team 9 report

Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension

Porta Garibaldi Master Plan

Re‐thinking the urban dimension

Politecnico di Milano

Campus Lecco

M. Sc. Architectural Engineering

Urban Design

Group 9


Summary

This report contents the proposal of Group 9 for the International Design

Competition of Porta Garibaldi area. The report identify objectives and strategies of

good practice in urban design to propose a Master Plan with the aim of reconstructing

an urban node; to connect homogeneously new projects with the city pre-existing

increase in terms of public functions; and to find an element of identity and recognition

for Porta Garibaldi. The project area is located in a strategic node in the city of Milan.

Several relevant transformations and projects are taking place in the area and the

transformations are characterized by the importance of the architectural projects, the

relevance of the assigned functions, the dimension (in terms of built volumes and

heights), and by the economic significance.


Index

1.- Introduction, ............................................................................................................ 3 2.- Purposes and Vision, .............................................................................................. 4 2.1.- Purposes, ......................................................................................................... 4 2.1.1.- Reconstruction of an urban node, .................................................................. 4 2.1.2.- Connect new projects with the pre-existing city elements, ............................. 5 2.1.3.- Upgrade areas without identity, ..................................................................... 5 2.1.4.- Enhance environmental functions of the parks, ............................................. 5 2.1.5.- Create the highest degree of permeability and connection, ........................... 5 2.2.- Vision, .............................................................................................................. 6 3.- General Background, .............................................................................................. 6 3.1.- Land Use, ......................................................................................................... 6 3.2.- Mobility Network, .............................................................................................. 7 3.3- Green Areas, ..................................................................................................... 7 3.4- Morphology, ...................................................................................................... 8 4.- Analysis, ................................................................................................................. 8 5.- Master Plan, ......................................................................................................... 10 5.1.- General Vision, ............................................................................................... 10 5.2.- To enhance environmental functions of the park, ........................................... 12 5.3.- To create the highest degree of permeability and connection, ........................ 14 5.4.- To upgrade areas without identity, .................................................................. 15 5.5.- Landscape and furniture, ................................................................................ 16 6.- Sustainability, ....................................................................................................... 18 7.- References, .......................................................................................................... 19


1.- Introduction

The area of the project can be

divided in several smaller ones that

represent the differences we find in this

part of Milan.

The competition is the result of

different proposals since 2003, with the

participation of public and private entities.

This master plan as an urban

design plan is part of a larger economic

development strategy focused on

attracting jobs, residents and visitors. The

development scale is dense and multi-

story, which requires sensitive treatment of

the public realm of pedestrians. The topics

covered by this Master Plan include mixed-

use buildings, historic preservation,

adaptive reuse, parking strategies, transit

corridors and nodes, views, highway

access, convention centers and cultural

points (Steiner & Butler, 2007).

Porta Garibaldi is located in a

strategic node of Milan (Pictures 1 and

2), on the border between historical

center and the metropolitan territory with

empty spaces surrounding the area, in

the current morphology there are

incomplete and malformed buildings with

different origin and purpose.

The project will be the main link

between the working-class district of Isola

and the many relevant projects that are

Picture 1.- Location of the site in Milan city.

Picture 2.- Boundaries.

Picture 3.- Transportation services.

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being developed around the areas such as: The City of Fashion, new institutional Pole,

the Giardini, new housing developments and mix use buildings (some of them under

construction).

Thereby the aim of the proposal is the integration of all these individual projects

with the previous situation of the place and also the transformation of the zone in to its

new public functions. Other characteristic of the area is its high degree of accessibility

with an important transportation network due to the presence of major infrastructure of

rail transport and urban and territorial traffic (Picture 3).

The gardens will become a welcoming place for those who pass through to gain

access to services and workplaces, and consider the inhabitants and occasional users

of all different ages and occupations. Being in an area contiguous with the old center of

the city gives Gardens of Porta Nuova the character of complement to the morphology

and create an environment suited to the needs of a modern city.

The location represents a challenge some of the aims of the project: the

creation of a place of peace and quiet, the implementation of low emission

transportation and the reduction of the light and noise pollution.

2.- Purposes and Vision

2.1.- Purposes

The goal of the master plan is to reconfigure the area of Porta Garbaldi, starting

from the central space in order to reconstruct the node with its urban spaces in order to

enhance the existing transformation architectural projects. It consists of what

community and investors wants to become.

