Redeveloping Milan’s former Slaughterhouse area to create the largest social housing project in Europe

ARIA: Social Housing Planning and Design

Ex Macello, a century-old slaughterhouse complex in Milan’s Calvairate district, has been in decline for the last three decades. When our client won the competition for the redevelopment of the area, they hired us to join and coordinate the design team that would transform this historic area into ARIA—an environmentally conscious neighborhood.

In the competition phases, our architects and urban planners carried out the architectural analysis and redevelopment hypotheses for the historic buildings while our environmental team coordinated with the working group. For the design and consolidation phases of the master plan, we served as the architect, urban planner, and lead agent of the temporary grouping of project companies. This group is responsible for addressing issues related to decarbonization, environment, energy, sustainability, and water resources as well as responding to the competition’s 10 challenges.

Additionally, our team of environmental professionals are designing the land reclamation and overseeing the asbestos and FAV (artificial vitreous fiber) remediation project. We’re also providing construction management and safety coordination.

The transformation of the area will create a leading housing project and host a new university campus, providing the city with a vibrant, sustainable neighborhood teeming with cultural activities. The project aspires to be the first carbon negative area in the City of Milan, and it won the second edition of the C40 Reinventing Cities international call for proposals.

Partners: Deltaecopolis, CCL, IED, CA Ventures, E.ON, Fondazione Housing Sociale, Mpartner, PNAT, Fondazione Politecnico di Milano, GET, Deloitte, Planet Smart City, MIC Mobility-in-Chain, Cresme Ricerche, LAMA development & cooperation, Fondazione Don Gino Rigoldi, Amici di Edoardo, The Fab Lab, Festival della Scienza, Eatour, Mare Culturale Urbano, Giacimenti Urbani