new slow mobility, that radiates like green arteries in Milan’s urban areas. Each of the eight green rays’ origins from a different area in town, stemming from the inner city and expanding outwards to the edge of the city where they merge into a circular green ring. This will be the future location for a possible bicycle and a walking path with a total length of 72 kilometers.

The starting point in Milan is a picture of half of the population in Milan living with minimal accessible recreational space, people are moving out of the city to seek green non-crowded outdoors. Hence, the “access to green areas and public realm” initiative is extremely relevant nowadays.

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Po p u l a t i o n t o Po l l u t i o n

The metropolitan city of Milan is one of the most densely populated urban areas both on a national and European level. As regards climate change, it undoubtedly represents an area subject to the critical issues.

One of the thermal anomalies which affect Milan Metropolitan Area the most is the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. Climate change projections for the European continent, including the Po basin, agree that during this century heat waves will become more and more frequent, intense and they will last longer, especially during the summer season. The impact of heatwaves in the city is not homogeneous. It is amplified by elements such as the level of urbanization, the size of the roads, the traffic level and soil impermeabilization.

Fig. 12 Facing Page. Heat map of Milan

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With the city continuing to grow it is important to address this issue and introduce ‘ecological filters’ during the planning of the city. As OMA partner Ippolito Pestellini Laparelli said, “In a moment of dramatic environmental transformation and permanent economic uncertainty, our priorities have changed. The most valuable currency is no longer ‘brick’ — the built — but rather the climatic conditions that cities will be able to provide and ensure for their citizens. The city of the 20th century, with its high energy consumption, must be overcome by reconsidering the principles that have marked urban development since the classical era.”

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PORTA ROMANA 30

31

A quick look to the past

Around 1880 Milan was a crucial area for the railway lines connections. Here the ones that came from North-South and East-West interconnected.

Therefore, it was a crucial point not only for the northern part of Italy but for the entire country. The problem was that until this year the stations were mostly built on the North and West part of the city, while important lines came from the South and East side of the country.

Fig. 14 Illustration of Porta Romana

Hence a new station was needed towards the Porta Romana area, although because of financial difficulties it wasn’t possible to do so.

To have space to receive the trains coming from the south of Italy, the government opened a junction area towards Rogoredo but to connect Venice with the belt around Milan in July of 1896 Porta Romana finally opens.

With time the station grows, affecting the surrounded area, especially towards the south, where a lot of industries were placed there.The railyard remained active until the nineties, then it lost its importance. In the middle of the yard were placed some small deposits that were entirely removed by 2010.

Fig. 15 Illustration of Porta Romana

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How is it now ?

Currently, Porta Romana Railyard seems empty, disused, and eaten up by the nature. The years have passed by and the only remembrance of the active scale is the disused tracks. A small area has been paved to allow musical events to happen there, but the rest is just wild vegetation.

The area of 187000 sqm is part of the Winter Olympic games of 2026, but this will be further explained in the next chapter.

Fig. 16 Porta Romana now a days

In order to understand a little bit more the context in which the project is being developed, a reading of the urban tissue will be done with a solids and voids plan. A closer look at the ecological systems, urban transportation systems, and a photo tour of the surrounding will be provided to get a glimpse of the area.

The railway system around Milan sets another ring outside the Spanish Walls. This defined a difference between the old and new Milan. It can be seen by comparing the urban tissue. To the north, there are closed block following the grid that comes from the city center, while to the south there are big open blocks with industrial facilities and new development projects under construction.

Fig 17. Actual situation of the railway

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Ecological Systems Around the project area, the green public spaces are not predominant. The consolidated urban fabric has left little space for the parks. These are disarticulated and are scattered all over. If we look into the plan we can see how moving out of the city center the green starts to be more present in these pockets. But once we pass by the Scalo of Porta Romana, the suburbs allow more open public space for the people, reaching towards a suburban area where we can find the Parco Agricolo Sud, the fading of the urban context towards a more rural area.

One of the water channels that used to be connected to Navigli, passes by the project area.

The roggia Vettabia is an agricultural canal that can be navigable. This brings a particular characteristic to the south of Milan and can be incorporated into the project through the secondary project area to the West.

Ill. 4 Figure ground map

Ill. 5 Facing page. Ecologycal system around the site

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Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n S y s t e m s The project site is located at a strategic point connected to the metropolitan railway system. The underground metro station Lodi Tibb is located inside the area, thus providing a direct connection with the city center and allows other networks to connect to it.

The site also has several bus stops that connect the area with lines that go around the entire city, allowing people to arrive at new developing projects like Fondazione Prada and Symbiosis.

On the west area of the railyard, a tram line runs along Via Giuseppe Ripamontti, this connecting to Porta Romana, a very social and active area of Milan. At last, there are several bike routes that arrive at or pass by the site but are disconnected.

These link directly to the Parco Agricolo Sud and the suburban area of the city.

Photo sight of the area

Ill 6. Facing page. Transportation system in the Project area

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Around the site, different relevant buildings bring people to the area. Bocconi University’s new Campus by Sanaa has created a new dynamic in the south of Milan. And we cannot forget Fondazione Prada, a museum that also attracts new tourists to the area, along with the Grand Visconti Palace. The symbiosis project, on the south side of Prada, is a new business administration area, which brings new activities a new opportunities for the people in the south of the city.

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Fig 18.

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A. Bocconi Campus

B. Parco Ravizza

C. Grand Viscont Palace

C. Piazzale Trento

D. Piazzale Lodi

E. Torre Brembo

F. Magazzini Generali

G. Fondazione Prada

H. Piazza Oliveti

A.

B.

C.

D.

E. F.

G

H. I.

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WINTER OLYMPICS MILANO CORTINA 2016

“Together, we will deliver memorable Olympic Winter Games that embrace sustainability, using Italy’s experience, passion and heritage in winter sports to inspire athletes and deliver many long-term benefits for sport and society.”

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The Milano Cor tina 2026 Olympic Vision In June 2019, the International Olympic Committee selected Milan and Cortina to host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The Italian candidature beat the Swedish counter-proposal, which saw candidates the cities of Stockholm and Aare. The strong point of the proposal is the long-term vision, conceived to give continuity to the development and economic growth of the area.

