team 9 report
TRANSCRIPT
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
Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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.
Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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
Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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
Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
(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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
- 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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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Porta Garibaldi: re‐thinking the urban dimension
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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