2.1.1.- Reconstruction of an urban node

The different development in the area through the years has created an

undefined zone; the entire plan supposes to reconstruct this congested area, locating

government offices, attracting tourism an offer a new space for art, culture and fashion;

where visitors, workers and inhabitants feel integrated. There’s a need to re-think and

re-design the whole area of Porta Garibaldi from an urban design perspective where

users should identify the different parts without disturbing the morphology of the place.

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2.1.2.- Connect new projects with the pre-existing city elements

Located in an already developed area, the new proposals have to consider the

current conditions of the zone and keeping the harmony between the parts. Also the

approval of other buildings and solutions around create a new possibility of mixing the

old with the modern. The projects now being implemented (the city of fashion, Bosco

Verticale, the complex of Varesine) are characterized by being highly heterogeneous

among them and overlook open space whose project was developed and proposed

with a competition before the definition of defined projects.

2.1.3.- Upgrade areas without identity

The history of Porta Garibaldi mix a urban and transportation node with the

industrial past of the city, with the years many buildings, roads and neighborhoods

were creating not considering well thought plan. Design the system of public spaces:

now large empty spaces that will receive functions, uses, and recognizable places. The

six new gardens (Centrale, Volturno, de Castillia, Einaudi, della Moda and

Liberazione), MOdAM, School of Fashion, City of Fashion and the new location for

“Casa della Memoria” will provide Porta Garibaldi a new image. Other important

constructions are: Buildings for public functions (800- 1 000 square meters), Exhibition

Center (10 000 square meters), mix-use residential and Studio-Showroom (8 000

square meters). The authorities also plan to transform Porta Garibaldi district in a node

of fashion, this topic has been always related with the city, since 1950’s Milan had

become one of the world capitals of design (Foot, 2001).

2.1.4.- Enhance environmental functions of the parks

Man’s strive for increased comfort and financial independence, the densification

of congested urban areas, a strong increase in traffic levels and the growing electricity

smog problem all cause ever rising stress levels in the immediate vicinity (Bauer,

Mösle, & Schwarz, 2007). Porta Garibaldi project aims to be an example of the correct

use of environmental oriented technologies. In the parks there will be a solar lighting

system and rainwater collectors; the guidelines for the buildings in the place must

integrate low emission solutions for calefaction and air condition, renewable energy

sources and self-production of energy; in addition of these we promote, through new

paths, the mobility via bike and walk.

2.1.5.- Create the highest degree of permeability and connection

The transportation element considers existing and committed facilities, and

evaluates them against a set of service levels or performance standards to determine

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whether they will adequately serve future need (Bauer, Mösle, & Schwarz, 2007).The

use of space to maximum and rational will let to create a good relationship between

different elements between different gardens, new buildings in the site and the

surroundings, giving the users many possibilities for moving around and through Porta

Garibaldi. The design of paths for pedestrian and bikes promote friendly environmental

ways of connection.

2.2.- Vision

The "Porta Garibaldi" project has the purpose of integrating the historical and

greater Milan city, creating a new space where the people can enjoy an area where

culture, commerce, recreation and public services are integrated.

With the new “Fashion City", gardens, exhibition center and MOdAM, "Porta

Garibaldi" goes from being a simple connection point for transportation into a new,

modern and environment friendly reference for future developments.

3.- General Background

3.1.- Land Use

Knowing the variety of uses around the place let us propose solutions that

match with the real necessities of the users, see Plan 1:

Plan 1.- Land uses.

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3.2.- Mobility Network

The sophisticated already existing transport network (Metro, train, tram, buses and bike roads, Plan 2) gives us the possibility of attract a large number of visitors, but also being the main entrance to the city from the north has the problem of traffic.

3.3- Green Areas

Although there are some important green areas not far from the site (Plan 3), the Giardini will be and important park for Porta Garibaldi zone due to the main character of it: a node for culture, joy and arts. The new gardens will serve not only for the local people but also for the occasional users and passengers.

Plan 3.- Green Areas.

Plan 2.- Mobility Network.

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3.4- Morphology

The morphology around the project zone is a mix of different kind of structures,

Picture 4, where can be found typical residential buildings with inside courtyards, new

office and government constructions, some of them under construction; also the main

grid of roads doesn’t have regular form. It is imperative to consider all these shapes

and guidelines for a harmonic integration with the current situation.

Picture 4.- Morphology.

4.- Analysis

With all the data of the place, we can identify the different aspects of the area that can affect the project in a good or bad way. These circumstances and the local laws and boundaries model the final design according to the necessities of the client.