Games concept masterplan The Milano Cortina 2026 venue masterplan (Map) comprises 14 competition venues, included in four clusters. In addition, non-competition venues include the Opening and Closing Ceremony venues, three Olympic Villages and the IBC/ MPC, with a secondary Mountain Media Centre in Cortina. The four venue clusters, described in more detail below, are: • • • •

New

Existing

Temporary

Milano Valtellina Cortina Val di Fiemme

Fig. 20 Facing page. Winter Olympics venues

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Conpetition Venues

Milano

Cortina

Livigno

Renovate

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M i l a n o 2 0 3 0 Ur b a n Development Plan In March 2019, the new Development Plan, entitled “Milan 2030: Vision, construction, strategies, spaces”, was adopted by the municipality. This document replaces the previous plan, dating back to 2012, and identifies in 2030 the first time horizon for the implementation of its policies, articulated around three main themes: •Districts and suburbs •Housing and renting policies •Climate and environment The ambition of the Plan is to make Milano a city that is much better interconnected with the rest of the world, through five main Goals that guide the urban development of the City in the coming years.

The overarching priority, which the Games concept will help to achieve, is to overcome physical, social, and economic barriers between the City centre and the outlying districts.

Vision 1. Connecting Milano, its metropolitan area, and the world – The City development till 2030 will be based on a close integration between urban planning and mobility, to create a highly accessible city, enjoying a good balance between demand for mobility, quality of life and environmental sustainability.

2. An attractive and inclusive city full of opportunity - Supporting a businessoriented environment to attract foreign direct investments, offering new and better job opportunities and appropriate solutions to citizens’ need for residential housing are the objectives of a city like Milano.

3. A green, liveable, resilient city - Sustainability takes centre stage in the Milano 2030 Urban Development Plan, which aims to create a city-wide metropolitan park by connecting the Northern and the Southern parks, through the so-called ’Environmental regeneration areas’.

4. One city – 88 districts to call by name – The games concept will be truly inclusive of the entire city, consistently with the vision of Milano to enhance and bring closer all its 88 districts, thanks to better quality services, more efficient and widespread public transportation, and improved urban spaces, for the benefit of local communities, and most importantly, the more fragile categories.

5. A city that regenerates itself - The objective is to extend the positive effects of the event on those city districts that would risk marginalisation or exclusion from the City’s economic and social growth. Incentives to reclaim rundown and abandoned buildings will help to increase the overall urban quality of the City.

Ill. 8 Facing page. Winter Olympics development plan

Legend Future Development

Venues

Speed Skating

Medal Plaza

Green Area

Media Center

Ice Hockey

Ceremonies

Site

Accomodation

Figure Skating

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THEOretical FRAMEWORK 47

Ville Spatiale Yona Friedman born in Budapest but resident in Paris, was an architect that developed a theoretical work about mobility, migrations, and globalization.

He proposed a set of ideas as a solution for the need to adapt to the urban development of modern cities. In one of his texts L`Architecture mobile (1956), he states that our living environment should be able to change. The architecture needs to be flexible in order to follow a certain way of living or the necessities of a population, it should be adaptable. The architecture should be elastic, should allow the person experiencing it to build it.

By following a system like this, different types of spaces could be created; industrial, commercial, cultural, and residential. This would allow the new people arriving in the city (usually with less economic power) to be inside the urban area and not be in the periphery, where the public facilities are not so many.

His concept of “ville spatiale” shows floating tridimensional structures that are built on top of the urban tissue of cities or non-urbanized areas like lakes and agricultural fields. These structures would help solve the problem of habitability. It would allow the growth of the living surface, creating different independent urban levels. The pillars would allow the possibility to connect both systems, the existing one and the new, with some vertical circulations. In this way, “the urban life doesn’t have to be on the ground necessarily”.

The 3 main characteristics of a Ville Spatiale are: 1. Touch the minimum area possible on the ground level.

2. Should be able to be dismantled and disassemble.

3. Should be able to be changed by the inhabitants.

Fig. 22 Facing page. Drawing of the Ville Spatiale

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Fig. 21 Scheme Ville Spatiale

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Monumento Continuo

Everything started in 1996 with the exhibition of Superarchittetura Moderna. The Italian group Superstudion intended to make a reflection on the social and political situation at the moment. The image, a storyboard, or a collage, were manifestos of idealized globalization, a judgment on the modern architectural principles, a critique to the super-consumerism.

The idea behind the Monumento Continuo, their most famous project, was “to develop a negative utopia, which consisted of developing a rational model to its extreme consequences to demonstrate its unreasonableness”. They were pretending to criticize the monumentality and technological confidence that modern architecture was giving the idea for. Not only this but also play with the ideas of rationality and irrationality, play with a changing scale.

The proposal was an architecture that sometimes breaks the urban tissue, others mimic with the context. An architecture that breaks paradigms and creates splendor.

An architecture that although is called a monument, is flexible, ephemeral, nomad. A volume with a grid that extends throughout the whole world, landing on cities, oceans, piazzas, and emblematic buildings. A building that can be everything and nothing at the same time.

Fig. 24 Facing page. Storyboard Monuemento Continuo 1969

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Fig. 23 Fragment of the Monumento Continuo Storyboard

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B o t a n i c a l Pa v i l i o n

A 30,000m2 pavilion designed by a chinese studio Penda for horticultural expo in Beijing, China is considered as an important example to study and analyse. The project is situated on the threshold between the urban city and a forested area, is set to be transformed into a residential area to benefit from the privileged location. as such, the pavilion was designed as a fully modular, prefabricated and decentralized series of structures. instead of a singular building on a site, a thousand yards establishes an invisible grid which develops clusters of five principle uses for the expo and gradually blends them together.

The circulation inside the site is free and multiple public squares corresponding to different activities makes the project engaging. The modular units of 8m x 8m square. built of cross-laminated timber beams fabricated off site and assembled in place, the structures can grow horizontally and vertically to accommodate an increased need for space. also importantly, the modules can be deconstructed and recycled elsewhere resulting in virtually zero waste. this is important not only to the functions hosted in the pavilion itself but also for its readaptation after the expo has finished. Visitors constantly emerge within the site and interact with the built green landscape, the concept of waiting in lines to see a certain event has been erased.

Fig. 25 Interweaving of Architecture and Landscape Fig. 26 Facing page. Aereal image of the Project

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Feeding the Planet Austria- ‘Naturally yours’ The Austrian Pavilion for the Expo 2015 in Milano, designed and eaten by its visitors. It was proposed

by Penda and Alexander Daxböck. It becomes an important example to study because it incorporates nature with modular grid system.

The concept of the Austrian Expo Pavilion 2015 is based on a wooden structural frame asking for the visitor’s creativity to seed plants on its structure and the space inbetween to transform the pavilion into an object taken over by organic food during the duration of the Expo. With the seeding, growing and harvesting of the plants by its’ visitors, the pavilion will be in a constant change of appereance during the seven months of the exhibition. At the beginning of the Expo, the pavilion will be more or less a ‘naked’ structural grid of 3.6m, executed in a quadriple timber construction with a squared profile of 8cm length. A modular system based on a regular grid, enables the pavilion on the one hand to react easily on an increasing number of visitors by implementing more timbers and more pots and on the other hand to be quickly constructed/ deconstructed and reused afterwards or parts of it. Being a main part of this transformation and experiencing the exhibition with all the senses, should create a bond between the visitors and the pavilion and treasure Austria‘s position as a place for healthy, high quality products and a sustainable way of production.

