Project: Portello District

The redevelopment project occupying the area of the former historic factories of Alfa Romeo and Lancia, (385,000 m2) along the Sempione-San Siro route, aims to mend the urban fabric, transforming it from a “closed” to a “fluid space”. The architectural project includes three large units that make up an integrated settlement of residential, commercial and public service facilities, including a new public park. The residential units (designed by two architectural firms), a collection of different buildings of various scales, towers, and lower buildings, intersect with the common spaces. In keeping with the architectural concept, the lighting plays on the volumes, and the choice was made to use pole-mounted fixtures and bollard lights. The public park, built along various contour lines, accommodates three large “green sculptures”, expressing the topography of the land in a sculptural form: the amphitheatre; children's play equipment, a water pond surrounded by a single bench on its perimeter, the thicket, and the sports area. Small LED fixtures built into the parapet illuminate the three green sculptures with a chiaroscuro effect, while fixtures mounted on short poles light up the pedestrian and socializing areas, with restrained illuminance levels suited to the various activities. The pedestrian and cycling bridge connecting the park to the residential and business area is illuminated by linear luminaires built into the structure. The new square (the largest in Milan), encircled with the facades of new accommodation and business facilities, welcomes the end of the pedestrian and cycling bridge and has a 5% grade, resting on two underground levels. A lighting system with pole-mounted fixturesprovides the general lighting of all the spaces, while the lower central building houses projector lamps built into the roofing to directly light the ceiling above and the surface of the square by reflection.