Imagine a park that floats on water, is surrounded by nature and wildlife, and is powered by renewable energy. That's the vision of the Danish Maritime Architecture Studio (MAST), which has designed a project called Centroparco in Milan, Italy.
Centroparco in Milan is a proposal to transform an abandoned quarry into a new urban green space that can host cultural, recreational, and educational activities. The project aims to create a connection between the city and the water and restore the area's biodiversity and ecological balance.
The quarry, located in the northwest of Milan, covers an area of about 450 hectares (1,112 acres) and has been inactive since 2014. It was once used for extracting sand and gravel for construction purposes, but now it is filled with water and has become a habitat for various species of birds, fish, and plants.
The idea of Centroparco in Milan is to create a floating platform that bridges from the surrounding land can access. The platform would consist of modular units that can be arranged in different configurations according to the needs and preferences of the users. The units would be made of recycled materials and would have a low environmental impact.
The platform would also have a series of features that would make it self-sufficient and sustainable. For example, it would have solar panels and wind turbines to generate electricity, rainwater harvesting systems to collect water, and biogas plants to produce fuel from organic waste. The platform would also have greenhouses and gardens to grow food and plants.
The project is a park and cultural hub that can host various events and activities. For instance, it could have an amphitheater for concerts and performances, a library for reading and learning, a museum for exhibitions and workshops, and a sports center for fitness and wellness. The project could also have a hotel and a restaurant for visitors who want to stay longer and enjoy the scenery.
Centroparco in Milan is not just a dream but a feasible reality. The project has been selected as one of the finalists of the Reinventing Cities competition, which is an initiative by C40 Cities to promote innovative solutions for urban regeneration and climate action. The competition challenges architects, developers, entrepreneurs, and citizens to propose projects that can transform underused sites into models of sustainability and resilience.
The Danish Maritime Architecture Studio is one of the leading firms in the field of floating architecture. The studio has extensive experience designing projects combining maritime engineering with architectural design. Some of their previous works include floating schools, hotels, restaurants, and islands.
The studio believes that floating architecture can offer new possibilities for urban development and environmental protection. Floating architecture can adapt to changing water levels, weather conditions, and different social and cultural contexts. Floating architecture can also create new spaces for living, working, playing, and learning on water.
Centroparco in Milan is an example of how floating architecture can revitalize an abandoned site and create a new attraction for the city. The project is a park and a statement of how humans can coexist with nature in harmony. Centroparco in Milan is a vision of the future that can inspire other cities worldwide.