Fig. 27 Process of construction

Fig. 28 Layers of construction Fig. 29 Facing page. View of the Pavillion

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Pa r c d e l a V i l l e t t e Paris, 1983. It is Tschumi who creates the masterpiece of layer poetics. The project was born following the international competition for the aménagement de l’Est de Paris, from which Tschumi will emerge as the winner. The park presents itself as a container of activities and functions related not only to entertainment, but also to education, thus affirming the concept of “ cultural park “.

The park de la Villette, also created in collaboration with Derrida, represents the programmatic manifesto of architectural deconstruction, which sees the architect and the philosopher lined up side by side to define the general rules and generating flows. You will no longer have a pure and crystallized form, but red points called Folies , which constitute a dissociated series of “generating cells ”, whose transformations cannot be circumscribed.

The system of lines is instead intended for circulation and identified through two straight and orthogonal axes, underlined by wavy canopies, which intersect and join the extreme access points to the park.

Fig. 30 Construction Layers and Elements

The system of surfaces, on the other hand, is formed from the resulting space due to the intersection of the different paths and consists of large extensions intended for lawns.

The Parc de la Villette turns out to be a reflection on time, on the past, the present, the future, and on their relationships.

Fig. 32 Facing page. Diagram of the project

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Fig. 31 Points as ‘Follies’

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Pa r c a u x a n g é l i q u e s ‘Process rather than Site Plan’ - MDP The project of enhancing Bordeaux’s green open space was originally conceived as part of the Green Plan in 2001. At that time public plazas in the city centre were continuously being rebuilt and expanded. The general urban area, however, was still rather undefined and difficult to grasp in a spatial sense, as the historic city centre still had numerous vacant lots and there was a lack of connections between green open space areas and the plazas.

In 2005 Paris landscape architects Michel Desvigne Paysagiste were commissioned by the city of Bordeaux to develop a plan of how to improve and enlarge urban open space. The office then drafted guidelines and developed tools for a unified design concept, a Charte des Paysages, or landscape charter.

Fig. 33 Layers of Landscape - Spacial unity, borders, typologies, levels and soil

The method developed consisted of a series of case studies: The office analysed approximately one dozen projects and investigated each area according to its spatial unity, borders, typologies, levels, soils and open space structure. Trial plantings on site were undertaken as a result of this empirical approach in order to test the spatial, aesthetic, functional and ecological impacts.

These methods replaced traditional regulatory planning documents and led to numerous changes and adjustments in existing development plans.

Fig. 35 Facing page. Plan of the Project

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Fig. 34 The extention of the Green Filaments into a Riverfront Grand Park

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PROJECT GUIDE LINES 61

Design Brief Eco Park - ‘Behind the limits of the railways’

Site Programming

The team was provided with the guidelines and timeline for the phasing of the project to be envisioned on the site. The project consisted of three main phases 1) 2020 - The tactical or strategic process of creating an innovative layout for the urban landscape in the abandoned rail yards of Porta Romana. The structure of the regenerated area has to be its large scale park. Design of large intervals of collective spaces and shared places through new paths squares, and parks. Grafting of different types of nature and green, and defining multiple hierarchies of permeability and porosity through a new system of light and sustainable accessibility.

2) 2026 - Design of temporary functions to house the 2026 Milano Olympic village that encompasses accommodation and support services for the Olympic Village of 2026 Cortina Winter Games.

Total Site Area - 180,000 sqm.

20% Buildable Area - 36,000 sqm.

80% Park Area - 144,000 sqm.

Building Management

3) 2030 - Design for a new District mainly focusing on the student housing facility that also houses urban functions to integrate the community and the city of Milan as a whole.

Therefore, this timeline acted as a guideline throughout the design process where each of these phases was addressed to come up with specific outcomes of design.

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GFA 2026 - 60,000 sqm.

- Housing 30,000 sqm.

- Services 30,000 sqm.

2030 - Services +20,000 sqm

P H A S I N G

2020

Masterplanning, Demolitions and Soil Remediation

2022

- Temporary Park - Structural Construction

2024

50% Construction Phase for the Olypmic Village

2026

Completed Olympic Village

2027

Transformation Phase

2028

Construction of additional Services for the New District

2030

Completion of the New District

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STRATEGIC

VISION

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Connection with the existing E c o l o g i c a l E y s t e m - Pa r c o Agricolo Sud

Green Railway Corridors

The South Milan Agricultural Park, entrusted to the management of the Metropolitan City of Milan, includes the agricultural and forest areas of 60 municipalities, for a total of 47,000 hectares.

Regional legislation classifies it as an agricultural and metropolitan belt park, thus highlighting its geographical position, close to a large metropolis, in a densely urbanized context. Due to its nature, the park presents all the typical characteristics of peri-urban spaces, playing a role of connection between the natural areas and the agricultural matrix within it.

Its proximity to the city of Milan also creates not only opportunity for these produces but this Biotope helps to sustain the city in the form of a green lung. This role of the Agricultural park is very important specially for a city as dense as Milan and with the recent years of increase in the pollution leading to the urban heat island effect this area becomes ever so more important.

Moreover, when we investigate the ecological system map, we realise that the green systems especially in the south of Milan lacks very dissipated and is almost always interrupted by the built environment. Therefore, having this isolated green lung in the south becomes useless if its not well connected as it is important to create these ecological corridors that guarantee ecological flow into the city and help improve the urban conditions of the city.

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Ill. 9 Green corridoors inside and out of Milan

The main aim of this project is to supply this city with green ecological systems specially in the voids of the city. The void with the most potential which already connects the city in the form of a perimeter ring is the railway lines. In addition to these lines there are several abandoned railway yards which now houses some spontaneous vegetation. The transformation of these into ecological corridors would be a very efficient solution because the ring already exists it’s a matter of utilising this potential and promote the growth of a synanthropic environment.

The voids such as the one in Porta Romana can be used for ecological hubs in which biodiversity can flourish.

Ill. 10 Facing page. Green ecosystem and water bodies

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Promoting Endemic Spec ie s Another important point to be taken into consideration is to promote the endemic species and the species existing in and around the Parco Agricolo Sud, because its not just a visual connection for the biodiversity to flow in naturally without having any ill effects on the existing ecological system it becomes to integrate the system at its roots to negate any negative impacts in the future.

