In today’s Milan, a city that is constantly changing and growing with new buildings, the regeneration of existing heritage is a crucial aspect. Numerous projects are redefining entire neighbourhoods, many of which will be completed in time for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.

An emblematic example of this process is the restoration of the former Scuderie De Montel, a 1920s Art Nouveau architectural complex located in the San Siro district, which will open its doors to the public on 1 April as Italy's largest urban natural thermal park.

The San Siro district is at the centre of a heated debate and is destined to undergo radical changes with the planned demolition of the Giuseppe Meazza stadium, for which a notice of sale of the area was recently published. Only Via Achille, with its large clock that once symbolised the nobility and authority of the stables and now marks the entrance to the new building, separates the new baths from the historic football stadium.

After decades of deterioration and abandonment, the site was selected in 2017 as part of the international 'Reinventing Cities' competition, promoted by the City of Milan in collaboration with the C40 network of sustainable cities. The winning project, designed by Studio Marzorati and J+S, involved the transformation of the historic stables into a spa with over 16,000 square metres dedicated to wellness, which, at least as long as the Meazza stadium remains standing, will have to contend with the background noise of the fans' chants.

With the aim of preserving the original characteristics of the structure, the restoration of the former Scuderie De Montel followed a philological approach under the direction of the architect Giancarlo Marzorati, who died in December 2024 before seeing his project completed.

The historic building, designed in the 1920s by the architect Vietti Violi, is characterised by its elegant and imposing forms, inspired by Liberty with eclectic influences. After the Second World War, the building suffered an inexorable decline until it was completely ruined in the 70s, becoming a forgotten place, overgrown by vegetation and in an advanced state of decay.

Thanks to a meticulous restoration project, the external elevations and original walls have been painstakingly restored, returning to the city an extraordinarily beautiful piece of architecture. Decorative elements such as cusps, pendentives, friezes and trabeations, some of which had been lost, were reconstructed using materials that were faithful to the original, including a special binder found in Grenoble, the same as that used for the dormers of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

Inside, a part of the stables has been preserved as a historical reminder of its former function, with the restoration of the original wooden door through which the horses entered. The caretaker's house, with its original mosaics and frescoes, has also been restored and is open to Domus as an exception as it is not yet open to the public.

The history of groundwater in Milan goes back to the 2nd century AD, when the Romans appreciated its regenerating properties and used it in their thermal baths.

The discovery of these waters, one of the most important in the city, reconnected Milan to its ancient thermal tradition. As early as the 1930s, the people of Milan were aware of the beneficial properties of "Acqua Marcia" (a term that is still used today), a spring that, despite its strong sulphurous aroma, was considered to be a true elixir of well-being.

Today De Montel Thermal Park is made up of thermal baths set in two large gardens, relaxation areas and wellness programmes, both inside and in small dedicated pavilions. The transformation of the former stables into a wellness oasis brings to light two distinctive elements of Milanese history: on the one hand, the value of water as a therapeutic resource, and on the other, the architectural memory of a historical complex returned to the city.