UrbanisMi Podcast: Porta Genova and San Cristoforo Regeneration
The tenth and final episode of Artribune's UrbanisMi podcast series, written and narrated by Maria Chiara Virgili, focuses on the urban regeneration of Milan's Porta Genova and San Cristoforo districts. The episode traces the area's transformation from a 19th-century industrial hub—home to factories like Richard Ginori, Ansaldo, and Riva Calzoni—to a contemporary creative and residential zone. Key projects discussed include the conversion of former industrial sites into hubs like Armani HQ (by Tadao Ando and Michele De Lucchi), Mudec (David Chipperfield), BASE, and the Scala workshop. Future plans include a large 'blue park' (wetland) at San Cristoforo scalo, part of the Agenti Climatici masterplan by OMA and Laboratorio Permanente, and a cyclopedestrian bridge by AOUMM linking Giambellino-Lorenteggio to Ronchetto sul Naviglio and Barona. Other ongoing interventions include the IACP Lorenteggio redevelopment, the new Biblioteca Lorenteggio in Parco Odazio (by Jocelyn Froimovich, Urtzi Grau, Stefano Rolla, Laura Signorelli), and new residential projects Bosconavigli (Stefano Boeri Architetti and Arassociati) and Watt 15 (Asti Architetti).
Key facts
- UrbanisMi podcast series by Artribune, written and narrated by Maria Chiara Virgili.
- Tenth and final episode covers Porta Genova and San Cristoforo districts.
- Area was a 19th-century industrial hub with factories including Richard Ginori, Ansaldo, Riva Calzoni, General Electric, Osram, Loro Parisini, Bisleri.
- Former industrial sites now host Armani HQ (Tadao Ando, Michele De Lucchi), Mudec (David Chipperfield), BASE, Scala workshop.
- San Cristoforo scalo to become a large 'blue park' (wetland) as part of Agenti Climatici masterplan by OMA and Laboratorio Permanente.
- Cyclopedestrian bridge by AOUMM to connect Giambellino-Lorenteggio to Ronchetto sul Naviglio and Barona.
- IACP Lorenteggio redevelopment by Giovanni Broglio underway alongside M4 Segneri metro line.
- New Biblioteca Lorenteggio in Parco Odazio designed by Jocelyn Froimovich, Urtzi Grau, Stefano Rolla, Laura Signorelli.
- New residential projects: Bosconavigli by Stefano Boeri Architetti and Arassociati; Watt 15 by Asti Architetti.
- Episode also mentions the incomplete 1990 terminal by Aldo Rossi and Gianni Braghieri at San Cristoforo.
Entities
Artists
- Maria Chiara Virgili
- Tadao Ando
- Michele De Lucchi
- David Chipperfield
- Aldo Rossi
- Gianni Braghieri
- Giovanni Broglio
- Arrigo Arrighetti
- Jocelyn Froimovich
- Urtzi Grau
- Stefano Rolla
- Laura Signorelli
- Stefano Boeri
Institutions
- Artribune
- Armani
- Nestlé
- Fendi
- Moncler
- Diesel
- Erno
- Zegna
- OMA
- Laboratorio Permanente
- AOUMM
- IACP Lorenteggio
- Stefano Boeri Architetti
- Arassociati
- Asti Architetti
- Richard Ginori
- Ansaldo
- Riva Calzoni
- General Electric
- Osram
- Loro Parisini
- Bisleri
Locations
- Milan
- Italy
- Porta Genova
- San Cristoforo
- Naviglio Grande
- Giambellino
- Lorenteggio
- Ronchetto sul Naviglio
- Barona
- Parco Odazio
- Via Tortona
- Via Savona
- Via Solari
- Via Bergognone
- Piazzale Cantore
- Piazza Tirana