Ur b a n V i s i o n Therefore, if all the above strategies are implemented, we can foresee certain changes in the future – • • • • • •

Ill. 11 Diagram with vegetation used in the project

Environmental preservation and Improvements Better quality of life in the city Higher social interactions Improved infrastructure facilities like transportation Improved services like better storm water drainage systems And lastly and more importantly Economic benefits.

Ill. 12 Facing page. Urban vision diagram

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Site Identit y A fundamental role is played by the stations, which today become real gates of the contemporary city. Over the years, however, many of these have not been exempt, like the rest of the city, from processes of transformation that have coincided in some cases with their dismantling, their change of use, if not their complete demolition. The presence of history of these places, is still hidden.

These stations are often referred to ghost stations, and some have vanished without traces, while others are almost intact, like if they remained in a time capsule. The problem is that many of these, although they are still in good condition, are not used and they have lost their identity. People often pass by without knowing what they were before or even worse, they are not invisible to pedestrians.

The transformation of the urban fabric has involved also the railway stations and lines, modifying some sections, diverting or closing some stops, some of these, thanks to a revitalization process, have changed their use, some have been modernized, while others have been totally abandoned.

Mapping the fragments of the infrastructures, which have been lost over time, the strategy intends to draw a new link between them, which conceptually corresponds to the reuse of these paths for new purposes. To complete the process, several layers were added, which integrates the pedestrian flow and the public transportation system, investigating bus stops and pedestrian paths. The final strategy aims at the harmonious interaction of the history of the city with those who live in it.

Ill. 13 Abstract idea behind the project

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Threshold as a New E x tended Limit

The threshold is represented like a revealing and enigmatic space that define the relations of the limit or boundary, the separation and the union between the buildings and the urban spaces, and the space that defines, qualifies and characterises the minimum condition of urbanity of any work of architecture, irrespective of its use or scale.

Threshold is, for Le Corbusier, a space or sequence of spaces organised under the idea of “plan” of variable thickness or extension, that includes both criteria and guidelines of order as well as solutions for managing the limits or boundaries in architecture, as well as its relation with space and the involvement with its surroundings, that is to say, the focus is on highlighting how the architecture in itself, attends to an order that as well as being articulated and unitary, is extended by means of doors, frames, courtyards, terraces, sheds and exterior spaces, that incorporate both the nearby urban landscape as well as the distant cityscape.

In our proposal we foresee our structure to act as this threshold that extends over the limits of the railway line to unite the cityscape. Our site not only has the limits of the railway but also is a large void, visible clearly in the figure-ground diagram.

Therefore, it becomes even more important to that unifies the two sides of the railway limit and creating this threshold that blends into the urbanscape creating this porosity that helps integrate the site with the rest of the city.

Ill. 14 Threshold idea

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DESIGN STRATEGY

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Projec t Strate gy The onset of our design process started with the consideration of the location of the site in the city, this played a major role in shaping our ideas. The thorough analysis of the site with respect to its urban context assisted us in creating a ‘architectural palimpsest’ which formed a rudimentary base for the development of our project.

In depth study of the site context made us identify the voids in the area with potentialities that could be exploited to create a well-suited design that could help in unifying the existing systems in the area. The key factors taken into consideration for this proposal was the ecological systems in and around the city of Milan especially the Southern Agricultural Park, the built environment around the site, the urban fabric of the city, the infrastructure such as the road network and the public transportation systems.

The linearity of the railway line and the nodal points of interests around the site which gave the area its identity was some of the key underlying factors that are taken into consideration. Integrating the city’s urban and ecological systems in a sustainable way became the most important goal during the design phase.

Therefore, considering all the above listed factors we were able to create a complex yet purely functional system that could be harmoniously integrated in the site to fill in the void creating a perfect amalgamation.

Ill 16. General strategy of the project

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Following are the step by step thought process behind the design scheme. The first step was to identify the site, its context, and try to device a working scale. This analytical phase has been explained in depth in the earlier chapters.

The linearity of the railway acting as a limit in this site was a key factor hence we wanted to include our structure as a threshold to extend this limit and the dimension of this threshold was based on the morphological study of the surrounding.

01.

SITE

02.

Railway

03.

Grid Ill 17. Step by step strategy of the project

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The scale defined from the study was a grid of 12m x 12m which acted as a guide not only for the structure but also as a base for the ecological systems to be extended into the city especially towards to south to connect the currently fragmented green spaces in the south to the Agricultural Park. Moreover, the most important buildings around the site was identified which acted as nodal points of connection between the site and the surrounding context.

04.

VIRTUAL MESH

05.

NODES

06.

PIAZZA

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The site in the beginning was deemed to be too rigid therefore it was important for us to increase the porosity and create an inflow of pedestrians from all active areas. To identify this pedestrian inflow, we decided to project the existing road network into our site subsequently creating a continuous network trough the site rather than the void the site now represents. This influx of slow mobility into our system was further enhanced by creating a loop so that the in flow in not unidirectional.

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07.

PROJECTIONS

08.

CONNECTIONS

09.

LOOP

The next step was our biggest dilemma. How to get over the railway line? For us from the beginning sustainability governed every design decision therefore tampering with the existing railway line was never an option. Therefore, keeping the existing levels as it is, we devised a vertical circulation system at strategic points along the transversal paths. These circulation elements would connect to the platforms created on the grid which follows a system of layering and helps to bridge the northern and southern sides of the site.

10.

11.

CIRCULATIONS

PLATFORM

12.

VOLUMES

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Identif ying the Scale

Layering rather than Zoning

The morphological study of the area played a major role in identifying the scale most cohesive to the existing built environment. We did not want to enforce a completely new language into the system as this would lead to several negative repercussions. We not only studied the voids and solids but also studied the volumes and its dimensions and started to reiterate these dimensions into the project. We also noticed that the existing buildings in the railyard were aligned to the railway lines suggesting that the railway had a strong role in dictating the orientation of the buildings.

Another very important inference from all the theoretical study we did was the concept of layering rather than zoning taking inspiration from Yona Friedman’s, ‘Megaspacestructure’. In this concept the structure is not considered to be in space but rather the structure itself is identified as the space. This system works by layering up different functions one on top of the other rather than placing them side by side. In a ‘Mespacestructure’ everything coexists harmoniously even the transit systems is brought into the structure in our case. The multi-layered structure allows us to achieve a perfect balance between the voids and the built spaces.

Therefore, considering this extracted information from the studies we devised an appropriate scale of 12m x 12m utilizing the railway as the main axis for the grid.

The grid was the dictating factor for placing both the architectural as well and the landspace elements along the site.

This kind of a space diminishes the sensation of being inside and outside. Giving life the pieces of utopia and bringing the permanent and transient together into a total system of a new interactive district.

