PORTA NUOVA
MILAN
Italy
The Porta Nuova district in Milan is one of Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects, transforming 290,000 square meters of former railway land into a modern, sustainable, and international business hub. Co-developed and managed by COIMA since 2003, the project was designed to reintegrate three historic neighbourhoods, Garibaldi, Varesine, and Isola and is internationally recognized for its iconic Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest). Completed in 2014, the Bosco Verticale serves as a global prototype for the vertical densification of nature within a city environment.
Located in Milan, is a mixed-use district featuring offices, residential units, retail, and cultural venues. The master plan, which involved over 20 architectural firms including Stefano Boeri Architetti, Cesar Pelli, and Kohn Pedersen Fox, emphasized the creation of ample public and green spaces. The cluster’s centrepiece, inaugurated in 2014, is the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest), two residential towers (110m and 76m) designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti as a prototype for metropolitan reforestation and a new architectural format focused on the coexistence of humans and nature.
Future Cities criteria compliance
Environmental & Nature
District’s famous Bosco Verticale is a model for sustainability, housing over 800 trees, 4,500 shrubs and 20,000 plants, creating the ecological equivalent of five hectares of parkland concentrated vertically. This green cover mitigates the Urban Heat Island effect and reduces interior temperatures by 2° C to 3° C The towers absorb an estimated 30 tons of CO2 annually, helping to absorb fine airborne particles.
Smart City
It is the first neighbourhood globally to achieve dual LEED and WELL sustainability certification (GOLD). The Bosco Verticale uses sophisticated engineering, including wind tunnel testing for structural integrity of the trees and a “smart” centralized irrigation system to precisely manage plant water needs. The broader project features all buildings are pre-certified LEED, and 24 are certified LEED Gold, focusing on eco-sustainable construction.
Human-Centric
The design applies Biophilic Design to enhance human well-being by directly integrating nature. Residents benefit from the “green-filtered views” and shade, which offer psychological benefits like reduced stress and enhanced privacy. The towers also boost urban biodiversity, attracting over 1,600 specimens of birds and butterflies. Community is fostered in public spaces like the BAM park, where a Public-Private Partnership organizes over 250 free cultural events annually.
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