The city of Milan lies at the precipice between the old and the new. Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, it has, over the centuries, evolved into a modern economic hub for the arts, and innovation. Its world-renowned fashion week, design fairs, and trade conventions have enamored the international community, as many make the annual pilgrimage to attend. Their fascination for the cutting edge is only rivaled by the cultural antiquities that the city also has to offer…
This characteristic of the modern mixing in tandem with the past is the driving catalyst for this project. Milan, like other ancient cities, used to have a series of walls to protect its citizens from foreign invaders. These monumental structures were signs of a society’s wealth and fortitude, as they ensured the longevity of the city to prosper. Although their once overarching presence has gradually eroded with time, one can still find vestiges of their glorious past scattered throughout the urban fabric.
A no(n)-stop city endeavors to utilize that icon of the barricade, as a catalyst to implement a livable infrastructure that would meander along the radial viali of Milan. Situated on top of the boulevards, the design creates a continuous loop consisting of three datums. At the ground floor, a mass transit route connects the various neighborhoods, while alleviating vehicular traffic. It would also set up the financial foundations of the project. The main residential body follows on top, where three residential levels are affixed along a central spine. Access to and from this artery would be deviated into peripheral pathways connected to the adjacent buildings. Amenities nested along the structure would not only be usable by the occupants, but to those who live in the surrounding areas as well. Finally, an elevated parkway sits on the rooftop creating a lush pedestrian thoroughfare. Like the High Line in New York City, the park would provide an interim refuge to everyone from the hubbub of civic life. Its presence would also generate a boost to the local economy due to the increase in density. Numerous city districts that have fallen into neglect would become more desirable to inhabit, as the park would rejuvenate both the local, and holistic identities of the city.