12m

12m

Ill. 18 Finding the right scale diagram

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Ill. 19 Circulation Diagram

Third level platform (private)

Second level platform (private)

First level platform (public/crossing)

+24m lvl

+12m lvl

Ve r t i c a l c i r c u l a t i o n c o r e s Ground level platform (public) Longitudinal paths

+6m lvl Raised platforms

+0m lvl

Pr o p o s e d t ra i n s t a t i o n

Tra n s v e r s a l p a t h s

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The project 83

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Mani f e s t o The new architecture should stand out and impose itself on its surroundings, although it should not interrupt the vision and urban fabric. The built architecture has to make a dialogue between the broken tissues of the city. It should be an architecture that breaks the rules. The project should be monumental, although it will not be a monument, because it would not follow the characteristics of one. It will provide functions, it would be able to expand through the territory, although it will seem the same in each place, it will adapt to the fabric of the city to fracture and allow connections. It reacts to any already existing monument, and it should be a different solution every time there is one. It is not something that exists and lasts forever, it will be a continuous process of construction also taking nature as a part of it, making it no longer a natural process. The architecture then it will be the element to join city and nature.

Ill. 20 Facing page. Manifesto collage

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Mas t erplan The masterplan is the byproduct or translation of all the readings and analysis done in the earlier chapters, incorporating all the architectural and landscape strategies.

The site plan is designed to improve the slow mobility flows, the paths drawn up increase the porosity of the flows into the site which is almost non existing in the present. The nodal points created have direct and better interaction with the existing points of interests around the site. In addition to these nodes each of the green areas are categories for specific activities from urban farming to a botanical garden which further breaks the monotony of the mundane green into activity zones based on its specific landscape design.

The structure laid over the railway line is not only a bridge to cross over the train but also acts as a piece of a puzzle that fills in the void in the urban morphology. The layering of this ‘Megaspacestructure’ is in accordance with the expected GFA housing all the required functions for all phases of its use. Moreover, the volumes placed in this structure follow a certain methodology to avoid cluttering and creating a guideline for further expansion.

The result is an aggregate of the all the landscape and architectural layers which are laid down carefully to a create a dialogue with the city. This project is not just an addition in terms of built environment but is envisioned as a dialogue with the city which is both economically and socially sustainable.

Ill. 21 Masterplan of the project

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Ill. 22 Aerial view of the site

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The project takes as a premise the idea of placing volumes scattered throughout the whole structure.

This allowing space between them in which now new green spaces have been created. So the people that use the building units have two different experiences with a more natural world. One on the parks layer at the ground floor and another one while being on top of the structure.

The project takes into consideration the context where is situated. While being in an area with not so high buildings the grid couldn’t elevate and fill up all the horizon for the neighbors. The idea is to be monumental but without being an obstacle. The grid allows space to happen, therefore creating visual relations with its surroundings. And it’s important to mention that the project not only does it visually but also at ground level. The main roads where people transit has a direct path that allows people to enter the structure or pass over it. It allows back the connections that the train had broken. In some way tries to become a new reconciling urban tissue to relate the two different situations happening on the north and south parts of the structure.

The soil of the project followed a slope down towards the train line. The project smooths out the terrain for the people to go through the paths and perceived this movement as a slight change of level. There are three piazzas in front of strategic focal points and the soil changes to give them a continuous surface. Although this doesn’t happen at Lodis Piazza. Here the soil has been sunken 6m to have a different atmosphere. This space becomes an open theater for the city, where the backdrop is the vegetation and public life happening on the upper levels of the structure and the city context behind it. The other two Piazzas on the site are flat to have different activities happening on them.

Ill. 23 General section of the project 90

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Ill. 24 Section through Piazza Lodi

Ill. 25 Section through Piazza Fondazzione Prada 92

Ill. 26 Section through Toscana Station Piazza

Ill. 27 Section through Piazza in front of Bocconi University 93

Ground Floor Plan The first phase of the project contemplates the creation of a metropolitan park that is going to be a breathing lung for the city. This one has multiple paths that allow the people transiting in the surrounding area to come in. They have been placed in strategical crossing points and follow the direction of the virtual grid that has been created on the soil. The three main hard paved areas are connected between them with longitudinal paths and the structure itself offers a way to connect between them. Each transversal path arrives either at the structure or at a vertical nucleus. That way people can cross over the train or to a commercial unit placed on the +6 level.

In the north part of the project, at ground level, there are placed nine commercial units. This has a direct relationship with the park and a small hard paved area in front of it.

The three main courtyards have different characteristics. Lodi s Piazza, the one on the eastern side of the project, has two different levels. The south part has a water body while the north side is sunken. The middle piazza in front of Fondazione Prada has a different take out on water elements.

This one has water spouts and a flower bed in front of it. Because of these, the square becomes a changing space depending on the weather. The west Piazza has an entrance on both the north and south sides to the new Toscana Train Station, and this becoming an important area for the city.

Ill. 28 Ground floor Plan 94

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I l l . 2 9 Se c tio n Th ro u g h the Piaz z as

New Toscana Station 96

Piazza - Fond

dazione Prada

Piazzale Lodi 97

Landscape Design The park has been designed to hold different activities, using natural elements as architectural pieces to create contrasting atmospheres. The placement of trees and bushes has been done following a virtual extended grid to create enclosed spaces or others open.

Different types of activities happen along the park.

There is an agricultural area where people from the community can gather up and create an urban crop.

In front of the Prada Foundation, a bed of flowers allows us to keep a direct visual connection from the building towards the park. There are other sections where the trees create small rooms for people to sit down and gather. Water plays an important role in park design. Therefore, different ways of displaying it had been utilized. On the main paths, there are water ponds that take in the rainwater, creating a micro-ecosystem inside them. There is also a water line that runs parallel to the structure which has seating spaces and some shadows are provided by vegetation. There are water spouts and a water mirror on the piazzas. Always treating this element not only as a landscaping feature but a characteristic that can enhance the temperature of areas in the park by making them an enjoyable atmosphere.

Ill. 30 Park activities diagram 98

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Ill. 31 Pathway Approaching Piazza Toscana 100

Ill. 32 Water line space 101

Us e r A n a l y s i s & 3 D C l u s t e r s The project brief gives us a clear indication of the users of this space. In the first stage the private spaces will be utilized by the athletes of the Olympic and Paralympic games held in Lombardy along with the staff associated with the event, and in the second phase by students. But it is important to note that this park is not meant only for these functions as it will be open to public even during these phases there for it becomes important to analyse these users, their behavior and their requirements.

Since the park is a public or a community space and part of the structure also is open to public as it acts as a connection between the north and the south part of the region bridging the two over the railway line.

