(Visited 72 times, 1 visits today)
(Visited 72 times, 1 visits today)

The Porta Nuova Mosaic

03 November, Corriere della Sera

A new piece adds to the Milan skyline. Yesterday the Municipality sold the former parking lot between Via Melchiorre Gioia, Via Pirelli, and Via Sassetti, for an area of 32,208 Sq m. The new owner is Coima Sgr of Manfredi Catella with an offer (the only one) for 78 million and 880 thousand euro, about a million and a half more than the auction starting price. It’s very unlikely that a new skyscraper will rise here, even though the surface would permit it, it might rather be an innovative building in terms of technology and environmental sustainability. The earnings from the sales will be invested in projects concerning the suburbs, while the urbanisation fees might go to the reopening of Navigli in Melchiorre Gioia.

“Selling to Coima represents a step forward for Porta Nuova in the direction of the central station – says the City Councillor for Urban planning, Pierfrancesco Maran -. We want to create a pedestrian walk in Via Pirelli that links the Central and Garibaldi stations passing through Porta Nuova. “The requalification process continues to recover the public assets and to invest in the growth of the city”, adds the City Councillor for state property, Roberto Tasca. Coima, besides the building, will have to implement also in the area service and complementary functions, such as services and small businesses, for a maximum of 10% on the total surface. Moreover, it must include green areas, public facilities and pedestrian walks, a public parking lot and adjoining private parking spaces. Finally, Coima will be responsible for the potential costs to repossess the area.

“It’s a new space taking shape – explains Manfredi Catella – according to the newest property planning projects that combine technology and environmental sustainability. On 16th November, we’ll present the old Inps project and now, with this acquisition, we’ll be able to turn that area into a strategic point, solving the problems related to street junctions and interrupted cycling lanes. The area must be fixed, and the project requires the collaboration of the administration”. Regarding the new building, Catella doesn’t say much. Will it be a skyscraper? “Probably not. We’re focusing on innovation and height isn’t an essential requirement”.

The Porta Nuova mosaic is in continuous evolution. And the construction sites are thriving. That of Torre Galfa owned by Unipol will accommodate a mix of hotels, apartments, and commercial activities. The new structure added at the back, on Via Campanini, with the emergency staircase and other services, is almost completed. The works on the façade and the interiors are continuing, as well as the excavation works for the foundations of the new Unipol headquarters, a 100 metres skyscraper in Via Melchiorre Gioia. Regarding the other property located on this street, the old Inps building owned by Coima, the project will be presented to the public in November. In Via De Castillia, the unfinished parking lot after the bankruptcy of ImCo owned by the group Ligresti might become a complementary building of the Unipol offices. For what concerns Giardini d’Inverno, at the end of Via Pirelli, a 15-storey tower destined to apartments (by the architect Paolo Caputo) is meant to rise. The project was presented again in June after the works were stuck for years, now the cranes are at work.

Works in process also for the building at the corner of Via Liberazione where the new Versace headquarters will rise. The renovation works of the former Maire Tecnimont building in Viale Monte Grappa are substantially completed and it’ll become the new headquarter of the giant Amazon. Finished works also for the Coima offices which will be inaugurated in January.

Then there is Pirellino: the works to remove the asbestos are almost concluded. Its future depends on Ema. If Milan wins the battle for the transfer of the European Agency, Pirellino might become the new headquarter of the Region, moving from Pirellone. Finally, the green heart of the whole area: The Library of Trees. Once completed, it will be the third public park in the city centre with 8 hectares and with 23 different species of plants organized in circular micro forests.

Source: Corriere della Sera

Translator: Cristina Ambrosi