Refurbishment of an industrial area in ventura design district

Milan, ITALY

Professor: Matteo Francesco Ruta

A.Y. 2015/2016

Located in the northeast of the city, "Zona Ventura" or "Ventura Design District" is the new epicenter of Milan's creativity. Here takes place the famous “Salone del Mobile”. The massive presence of industrial abandoned buildings gave the opportunity to reconvert them in exhibition spaces.

This happened to “Ex Bazzi” (www.exbazzi.it). Since 1912 in this building which over time has been extended, the Arti Grafiche Bazzi became a leading company in the printing and graphics industry. The technology development and printed paper's obsolescence have caused the reduction of the operating area. Over the last few years these recently renewed and requalified spaces hosted the most creative and eccentric exhibitions as a part of the Fuorisalone.

In accordance with the recent transformations of Ventura Design District, that have actively contributed to the reconnection of the urban fabric and social life of the whole Lambrate area, we aimed to give new life to “Ex Bazzi” building, with an integrated approach: context analysis, new functions identification, business feasibility, structural and technological refurbishment, sustainable design.

The result is a multifunctional area composed mainly by a hostel, since accommodation facilities are almost absent in this area which need them so much, thanks to the flux of international people coming from all over the world in the occasion of “Salone del Mobile”.

The presence of an internal courtyard let us make a public space, with related functions around them:

- a restaurant and a pub-bistrot for leisure time both for hostel clients and for public;

- a co-working and a fablab were people can interact each other, generating cultural activity and create new job opportunities;

- temporary rented loft, where people working temporary in the area can find accommodation, without sacrificing comfort and their privacy

GIULIA SANTORO

Building Engineer

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“Stay hungry, stay foolish”

Steve Jobs

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