Milan transforms 38 squares & piazzas to create new open spaces

A total of 38 new green spaces will soon become available in The City of Milan, through a tactical urban planning intervention titled project “Piazze Aperte” (Open Squares).

The construction of a pedestrian area on the west side, scheduled for autumn, will return 560 square meteres to pedestrians, while maintaining the presence of some parking spaces and without changes to the current route network.

The change will also include new road markings, the installation of racks for bicycles, automatic bollards to allow access for deliveries & emergency vehicles and with the installation of seats and other furnishing elements that facilitate the use of public space.

“These modes of urban change allow us to experiment with gradual solutions, evaluate their effects and resolve any critical issues, before opting, if necessary, for final changes. Creating new social & green spaces, imagining a different use of public spaces aims to improve the quality of life of citizens in the neighborhoods and their use of free time. We followed the proposals of the City Hall 6 to balance different needs and create a pedestrian space that did not exist before.”

councilors Marco Granelli, Mobilità and Pierfrancesco Maran, Urbanistica

Open squares is the result of activities carried out starting from 2018 with the first intervention “Trentami” in Piazza San Luigi which took advantage of tactical urban adaptations.

With the first 15 interventions carried out, 20,000 m2 of public space were recovered for pedestrian use favouring the use for people, road safety, social integration, quality of life and also access to nearby commercial activities and local shops. 

Squares in the center of Milan districts have too often been absorbed by the need for parking, car traffic. Some of these interventions were characterized by the recovery of spaces in front of the schools, which favored sustainable accessibility and road safety in vulnerable points and moments. Thus the citizens have begun to take back the spaces and make them more “live-able”.

Municipalities and citizens also participate in the design through collaboration agreements, which is why the activity takes place in partnership with the three departments of Urban Planning and Green Spaces, Mobility and Social Participation.

After Piazza San Luigi, the next projects to be undertaken include Porta Genova, Minniti, Spoleto-Venini, Corvetto, Ferrara, Capuana and Tirana.

These light interventions can then lead to structural changes that change neighborhoods, public spaces and therefore the city in a lasting way. This is happening in piazza Dergano and in the neighboring streets, where the works will end in September with a significant redevelopment of the neighborhood, in piazza Angilberto, piazzale Lavater and in via Rovereto and Esedra of the Trotter park, at the intersection with via Giacosa.

Structural work is also planned for September in Piazza Belloveso, where interventions relating to underground services are currently underway, and a tactical intervention in Piazzale Bacone, where new benches, table tennis tables, bicycle racks will be placed. Changes are also scheduled for Largo San Dionigi in Pratocentenaro.

Thanks to this move in the autumn, a total of 38 tactical interventions will be carried out. An experience inspired by the activity of Bloomberg associates, which has collaborated with the Municipality of Milan since 2018 and which has carried out the same work in many cities around the world.

Date of publication: August 13, 2021

Source: https://www.comune.milano.it/-/piazze-aperte.-area-pedonale-sedute-rastrelliere-e-fioriere-il-nuovo-volto-di-piazzetta-santi-patroni-d-italia