Parking Lot Becomes Pedestrian Piazza at Teatro Franco Parenti in Milan

The Teatro Franco Parenti cultural hub in Milan is converting a chaotic, largely illegal parking lot into a green pedestrian piazza. The project, named Largo Franco Parenti, will connect the recently completed Giardino Segreto (Secret Garden) with a new entrance to the theater's foyer and the Bagni Misteriosi pool complex. The garden was funded by entrepreneur Davide Serra. The theater has launched a crowdfunding campaign on IntesaSanpaolo's platform to complete the terrace renovations, which will include a greenhouse for dining. The initiative is led by artistic director Andrée Ruth Shammah, who has overseen the site's transformation since the 1970s. The 15,000 sqm hub already hosts exhibitions, theater productions, concerts, a tennis court, and seasonal activities. The new piazza is part of ongoing urban regeneration in the Porta Romana district.