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Steel Structures and Green Spaces Reconnecting Milan's Historic Canals

Author:
Maurizio Monti
Steel Structures and Green Spaces Reconnecting Milan's Historic Canals
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The integration of steel structures with expansive green spaces revitalizes Milan's historic canals, enhancing accessibility and community interaction while preserving the area's cultural heritage.
5 key facts about this project
01
The project reopens the historically significant Navigli canals for community use.
02
Green spaces are integrated to promote biodiversity and leisure activities.
03
Steel structures provide durability while enhancing the infrastructure's resilience.
04
Enhanced pedestrian and cycling pathways improve accessibility across the area.
05
Guastalla Garden is revitalized to enrich public engagement and educational opportunities.

The New Navigli System in Milan aims to bring new life to the city's historic canals. This initiative focuses on improving connections between essential public spaces such as the university, parks, and healthcare facilities. Its design concept seeks to promote sustainable urban development while fostering social interaction and accessibility, ensuring the Navigli canals remain a vital part of everyday life.

Site Condition Analysis

A comprehensive site condition analysis highlights several challenges within the urban landscape. Issues include limited pedestrian and cycling routes as well as insufficient visibility of the university and nearby park. By addressing these challenges, the project seeks to enhance the urban atmosphere. The approach focuses on connecting different elements in the city and encouraging community engagement through thoughtful design.

Integration with Key Public Spaces

The Via Francesco Sforza area serves as a critical point in this design. It contains important public buildings, including the Polyclinic Hospital and various educational institutions. Reopening this section of the Navigli is essential for reshaping the urban identity of Milan. By improving access to these spaces, the design aims to promote interactions among different user groups, creating a more welcoming environment.

Guastalla Garden Valorization

The valorization of Guastalla Garden plays a significant role in the overall project. This historic public garden is reviewed to enhance its layout and functions while maintaining its historical importance. The redesign introduces educational spaces and areas for relaxation, making the garden more appealing to visitors. This effort seeks to ignite public interest in this significant green space within the city.

Interconnected Pathways and Accessibility

The design emphasizes creating interconnected pathways to improve pedestrian movement and support various activities. These pathways are strategically placed to encourage social interaction and ease of travel between different areas. With an emphasis on accessibility, the project aims to enhance the usability of the urban environment for all.

The design incorporates specific materials to serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Steel structures provide protection along the Naviglio, ensuring durability. Laminated glass enhances safety features, while porcelain stoneware slabs are chosen for their sustainable qualities. These choices reflect a commitment to modern urban design that respects the historical context of Milan.

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025: Celebrating Architectural Creativity and Visionary Unbuilt Designs with a Total Prize Fund of €100,000

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The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 is an international architecture competition dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the value of unrealized architectural designs. It invites architects, designers, and students worldwide to submit visionary projects that have not yet been constructed, highlighting the power of ideas and the creativity behind the design process. By focusing on unbuilt work, the competition aims to bring forward concepts that shape the future of architecture and push the boundaries of the profession. 

Participants can compete in three categories based on project scale: Small Wonders (up to 100 m²), Medium Marvels (101–999 m²), and Large Visions (over 1,000 m²). Each category winner will receive €20,000, and additional prizes include honorable mentions, student awards, and a special Best Presentation Award. Winning projects will gain significant international exposure through Buildner’s publicity campaign and a feature article on ArchDaily, providing a unique opportunity to showcase creative ideas to a global audience. 

The Buildner’s Unbuilt Award 2025 encourages entrants to submit any type of unbuilt project, from conceptual visions to detailed designs, celebrating bold innovation without the constraints of realization. Important deadlines: registration closes on October 30, 2025; submissions are due by November 20, 2025; winners will be announced on December 17, 2025.

Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2025

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100,000€ Prize / 2025 ideas COMPETITION
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