The urban regeneration scheme promoted by the Cariplo Foundation

“Lacittàintorno” is an urban regeneration scheme promoted by the Cariplo Foundation in Milan’s suburbs of Corvetto-Chiaravalle, the Adriano quarter and Via Padova. With the support of the Municipality of Milan and in conjunction with the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies of the city’s Polytechnic, the project works with local communities to generate social cohesion and economic development. The goal is to improve the ambiance while increasing the power of attraction of marginal urban areas in relation to the rest of the city. On these pages we examine the project in the Corvetto-Chiaravalle district, In the November and December issues we will deal respectively with the work being done in the Adriano quarter and the Via Padova district. The experience of “Lacittàintorno” will lead to publication of three casebooks (the Quaderno Corvetto will be presented on 15 November at the inauguration of the Community Point in Piazzale Ferrara). They will provide an important record of the work done.

The Corvetto-Chiaravalle zone is sui generis as a suburb of Milan. An extensive area, not far from the city centre, with good connections to it, and lying between the city and the countryside. A chequered district, it has many souls. Starting from Piazzale Ferrara, where Via Mincio and Via Oglio intersect, a part of the compact city develops with good quality housing, shops and social amenities. New vitality has been injected into it in recent years by activities fostering culture and social innovation. A notable example was the 2018 opening of the Prada Foundation headquarters designed by OMA/Rem Koolhaas in Largo Isarco. Further south, however, the situation changes sharply with a tract of agricultural green belt wedged into the city. Here, the entrance to the Parco della Vettabbia and the Nosedo and Corte San Giacomo farms form the pivots of a broad system of agricultural production. Another key element is the village of Chiaravalle, an outpost of urban life in a rural setting. Finally, there are the critical pieces of the mosaic: places that are geographically and symbolically peripheral. One of these is the lower-income Corvetto district around Piazzale Gabrio Rosa and Piazzale Ferrara and the historic ERP Mazzini housing estate. This is an ara of low educational levels, large families, often poorly off, decayed housing and lack of services. The other is the fringe between the built-up area and the belt of agricultural land. This is the Porto di Mare zone abutting on Via Fabio Massimo, today featuring a strong functional mix typical of the urban fringe, the result of fragmentary development.

The first decision taken was where to install the Community Point, the focus of the project, a participatory and educational centre in the service of the neighbourhood. The choice fell on the municipal covered market in Piazzale Ferrara due to its key position. In addition to being a service hub, the Madeincorvetto Community Point will have a collaborative kitchen and a social space centred on the theme of cycling. Special attention is also given to children. They will help shape the neighbourhood’s new identity through activities promoted by Ideebambine. The makeover of the neighbourhood’s identity will also be supported by the Portal of Knowledge, a digital platform promoted by the Italian Network of Popular Culture, bringing together the stories of the local community and creating new social ties. Then Bicycle Coalition means to promote the circle line Abbracciami (a loop some 70 km long) to make Corvetto a true cycling district. To leverage the cultural activities, Lacittàintorno, through the Sottocasa initiative, is working with Milano BookCity, PianoCity, JazzMi, PrimaDiffusa, FoodCity, GreenCity, BikeCity, ArchWeek and, recently, CalcioCity. Finally, a few words about Chiaravalle. After the various cultural initiatives developed as part of Sottocasa, it was decided to promote a framework agreement through Luoghicomuni to favour the drafting of specific agreements for a wide range of initiatives. They go from simple acts, such as the provision of community bulletin boards, to care of the great common asset of Parco della Vettabbia.

Opening picture: views of the Corvetto-Chiaravalle area. Photo Pulici Dedè