Stakeholder’s Identity Requirements Athelete Age : 14+

-Interaction and sports activity facilities

Paralympic Athelete Age : 14+

-Interaction and sports activity facilitiesand barrier free zones

Students Age : 18 - 30

-Interaction and activity/study facilities

General Public Age - Not defined

-Public activity zones / fast movement across the site

To address this issue the ground and the intermediate +6m level are kept open to public to allow easy passage of the users and also services to the communities like co-working spaces, library, stores, restaurants and cafes while the above floors are given more private functions like housing and the functions specific to the user requirements.

Moreover, it is also important to note that even in the above levels the volumes are arranged in a particular system that is suitable for the user age group. Since the users are youngsters living mostly away from home it is important to maximize their interaction hence, we used a very conventional and functional style of courtyard systems to achieve this interaction. These courtyards or clusters are in 3D due to the limited space and work to improve the dynamics both spatial and social.

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I l l . 33 C lus te r a rra nge m e nt

I l l . 34 Un it t y pe s

Third level platform (private)

Second level platform (private)

First level platform (public/crossing)

+24m lvl Ve r t i c a l c i r c u l a t i o n cores Ground level platform (public)

+12m lvl

+6m lvl

Color Legend Ground floor single unit Ground floor double unit

+0m lvl

+1 2 m Lv l s i n g l e u n i t +1 2 m Lv l d o u b l e l o n g i t u d i n a l u n i t +1 2 m Lv l d o u b l e t ra n s v e r s e u n i t +1 2 m Lv l 2 . 5 g r i d u n i t

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Ill. 35 Third Floor Plan +24m This platform has also door entrances to the living units, but depending on the type there can be bedrooms or communal spaces. Green pockets are also placed to provide public space for the residents.

Ill. 36 Second Floor Plan +12m This platform, like the one below, has different public spaces for the community, but it also has the main entrances to the living units. This is always related to some commercial activities like cafes and restaurants that are placed to bring activity to the open spaces in the platform.

Ill. 37 First Floor Plan +6m This platform is the crossing level in the structure.

If people want to cross over the train, they will have to reach one of the staircases or elevators, climb up 6m, and fount this platform. There are commercial units that have an entrance from this level and also some public activities related to sports.

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An aerial view of most urban areas in Milan show swathes of asphalt, black tar, and gravel-ballasted rooftops. Heat radiates off the dark roofs, and water rushes over the hard, hopefully impermeable surfaces.

This is where the concept of Green roofs come in, these last longer than conventional roofs, reduce energy costs with natural insulation, create peaceful retreats for people and animals, and absorb storm water. On a wider scale, green roofs improve air quality and help reduce the Urban Heat Island Effect, a condition in which city and suburban developments absorb and trap heat. Green roofs replace a hard infrastructure with one that is not only more efficient, but also beautiful and useful. In our design we tried to incorporate this idea of green roofs as ‘Green Platforms’ and integrate it into our multi-layered system of platforms.

The Green Platforms in our case not only serve the environmental purpose but also a social one. One does not have to descend all the way to ground level to be with nature and studies have proved that incorporation of these green open spaces into the building have a positive social impact on its residents.

The details of incorporation of this idea is seen in the Ill.38 and it is noteworthy to mention that these platforms can be used to grow anything from a kitchen garden to shrubs and in some cases some very small trees the reason to keep smaller vegetation on the platforms is to avoid overloading the building so that we can maintain a slender structural system.

Ill. 38 Detailed section through the structure

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9 10 11

1

5

2

3 4

7

6

8

16 17

18

12 13 14 15

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1) 50mm Deck Flooring with Insulation 2) Support sheet with insulation (0.1m) 3) Tertiary support system (0.2m x0.2m) 4) Deck sheet with insulation (0.2m) 5) CLT Panel with insulation (0.4m) 6) Secondary support system for the volumes (0.2mx0.2m) 7) Secondary support system for the platforms (0.2mx0.4m) 8) CLT Roof Panel (0.4m) 9) Metal railing to a height of 6m 10) Primary horizontal member (0.6mx0.6m)

11) Primary vertical member (0.6mx0.6m) 12) Soil material to a depth of 0.4m 13) Drainage sheet (0.05) 14) Insulation and waterproofing layer (0.05m) 15) Roof deck sheet with protection (0.1m) 16) Metal angle bracket to support the windows 17) Window Panel 18) CLT Floor Panel (0.4m) 19) Extra primary support system at 6m for the platforms 20) Concrete pedestal with metal plate footings

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Cluster Guidelines These guidelines are developed keeping in mind our consideration of this structure being a metamorphic structure ever growing to the increasing needs of the community and eventually the city.

•

+19.2m lvl

• •

•

+15.8m lvl

•

• •

+12.0m lvl Ill. 39 Cluster zoomed in plans 108

The Units are always placed with an offset of 200mm from the primary structural system and never sits directly on top of the primary system this is to equally distribute the load onto the tertiary and secondary structural system before loading the primary system this avoids point loading and this way a more slender system can be maintained.

All public functions like cafes, libraries, co-working spaces, are placed in the Ground and +6m level while the living units start only from the +12m level.

The units are strictly following the grids and never cuts the system therefore forming smaller dimensions of volumes which fit in one-grid (12m x 12m) or a two-grid system (12m x 24m).

In some cases, the volumes do protrude from the structural system and this protrusion by no means is more than half a grid. In this case the secondary and tertiary systems also protrude to the extent of the volume which help transfer the loads onto the primary system safely.

The volumes in terms of total height again follows the grid system while most of them are single grid (12m) in height some living volumes are double height (24m) and can be accessible from the +12m platform and the +12m platform.

The Public volumes are further divided into two internal levels accessible from the ground and the +6m level.

The Living units are divided into three internal levels if it is a single volume and six internal levels if it is a double volume.

This guideline not only helps lay the ground rules for expansion but also helps in pre-fabrication of these units.

+24.0 lvl

+12.0 lvl

+6.0 lvl

+0.0 lvl

Ill. 40 Section through one cluster

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Ill. 41 Project facade through out the seasons

Winter

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Spring

Summer

Fall

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Un i t l e v e l d e t a i l s Going one step deeper into the next scale of details we can now distinguish the different living units.

We have four major typologies and two more which are just double volume units of type 2A and 3.

Each of these units are split into three levels of 3.2-3.6m height floor to floor and the double units have six internal levels. The entry to all these units are through the first level where we have a manager’s kiosk too to monitor the entry of exit of the residents and also further enhance the security system since the lower levels are open to public and double layer security in place would help in the smooth maintenance of the residences.

These units are of different typologies some having a dormitory system of arrangement with a common kitchen and living spaces, some are studio apartments while others are apartments of three bedrooms.

