Visualizing the Urban. Tools for Interpreting and Representing Milan Change

As Lefebvre as shown, places are a result of a negotiation between the physical top-down design and ordering space by governments, architects, developers and the experience of people, in other words, their symbolic interpretation of space. Moreover the critical approach of Edward Soja, clearly referring to the French historian, introduces - besides the physical and mental space - another interesting analytical category concerning the lived space, as result of social and real spatial practices, the material world of experiences and their implementation. In this analytical perspective, lived space embodies the physical and mental dimensions of space, giving rise to a symbolic use of its objects, the construction of symbol systems and non-verbal signs, that in the world today are increasingly conveyed by new communication technologies. That interpretative frame makes up a basic starting point for technicians involved in project processes who should take in consideration not only the transformation of physical spaces but at the same time their social dimension. The paper intends to focus some tools for interpreting and at the same time representing, helpful in understanding the ongoing change in the city of Milan as result of new strategic projects – like i.e. the Garibaldi Repubblica project, better known as Porta Nuova Project – and the emerging practices in “envisioning” the city, both from stakeholders, investors and laypeople. Furthermore a careful glance highlights the debate on the city change, on the web and social media.