Densificare la città per creare spazi pubblici: occasioni e intenzioni nel riuso degli scali ferroviari a Milano

Urban regeneration is a multidimensional process, because it implies different public and private strategies, various actors and conflicts in addressing multiple urban issues. For this reason, only a public driven approach can enhance the quality of the projects through the creation of a wide range of uses, spaces and connections that meet diverse social and urban expectations and provide abundant public spaces. The project of regeneration of seven railway yards in Milano, approved in July 2017, consists of an exceptional opportunity to plan a betterment in urban quality, in terms of reuse, identity and urbanity. Not only the size of the areas, but also their location and the very high degree of accessibility on public transport make the reuse of such an existing urban void a quite crucial occasion to provide new commercial, social and affordable housing, new working places, social facilities and wide green areas. The project results in a densification of functions and constructions but it compensates the density with large open areas and infrastructure to connect the centre with the metropolitan area. In order to test the quality and the effectiveness of this project in taking charge of all urban aspects and improving the liveability of the city it is important to monitor the outcomes in the long run. However, within a short time, it is possible to evaluate the ability of the local government in orientating the sustainability of private developments according to the results of current international competitions