Picture 5.- a) Site before intervention, b)Current buildings in the area, c) New public services and d) Traffic problematic.

Morp

holo

gy

A

D C

B

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For having an ordered idea of the situation we follow a “Strengths –

Opportunities – Weaknesses – Treats” (SWOT) analysis shown in Table 1:

Table 1.- SWOT analysis.

CATEGORIES STRENGTHS OPPORTUNITIES WEAKNESSES THREATS

Morphology -Different types of

morphology of the city

-Undefined open space

-Uneven distribution of

skyline

Mobility -

Accessibility

-Well-connected public

transportation

-Many access

possibilities

-Interrupted area of

the city

-Increase of traffic due

to the increase

development

-Congested traffic flow

-Limited roadway

widths to create new

bike lanes

-Poorly planned

parking availability

-Presence of the

underground railway

lines

-Long walking distance

to other landmarks

Environment -

Landscape

-Green areas as a part of

the project -Current interest

worldwide to create

sustainable projects

-Noise pollution from

traffic -Pollution increase

-Open space in the area

of the project

Boundaries -

Political

-Is an official project

promoted by the

government

-Unresolved area with

a high profile project -Economic crisis

Culture -

History

-Casa della Memoria

(historic heritage)

-Acceptance of the

towers due to

reconnections

-Lack of image and

identity of the place

-Possible rejection of

the project by citizens,

resistance to change

-Proximity to

landmarks of the city

-Great interest in

fashion

Functions -

Services

-Mixed use environment

-Public service

equipment -Lack of night life

-Management of the

additional demands

placed on the site

-Well-connected area

with the city public

services

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5.- Master Plan

5.1.- General Vision

The objectives, strategies and actions are shown in Table 2, followed by

a description of each action:

Table 2.- Objectives, strategies and actions.

OBJECTIVES STRATEGIES ACTIONS ASS

To enhance

environmental functions

of the park

Increase of green spaces Development and construction of new

6 gardens

Connection of green

spaces Construction of bridge for pedestrian

Reduce light and noise

pollution

Use of green barriers

Use of correct light system

Implementation of friendly

environment solutions for

urban activities

Solar powered lighting

Underground tanks for collecting

rainwater

To create the highest

degree of permeability

and connection

Improvement of pedestrian

and bike paths

A new BIKEMI point

New cycle and pedestrian path

Improvement of accesses

Creation of easy access from the

available parking areas without

making new ones to the site

New accesses from residential areas,

commercial areas, public areas, etc

To upgrade areas

without identity

Promotion of leisure and

touristic activities

Create spaces for outside

presentations, exhibitions of art.

MOdAM, School of Fashion,

Exhibition Center, re-localization of

Casa della Memoria, new

studio/showroom

Building for multiple

purposes.

New residential and mix-use building

Create spaces for public functions

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Completely accomplish

Partially accomplish

Not accomplish


Plan 4.- Master plan.

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5.2.- To enhance environmental functions of the park

- Development and construction of new six

gardens: Every city park has a history, this history is

based in the principle that parks, like cities are in

constantly developing and are never completed (Tate,

2001), the design of “Giardini di Porta Nueva” has to

consider the functions and background of the site and

also works for the future. The gardens are listed here:

• Giardino Centrale, main garden where we

propose many open spaces (Picture 6) for outside

activities, playground for kids and the place for new

buildings required (museum, school, mix-use buildings

and showroom). To create a dialogue between Giardino

Centrale and Einaudi, a bridge for pedestrian is

proposed. Also we defined a piazza in the east corner

followed by a monumental sculpture and a series of

walkable fountains as seen in picture 7.

• Giardino Volturno, because this place can

constitute an opportunity to provide facilities for the

inhabitants, creating suitable spaces and structures and

at the same time symbolically representing the role of

“City Gate” for people coming from the north. A green

gate (Picture 10) is the first sight for people how come

into the site, working as the beginning of the touring.

• Giardino De Castillia, it is the most problematic

garden as far as the availability of areas is concerned.

There are some existing buildings that must be kept and

integrated with the rest of the project; it also is the

transition between Volturno and Centrale gardens

Picture 6.- Open and green space.

Picture 10.- Green gate.

Picture 7.- Walkable fountain.

Picture 9.- Fondazione Riccardo Catella. Picture 8.- Bush walls.

