Elizabeth Diller Wins Golden Lion but Milan Projects Stalled by Bureaucracy

Elizabeth Diller, the 70-year-old American architect known for the High Line, recently won the Golden Lion at the Venice Architecture Biennale for her Canal Cafè project, which aims to purify Venetian lagoon water for espresso. Despite this acclaim, two major Milan projects by Diller—the restoration of the Pirellino (P39) and the Porta Romana masterplan—remain blocked due to permit delays from the Comune di Milano. Developer Manfredi Catella of Coima, who commissioned Diller in 2021, issued a rare public statement on May 10, 2025, criticizing the city's bureaucracy. The Pirellino, acquired from the municipality, awaits conversion into a sustainable building, while the Porta Romana site, including the Olympic Village, is stalled for office, residential, and park construction. Catella's complaint highlights a disconnect between international recognition and local administrative hurdles.