Bovisa's Urban Regeneration: From Industrial Hub to Innovation District

The sixth episode of Artribune's podcast series 'UrbanisMI' focuses on the urban regeneration of Milan's Bovisa district. Once known as the 'little Manchester of Milan,' Bovisa was a major industrial center for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and mechanics until the mid-20th century, when deindustrialization led to abandonment. The regeneration began in the 1990s with the opening of the Passante Ferroviario and the establishment of the Politecnico di Milano's Bovisa campuses, repurposing former factories like the ex-Ceretti & Tanfani plant. The current flagship project is the 'Goccia' area, centered around two preserved gasometers, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The plan includes a zero-emission Science and Technology Park with 20 photovoltaic-roofed buildings for classrooms, labs, student housing, startups, and civic schools. The gasometers will become complementary structures: one for innovation and co-working, the other for sports with an indoor pool, fitness area, and multi-purpose court open to the public. Other projects include MoLeCoLa, a sustainable tech district developed by a team led by Park Associati, responding to the C40 Reinventing Cities competition. The masterplan covers over 90,000 square meters, integrating with Politecnico and reconnecting areas divided by railway tracks, with the Bovisa station as a revitalized hub. The podcast is written and narrated by Maria Chiara Virgili. The next episode will cover San Siro.