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(Picture 8 and 9). For keeping the tranquility of the place, a group of “Green Room” will

be placed; these small spaces will be divided by medium high bushes with seats inside

given a more private place for chilling.

• Giardino Einaudi is a parterre above the

existing underground car parks. For the conception

of this garden it was important to consider the

advisability of creating equipped places and rest

spaces for users and for giving an element of

attraction “Casa della Memoria” (Picture 11) will be

placed here.

• Giardino della Moda will be a hanging

garden set on top of the “cryptoporticus” that flanks

the buildings of the City of Fashion. Taking

advantage of the platform that works as a roof for

the parking lot next to the train station, we extend

the length of the park and create a new access

from station to the City of Fashion and Giardino

Centrale, offering also places for resting along the

garden, those seats will work also as a plantpot

owing to is not possible to plant long roots trees in the platform, see picture 12.

• Giardino Liberazione is a promenade running alongside the distric. With this

garden a promenade for walkers and cyclists (Picture 14), extended for about a

kilometer will be created, in addition to these roads along the park the visitors will enjoy

the lined outside temporal exhibitions, such as photograph and sculpture (Picture 13).

Picture 13.- Arts path. Picture 14.- Bike path.

- Construction of bridges for pedestrian: The bridges are not only simple

connections between separated parts of the park but also they are a continuity of the

design, that’s why they are located in specific points and have the aim of being friendly

with all possible users (using ramps and stairs).

Picture 11.- Casa della Memoria.

Picture 12.- Plantpot-seat.

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- Use of green barriers: To avoid the noise from the traffic that we propose use

the green barriers, these barriers, consisting of a block of trees of average height, will

be along the most congested avenues. A green barrier is shown in picture 15.

Picture 15.- Green barrier.

- Use of correct light system: The height and type of each lamp is designed

according to different functions in the park, with high post for walk and bike paths and

low lights to highlight the details of the gardens and buildings. See pictures 16 a and b.

- Solar powered lighting: The previous described system will be powered by

solar panels in order to decrease the electricity consumption (Picture 16c).

Picture 16.- Lighting system: a) for paths, b) for gradens and c) solar powered.

- Underground tanks for collecting rainwater: This kind of solution let the park

irrigate by itself, using the less quantity of water from the public network. The system

works with inverted umbrellas, located spread all around the project, and collecting the

rainwater in underground tanks for later use (Picture 17).

5.3.- To create the highest degree of

permeability and connection

- A new BikeMi point: According to the existing

BikeMi path, we added 2 new points in the site; one is in

the Giardino Vortulno, which is for the residents as well as

A C B

Picture 17.- Rainwater collector.

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for people from the surroundings. The other one is

near the school mainly for the students; we

encourage people to use public transport to reduce

the pollution by cars (Picture 18).

- New cycle and pedestrian paths: In

addition to the new BikeMi points new paths will be

created along the entire project, crossing the parks

and especially on Giardino Leberazione taking

advantage of the long way it has. The priority of pedestrians is clear making the

mobility more than just moving people, giving the users and different experiences and

commodities through the site.

- Creation of easy access from the available parking areas without making new

ones to the site: No new parking lots are going to be added to the area, because the

existing parking lots around are enough for the necessities, it is also a good way to

promote the use of public transportation.

5.4.- To upgrade areas without identity

- Create spaces for outside

presentations, exhibitions of art: An important

aspect in Porta Garibaldi project of Master

Plan an integral solution for the users,

including places for joying the different

manifestations of art, that goal is accomplish

with the “Youth Circle”, see picture 19, in

Giardino Centrale, a place for presentations

and play and the path of arts in Giardino Liberazione for photo and sculpture.

- MOdAM, School of Fashion, exhibition Center, Re-localization of Casa della

Memoria, new studio/showroom: MOdAM and School of Fashion must work together in

synergy, complementing some necessities and sharing spaces, at the same time we try

to give each one an identity. The integration of the new buildings in the main project

was the most important thing for the final design, considering at first the main access to

the new park, the transport hubs around, the morphology and land uses. It’s important

notice that both of the buildings share an Atrium, underground area for services and

cafeteria. The final shape of the development represents the flow dictated by the site

and how the people can move in the entire place, finding a new cultural center that

Picture 18.- BikeMi point.

Picture 19.- Circle of Youth.

