Milano's Giardino Manifesto: A New Urban Garden Merging Sustainability and Culture

Construction of Giardino Manifesto, a major urban regeneration project at Santeria Toscana 31 in Milan, will begin in the coming weeks. The initiative, promoted by Santeria SpA (a Società Benefit founded in 2015), was presented on May 19, 2026, in the presence of Mayor Giuseppe Sala, Gruppo CAP President Yuri Santagostino, and architect Cristiana Cutrona of ReValue. The project applies sponge city (SUDS) principles to a completely impermeable area, using rain gardens, retention basins, and draining surfaces to reduce flood risk and heat islands. De-paving approximately 1,000 square meters and introducing resilient vegetation can lower perceived temperature by 4–5°C. The garden will feature an open-air amphitheater that doubles as a rain plaza, raised walkways, a sensory garden, and a permanent "quinta-installazione" structure for environmental education with birdhouses and beehives. The total investment exceeds one million euros, involving public and private partners: Comune di Milano, Gruppo CAP, Fondazione CAP, ReValue, and OurCarbon. The space will be open during the day, targeting collaborations with Università Bocconi, Scuola Civica Paolo Grassi, and IED. CEO Andrea Pontiroli emphasized the project's role as a model for feasible urban regeneration, while Mayor Sala noted that continuous private contributions can transform the city.