USI

In the heart of Milan's historic center, precisely in Via Zecca Vecchia, near the Duomo, ancient Roman ruins belonging to Mediolanum have recently been discovered. The objective of the project is the preservation and protection of these artifacts, which is why a covering has been created with the function of square for the city of Milan, seamlessly integrating with the surrounding narrow streets.

The project represents a new conception of a museum for the city, where ancient and contemporary elements interact, filling a void left by the city itself and offering its residents a new place for gathering and discovery. Sustainability plays a crucial role in the project, both from an environmental and social perspective: the use of natural materials for the interior and exterior finishing of the museum, as well as the use of a prefabricated and modular steel structure, aim to raise awareness among users about this fundamental issue.

The transformation of heavy infrastructures built for cities dominated by cars is a precious opportunity to repair fragmented urban environments. A recent urban housing project that, despite the thousands of new dwellings built, actually lacks any connection with the nearby Bisceglie Metro Station Milano. In between there is a large park and a concrete high-rise parking garage dating from the 1980s.

The aim is to enhance connections between the existing communities and provide public spaces (in this monofunctional residential neighborhood) on a more human scale. The project begins by rethinking the urban plan and envisions a change in viability to minimize the traffic of cars between Seimilano and the metro station. The proposed transformation involves the adaptation of the existing heavy infrastructure of the parking space. With the removal of the end station, the parking will be readapted to have only one level for cars, while the upper levels will be designated to pedestrians and will house new public buildings such as an art gallery, library, co-working spaces, and more.

L’autrice pensa il progetto per la città di Bruxelles, dove negli ultimi dieci anni il numero di senzatetto è più che raddoppiato. Partendo da un’analisi sulla situazione in loco, propone di trasformare un edificio esistente in una casa comune per chi non dispone di una dimora fissa. Nell’attuale struttura con griglia in calcestruzzo vengono inseriti dei monolocali dalle planimetrie insolite. I punti d’incontro sociali d’importanza nevralgica, come la sala comunitaria o le cucine, sono disegnati con attenzione. 

L’autrice del progetto affronta il problema a più livelli. Dal punto di vista progettuale convincono gli schizzi vettoriali di coinvolgente bellezza e la narrazione di una biografia personale in più capitoli, che si dipana come un filo rosso attraverso i diversi livelli di scala dei piani.