The four stra tegic spaces

The four strategic spaces

As previously discussed, the project aims at recovering and enhancing Vimodrone local community, working on three pillar themes (Services and Retail, Mobility and Requalification) and two operational dimensions (space and time).

For each one of the pillars, the project defines some actions to implement in order to get to the final objective. However, delineating a “ list” of possible good practices is not enough to structure and, most importantly, carry out a project. In fact, it is crucial to define priorities, scenarios and an overall governance framework for the project.

In order to do this, and to develop a coherent and feasible strategy, we defined some areas that, for various reasons that we will explain in the next paragraphs, are strategic to trigger the change in the study area.

In general terms, the reason why an area is defined as strategic space is because it is a place where a large number of different foreseen actions get together and influence each other. Thus, the result is not cumulative, but on the contrary the effect of the implementation of the project will give life to a exponential change and a continuous interaction between different actions, actors and users. Moreover, focusing on only some specific areas, gave us the possibility to go more in depth on the definition of the ways of implementation, taking into consideration the technical, economical feasibility as well as the forms of governance and the consensus-building among stakeholders.

The first strategic space we defined is the Commercial System of via San Remigio and piazza dell’Accoglienza. That area is characterized by the presence of a high number of shops, cafes and restaurants, the main square and the church. On the other hand, via San Remigio is, although its very small section, a vehicular street and this reduced the possibilities for people to move, meet and shopping safely (particularly during the weekends). Moreover, the square because of the lack of activities and places to stay and rest, is used way under its real potentiality. Thus, the goal of the actions on the first strategic space is to improve and make the area more livable, particularly because of its very important role in the collective imaginary of the city and its inhabitants.

The second strategic space is Naviglio Martesana. As we said before, was very influential for the early development of the city and today it is still one of the most characteristic places of the city. However, today the area is missing of a real identity and function and it is almost only a barrier dividing the city in two parts. We deeply believe that a physical requalification of the place can bring many positive effect not only from an environmental, social or health point of view. In fact, the area presents also an important economic potentiality: it can become a place where people (from the whole metropolitan city) meet to drink or eat, especially in the summertime. Thus, the goal of the action is to recover the identity and function of the area to make it better from an economic, social and environmental point of view.

The third strategic space we worked on is the Intermodal Station in via Dante, right next to the metro station. Mobility has a very relevant role in our project; one of the way we aim at promoting sustainable mobility is to create an intermodal station to ease the access to all the shared and collective transport systems in order to promote them.

However, the intermodal station will work not only as a mobility hub, but it will host a wide range of functions and activities (shops, coworking areas, the open-air market, a new service point) in order to make it attractive for different users.

The goal of the action is to transform the parking area of the metro station from a just-passingthough space, into a place where people go to carry out a large number of activities as well as a place where people get together.

The last strategic space is the Social Housing West Area, this one is, perhaps, the most delicate one. The area is characterized by the presence of two very big buildings, that are out of scale compared with the surrounding, and by being very isolated from the rest of the city.

Working in this area is a priority since it is not possible to strengthen the local community and give life to a 15MC if the area present such spatial, social and economic inequalities. Thus, the goal of this action is to enhance not only the physical quality of the public housing (with particular attention to the public space), but to better the overall quality of life in the area to reduce stigma and isolation, promoting requalification of public space, together with the carrying out of activities to offer more opportunities to residents and ultimately empower them.

General Budget

The Four Strategic Spaces