The Olympic games village has a minimum requirement of accommodations that is 70 single rooms and 630 double rooms making it a total of 1330 beds.

Even though we consider our structure as a metaphorical structure which can continue to grow in the future in this masterplan, we tried to achieve the numbers required by the Olympic committee and in the next table achieved figures are explained.

The total number of beds achieved for the olympic phase of the building is 1442 Beds which includes 78 single rooms and 682 double rooms.

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Unit Typology Type - 1 (Single Height)

Number of Single Rooms Double Rooms Total Number Units per Unit per Unit of Beds 16

0

8

1

0

17

34

Type - 2A

13

3

14

403

Type - 2B

429

Type - 1 (Double Height)

256

13

3

15

Type - 2.5 (Single Height)

1

0

10

20

Type - 2.5 (Double Height)

6

0

25

300

Total Number of Beds

1442

Type - 1 11.0 m

11.0 m

First level

Second level

Third level

First level

Second level

Third level

Type - 2a

23.0 m

11.0 m

Type -2b

First level

Second level

Third level

Type -3

29.3 m

Ill. 42 Living Unit plans

11.0 m

First level

Second level

Third level

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Living space typologies As mentioned earlier we have 4 major unit typologies. Each of these units are not confined to one system of living except for the smallest 11m x 11m unit which follows an apartment system of living the other units have a mixed system with a combination of five typologies.

The first type is the Dormitory type where the living spaces are shared like the kitchen and the dining area and some private recreational spaces.

This typology consists of a room with its attached bathroom.

The second type is the studio typology where along with the room and the bathroom a small kitchenette is provided making it a self-sufficient living space. But in most cases the additional living and interaction spaces are provided on each floor for small gatherings.

The third type is the atelier typology which is a specially designed unit style for students. This type can be avoided in the first phase and can be incorporated in the studio units later so that it can accommodate more beds.

The fourth and fifth type is the apartment system they are different from each other because one is a duplex unit while the other is a regular apartment.

Most of these units have their own private living, kitchen, dining and comes with three bedrooms with attached or even a shared bathroom.

Ill. 43 View inside Second Floor Platform

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Key Plan 2A Unit -Second level

Ill. 44 Living space typologies

Dormitory type

studio

atelier type

apartment

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Ma t e r i a l i t y a n d D e t a i l s Having such a large building in the middle of the site running almost the entire length had a profound impact on our material choices. We made a conscious effort to not make the structure look monstrous but create quite an opposite scenario.

Keeping this in mind we chose the material palette which consisted of earthy, neutral shades. The use of these pantones helped us blend the structure and tone down the visual impact to a more subtle rather than a striking image.

Moreover, other than the factor of blending the building with the surrounding it was important to not make the structure look heavy and make the platforms look like they are almost floating specially with the depth of these slabs being almost more than a meter it was not just for the aesthetics but also to structurally balance the elements we had to use lighter, hollow and slender materials. That is where the use of wooden louvers, CLT slabs for the volumes and hollow sections for all the supporting structural elements come into the picture.

Some panels like the Concrete finish composite panels were chosen instead of actual concrete keeping this very factor in mind. These panels improve the aesthetics of the building without burdening the structural elements.

Last but not the least it is noteworthy to mention the importance of green within the building which plays a major role in though out the design process and in the aesthetics of the building.

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Ill. 45 Materials used moodboard Ill. 46 Facing page. Detailed section with materiality

Primary vertical member (0.6mx0.6m) CLT Roof Panel (0.4m)

Double Glass Window Panel

Double height living spaces

CLT Floor Panel (0.4m)

Treated wooden Louvers (0.05m x 0.05m)

Tertiary support system (0.2m x0.2m)

Secondary support system for the volumes (0.2mx0.2m)

Metal railing to a height of 6m with ivy growing over it

Treated wooden deck flooring 0.1m thk

Soil material to a depth of 0.4m Secondary support system for the platforms (0.2mx0.4m) Concrete finished composite panels 0.2m thk 117

Ill. 47 View inside of one of the platforms

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Ill. 48 View into a vertical circulation area

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P r o j e c t Ma n a g e m e n t & Sustainablilit y

Phase -1

2020

Park

Considering the scale of the project it is important to note that construction of such a project at one go is not feasible. Therefore, the most viable solution is to manage the project in phases. In the earlier chapter we discussed the goal of each phase but here we mention the specific details of how our project can be conceived in four main phases.

Phase -1 This is the stage where the soil modulations, plating and the foundation for the structural system is laid out.

Phase -2 During this phase, the primary structure, and the vertical connections at least up to the +6m level is constructed so that the bridge between the Northern and Southern parts of the site is anchored.

Phase -3 In this phase we decided that we should start the construction from Piazzale Lodi inserting the prefabricated living units into the structure and constructing the platforms around it. While we move from East to West the finished units can be utilized as temporary stay by students till the advent of the Olympic Games to generate some extra funds for the construction phase.

Phase -4 The project has always been envisioned to be a metamorphic structure that can grow with growing needs. Therefore, additional units can be added following the guidelines mentioned before.

This system of management of the project can help the project be not only environmentally sustainable but also economically sustainable as well.

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Phase -2

2022

Structure & Connections

Phase -3

2024

Transition

Phase -4 Metamorphisis

Future expansion

Ill. 49 Project phases

Construction starting from Piazzale Lodi and moving toward the New Toscana Station

2026

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Conclusion The project emphasizes on the regeneration process of the former industrial area of Scala di Porta Romana. The transformation of this abandoned area will give Milan a new ecological as well a community space that can have a profound impact on the city itself. Many such interventions have been done all over the world and with integration of sustainable and environmentally friendly designs these kinds of interventions are thought to have good life span and continue to add to the positives of a city.

We envisage this project to be well fitted with the city’s future development plans. Moreover, this project is not restricted to just having an impact on the city but across Lombardy with tight ties to the railway systems and the agricultural fields in the south the urban regeneration process does not have limited bounds.

In addition to its infrastructural impacts we believe that this project can have a significant impact on the social fabric of the city as well. With many big cities taking up the 15 minutes neighborhood development plans this project seems to fill in the void that currently exists in this neighborhood and be the bridge to integrate social interactions within the community.

Yes, the Olympic games is the first goal but with this project the larger picture also seems exciting. The project gives Milan a new perspective and the Olympic games is the push everyone has been waiting for to realise such a project. The project encourages slow mobility systems, permeability, co-living etc. And the structure is seen as a metamorphic structure that caters to the growing needs of the society.

Furthermore, this project emphasizes the concept of layering and promotes the idea of ‘Megaspacestructures’ and we foresee this concept to have great potential in tending to all the needs of the city be it infrastructure, ecological and social needs.

