The LOreto VErde project took part to the challenge of the Reinventing Cities competition organized by City of Milan for the urban re-generation of Piazzale Loreto.
LOVE, LOreto VErde, was a future-oriented urban re-generation project whose goal was to inspire new polycentric growth for Milan driven by sustainability and geared to nature, the environment, people and their social interaction. These are the key elements that guided ViCom – the project promoter and developer – and inspired our studio into the whole design development.

Renderings courtesy of : Antonio Citterio • Patricia Viel

The redevelopment included the conversion of the municipal offices in Via Porpora into a student hall – with the addition of new storeys – and involved a series of current projects such as the new Hostel in Via Doria, to help sustain and strengthen social inclusion in the area. The fundamentals of LOVE were in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the guidelines of the Reinventing Cities competition. 
The area devoted to retail activities would have been re-planned over 4,500 square meters, to feature eco-sustainable stores offering innovative goods and services consistent with the “green” characteristics of the Loreto redevelopment

LOVE aimed to transform the square and the surrounding area by enhancing the different identities of what is one of Milan’s busiest and most densely populated districts. Extending over several squares, and providing green roofs and urban woodland, it would have created 6,500 square meters of additional pedestrian space, integrated with a new green infrastructure and areas for events, kiosks and social activities.

The integration of the urban space with the environment, inverting the ratio of road area (-29%) and pedestrian surfaces (+162%), would have been guaranteed by plans to introduce plants in extensive areas of the square and on the roof of the student hall (more than 260 new trees and 1900 sq.m of green roofs), and by significant reductions in the environmental, energy and climate impact of the redevelopment (-91% in carbon emissions, -47% in energy consumption, -44% in water consumption).