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match with park surrounding, we propose a building where the users can walk through

and feel the experience of change gradually. The new location of “Casa della

Memoria”, or House Of Memory Civic space dedicated to the Isola neighborhood, with

the aim of remembering partisans, prisoners of war and victims of terrorism, was

decided for complement the Giardino Einaudi, attracting visitors to this part of the park

and keeping them with the facilities offered. Finally the Studio-Showroom (1000 sm in

picture 20) will be in Giardino Centrale near to MOdAM and School of fashion, this

place is perfect due to the cultural orientation of these buildings.

Picture 20.- Showroom-Studio. Picture 21.- Mix-use residential building.

- New residential and mix-use building: The shape of this new building was

planned in order to keep the traditional constructions around the project site, following

the paths around and having a central courtyard, show in picture 21, which will be

communicated to the exterior by three ways through the building, bringing the park

inside the residential and private area. This building has an operative area of 7000 sm.

- Create spaces for public functions: Having an open space such as “Giardini di

Porta Nuova”, requires offering to the users several services, for this facilities many

minor buildings, kiosks, cafeterias and info points will operate along the entire project

with an area of 900 sm (Picture 22 and 23).

Picture 22.- Food kiosk. Picture 23.- Info point.

5.5.- Landscape and furniture

The scale of the project requires a great amount of different materials according

to the necessities of the area. Also the vegetation suggested must accord with the

Lombardia region.

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Picture 24.- a) Rock seat, b) wood seat and c) seat with plant pot.

Giardino Centrale will have many large open

spaces for resting covered by grass, where we can

find seats in wood and stone for keeping the nature

feeling, also some areas will have medium high

bushes creating private zones. Facing the avenues,

like Via Melchiorre Gioia, green barriers of trees will

isolate garden from noise, the trees selected for this

job are oaks and hornbeam, robust trees that can

absorb the sound and create the feeling of being in

the forest. For the inside gardens we propose ashes

and cherries that also give color to the site (Pictures

25 and 27); in the places for resting grass with

concrete grass paver blocks, so we keep the green

layer and water permeability; in the middle of the

principal green body the Circle of Youth (a structure

made by wood, concrete and stone) will be the

main reference. In Giardino Volturno two lines aside

the main entrance of poplar trees will welcome the

visitor complemented by the green gates made of

steel structures covered by a vegetable layer, a

simple design the main characteristic of this garden.

For Giardino de Castillia was important to consider

how to create the gardens around the current

buildings, the principal aspect here are the “private

rooms” closed by medium high bushes with wood

seats inside. In Giardino Einaudi like in Centrale

being in a noisy place will be resolved bordering it

with a tree wall; around “Casa della Memoria” we

find bushes and medium trees (cherry, magnolia,

Picture 26.- Cherry and acacia trees.

Picture 27.- Interior path.

Picture 25.- Path for Giardino Liberazione.

Picture 28.- Flower garden.

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spindle and acacia, shown in picture 27), flower gardens (Picture 25) and grass around

the trees. Due to Giardino della Moda is over a concrete platform the solution is a

stamped concrete floor with plant pots along the way (Picture 24c), at the same time

they will work as seats and tables with seats will be placed in this long garden. Finally

Giardino Liberazione will be a double line of trees (poplar) flanking the sides of the

avenue and isolating the pedestrian and cycling paths, see picture 26.

6.- Sustainability

The starting point for the concept of sustainability development was the aim to

integrate environmental considerations into economic policy (Dresner, 2002), the

Master Plan is an integrated project that involves public, private and civil participants

where the idea is to create a high profile development for the economic, ecological and

artistic present and future of Milan.

The model we present starts thinking in people and how their necessities are

satisfied, comfort and mobility. When this target is accomplished we can promote an

ecological culture, showing the importance of the environmental care and how it helps

everyone, finally when the surrounding has all this advantages and includes everyone

we can find how the productivity and work enhance by themselves.

The future buildings and projects in Porta Garibaldi must match with those

goals, the main idea of having a Master Plan is guarantee that the users and the

environment will be respect and consider in the long term design.

Picture 29.- Diagram of sustainability.

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7.- References

Bauer, M., Mösle, P., & Schwarz, M. (2007). Green Building; Guidebook for

Sustainable Architecture. Munich: Springer.

Dresner, S. (2002). The Principles of Sustainability. UK: Earthscan.

Foot, J. (2001). Milan Since the Miracle. Oxford: Berg.

Steiner, F., & Butler, K. (2007). Planing and Urban Design Standards. New Jersey:

Wiley.

Tate, A. (2001). Great City Parks. London: Spon Press.

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team 9 report

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