Matteo Cirenei Photographs Milan's Evolving Neighborhoods

In spring 2019, photographer Matteo Cirenei shot eight Milan districts for STYLE magazine, documenting public works and urban transformation. The images capture both active construction and stalled areas like the Ex Stazione di Porta Vittoria, the Politecnico student housing at Corvetto, and the Pala Sharp at QT8. Cirenei's work highlights the Piano Quartieri, a city plan running from 2016 to 2021. By 2019, the first three-year phase (2016-18) had moved from bidding and design to implementation. Pilot projects, developed with citizen input, included 15 tactical urbanism interventions that created 10,000 square meters of new pedestrian areas. The goal is to revitalize plazas as community hubs, improve public space, expand walkable zones, and promote sustainable mobility. Interventions in Piazza Dergano and Piazza Angilberto use paint and furnishings to define new plaza prototypes, with temporary elements like planters, benches, ping-pong tables, and play equipment that can be easily adjusted. The next phase will develop permanent plazas with durable materials and final layouts, again in collaboration with residents. Cirenei, born in Schio in 1965 and an architecture graduate from Politecnico di Milano, has specialized in architectural and interior photography since 2000, working with firms such as Abimis, Boffi, Intesa Sanpaolo, Knoll, and Sofidel, and architecture studios including Astori De.