La Goccia: Milan's Post-Industrial Queer Ecology in Bovisa
The article explores 'La Goccia', a former gas company site in Milan's Bovisa district that operated from 1908 to 1994, now a self-organized urban wilderness. It describes the site's transformation into a space for queer ecologies, spontaneous rituals, and non-normative uses, drawing parallels to Matthew Gandy's concept of queer ecology at London's Abney Park cemetery. The site features two gasometers, a cistern inhabited by Luigi, and industrial ruins that foster voyeuristic and reversible spectatorial regimes. A volunteer committee formed in 2012 opposes the Politecnico di Milano's plan to build a university campus, proposing phytoremediation instead of demolition. The article, by Alessia Baranello, was produced for NABA's Critical Writing course in 2021-2022.
Key facts
- La Goccia is a former gas company site in Milan's Bovisa district, operational from 1908 to 1994.
- The site has become a self-organized urban wilderness used by artists, cruisers, dog walkers, alcoholics, and ecologists.
- Matthew Gandy coined 'queer ecology' in relation to Abney Park cemetery in London.
- The site features two gasometers that enable a reversible voyeurism, inspired by Horace Gifford's Fire Island Pines.
- A volunteer committee formed in 2012 opposes Politecnico di Milano's plan to build a university campus.
- The committee proposes phytoremediation to clean the soil without demolishing existing structures.
- The article was written by Alessia Baranello for NABA's Critical Writing course in 2021-2022.
- The site includes a cistern inhabited by a resident named Luigi, who has adapted to the lack of electricity and water.
Entities
Artists
- Alessia Baranello
- Matthew Gandy
- Horace Gifford
- Gilles Deleuze
- Francis Bacon
- Luigi
Institutions
- Politecnico di Milano
- NABA – Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti
- Comitato la Goccia
- Union de Gaz
- Smeriglio
- Montedison
- Artribune
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Bovisa
- Villapizzone
- London
- Abney Park
- Fire Island Pines
- United States
- Naples
- Parco Sempione