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Call for tenders for the old Farini train station in Milan

03 October, La Repubblica

The project concerning the former train stations in Milan has entered the operational phase. The first action will concern the biggest and most strategic of the stations. Now that the City of Milan and the Commission for landscape have sent their feedback on the guidelines, Fs (Italian railways) can start looking for the architect that will implement the project developing on a 600-thousand Sq m surface. A park will be created in the area, and it will become the third largest park in Milan. The project also includes spaces to be renovated to accommodate the new Brera Academy campus, along with offices and apartments.

The selection will start in the upcoming weeks with the aim of defining the masterplan for this new piece of Milan to be completed by 2030, launching the transformation of the old stations. The City Councillor for urban planning Pierfrancesco Maran has presented today the project in Madrid during the International Week of Architecture, to call the attention on the city and the evolutions it’s undergoing.

It will take at least six months to know who will work on the masterplan for Farini. As Maran explained: “at that point, we’ll discuss the project with the citizens”. Except for Brera, the start of the works is scheduled for 2021. The general agreement for urban planning defines the structure of the project. The City Councillor goes on: “The masterplan has to be very flexible. The transformation will be gradual. The works will be likely to be completed by 2030. It’s critical to think about of scenario capable of meeting the various needs”. After Farini, it’ll be the turn of the Romana station which might accommodate the Olympic Village (if Italy will be hosting the Winter Olympics in 2026) and later student halls.

One of the smallest stations, Greco, has also started the works. The station will be destined to university facilities and innovation, as it takes part at the international bid “Reinventing cities” organised by C40, a global club of cities focused on eco-sustainability. Three groups are participating in the second phase (the winner will be nominated in January). Coima is among the participants. The company has already acquired 60 thousand Sq m in Via Valtellina in the Farini station. Manfredi Catella, Coima Ceo, agrees with the crucial role of the stations for the future Milan and not only: “Milan is the only European city which still offers vast areas where it’s possible to experiment new ways of commuting, living and working. Thanks to the requalification plan of the old train stations, Milan might become an international innovation hub”.

Source: La Repubblica

Translator: Cristina Ambrosi