Ill. 50 View of Piazza Fondazione Prada 123

Image Credit s Talking about Lombardy Fig 1.

A. See Milan, 2017 B. Monza e Brianza turismo, s.f C. Monza e Brianza turismo, s.f.

D. Unitre Milano, 2020 E. Wanted in Milan, 2014 F. Paesi onLine , s.f.

G. Navigli Lombardi, s.f.

H. Navigli Lombardi, s.f.

I. Parco Agricolo Sud, 2020 Milan in Focus Fig 2. Monovisions, 2015 Fig 3. Beep, 2020 Fig 4. Beep, 2020 Fig 5, Beep, 2020 Fig 6. Urbanfile, 2020 Fig 7. Znichelli, 1947 Fig 8. Google earth, 2018 Fig 9. Bazzoni , Boni, Choubassi, & Presicce, 2020 Fig 10. Systematica, 2017 Fig 11. Bazzoni , Boni, Choubassi, & Presicce, 2020 Fig 12. Trivellini, Casagrande, & Trentin, 2018 Porta Romana Fig 13. Urbanfile, 2020 Fig 14. Vecchia Milano, 2010 Fig 15. Vecchia Milano, 2010 Fig 16. Urbanfile, 2020 Fig 17. Urbanfile, 2020 Fig 18.

A. Corriere della Sera B. Tripadvisor, s.f C. Grand Visconti Palace, s.f.

D. Google earth 2018 E. Google eart, 2018 F. Urbanfile, 2017 G. Sky tg24, 2018 H. Hernandez, 2018 I. Duomo 24, 2018

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Winter Olympics Fig 19. Huddleston, 2017 Fig 20. Peña Fernandez, 2017 Theorethical Framework Fig 21. Peña Fernandez 2018 Fig 22. MAXXI, 2017 Fig 23. Casabella, 1971 Fig 24. Casabella, 1971 Fig 25. Architizer, s.f.

Fig 26. Architizer, s.f.

Fig 27. Daxböck & Precht, 2013 Fig 28. Daxböck & Precht, 2013 Fig 29. Daxböck & Precht, 2013 Fig 30. Archdaily, 2011 Fig 31. G.F, 2015 Fig 32. G.F, 2015 Fig. 33. Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, 2012 Fig 34. Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, 2012 Fig 35. Michel Desvigne Paysagiste, 2005

Ta b l e o f I l l u s t r a t i o n s Talking about Lombardy Ill 1. Green Eco-region of Milan and outskirts Ill 2. Mobility within the Region Milan in Focus Ill. 3. Growth of the city of Milan over time Porta Romana Ill. 4 Figure ground map Ill. 5 Facing page. Ecologycal system around the site Ill 6. Facing page. Transportation system in the Project area Ill 7. Plan with important buildings in the area Winter Olympics Ill. 8 Facing page. Winter Olympics development plan Strategic Vision Ill. 9 Green corridoors inside and out of Milan Ill. 10 Facing page. Green ecosystem and water bodies Ill. 11 Diagram with vegetation used in the project Ill. 12 Facing page. Urban vision diagram Ill. 13 Abstract idea behind the project Ill. 14 Threshold idea

Ill. 29 Section Through the Piaz zas Ill. 30 Park activities diagram Ill. 31 Pathway Approaching Piazza Toscana Ill. 32 Water line space I l l . 33 C l u s t e r a r ra n g e m e n t I l l . 3 4 Un i t t y p e s Ill. 35 Third Floor Plan +24m Ill. 36 Second Floor Plan +12m Ill. 37 First Floor Plan +6m Ill. 38 Detailed section through the structure Ill. 39 Cluster zoomed in plans Ill. 40 Section through one cluster Ill. 41 Project facade through out the seasons Ill. 42 Living Unit plans Ill. 43 View inside Second Floor Platform Ill. 44 Living space typologies Ill. 45 Materials used moodboard Ill. 46 Facing page. Detailed section with materiality Ill. 47 View inside of one of the platforms Ill. 48 View into a vertical circulation area Ill. 49 Project phases Ill. 50 View of Piazza Fondazione Prada

Design Strategy Ill 15. Design Strategy Ill 16. General strategy of the project Ill 17. Step by step strategy of the project Ill. 18 Finding the right scale diagram Ill. 19 Circulation Diagram The Project Ill. 20 Manifesto collage Ill. 21 Masterplan of the project Ill. 22 Aerial view of the site Ill. 23 General section of the project Ill. 24 Section through Piazza Lodi Ill. 25 Section through Piazza Fondazzione Prada Ill. 26 Section through Toscana Station Piazza Ill. 27 Section through Piazza in front of Bocconi University Ill. 28 Ground floor Plan

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Acknowledgment It is a pleasure to thank those who made this possible. Firstly, our Professor Pasquale Mei, for his guidance and encouragement that helped us throughout the whole process of developing this project. We also would like to thank Rafaella and Fabio, who always took the time to share their knowledge and provide advice whenever we needed it.

We would also like to express special gratitude to Professors Henrique Pessoa Pereira Alves and Dario Vanetti for their teachings during the Final Thesis Studio.

Angelica

I would like to thank my parents, Rocio and Tulio, to whom I owe the honor of being here, fulfilling my dreams and accomplishing my goals.

Also a big thank you to my brother, Alejandro, without whom I couldn’t have arrived at this point, literally, my number one cheerer.

Thank you to Roberto who has accompanied me through all the journey, for his endless pieces of advice and company. And lastly, i would like to thank all my former professors and classmates who shared with me all their knowledge along this beautiful journey.

Rithvika

I sincerely wish to thank Politecnico di Milano, for accepting me into their institution which helped me pursue a memorable academic endeavour.

My professors over the academic years have had a substantial role in my academic life, and their in-depth knowledge has broadened my perspective in all aspects.

And Last, but not the least I would like to thank my parents Vijeth and Anu, and my brother, Rithik, for their constant support and for making this dream come true. Their contribution is invaluable, and without whom I would have never gotten to experience Politecnico di Milano.

Shally

I express my deep sense of gratitude to my dearest family for their unparalleled love, help, and support. Firstly, my father, Lt. R.K. Gogna, who helped me recognize my skills to make an informed career choice.

Secondly, both my mother, Indu Gogna, and my brother, Ajitesh, have been highly supportive of my incredible journey at Politecnico di Milano. I am forever indebted to them for giving me the opportunity and experiences that have made me who I am today. Thereafter, I would also like to thank Rohit, for being a constant support for all my endeavors and providing positive encouragement for tremendous growth in life. Just as importantly, I also am highly grateful to my university- Politecnico di Milano, professors, and compeers for this wonderful experience.

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