A renewed space that combines architecture, research, and ecological commitment to enhance quality of life, while also serving as an open-air laboratory for biodiversity, technology, and social participation.
The renovated Piazza della Scienza (Science Square) at the University of Milan-Bicocca, an urban space transformed into an innovative example of urban regeneration and environmental sustainability, is finally operational in all its capacities. The project aims to improve the quality of life through interventions that combine architecture, scientific research and ecological sensitivity. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, which took place during the opening of the new academic year, was attended by prominent personalities such as the Rector Giovanna Iannantuoni, the President of the Lombardy Region Attilio Fontana and the Councillor for Urban Regeneration of the City of Milan, Giancarlo Tancredi.
The transformation of the square represents an advanced model of urban regeneration, characterised by an increase in biodiversity and the reduction of heat islands. The design favoured the use of native and melliferous plants, capable of promoting pollination and adapting to the local climate, creating an urban ecosystem capable of hosting different animal species. The 40 per cent increase in green areas, accompanied by a reduction in mineral pavements, has led to a significant mitigation of summer temperatures, with an estimated 20 to 25 per cent decrease in ground heat. This result was also made possible by the installation of sensors to monitor environmental variables such as temperature, air quality and noise impact.
A distinctive aspect of the project is its multidisciplinary and participatory approach, implemented as part of the MUSA Innovation Ecosystem. Piazza della Scienza has become a ‘living lab’ where technological and social innovations are tested in real time. The living lab consists of both a technological part and a social component, dedicated to the discussion and involvement of citizens and stakeholders: the integrated technological platform allows for the collection and analysis of environmental data, such as plant photosynthesis and biomonitoring parameters, while the involvement of citizens and stakeholders aims to create a shared space that responds to the real needs of the local community.
The intervention followed six main principles: urban resilience, renaturalisation, urban design, CO2 emissions reduction, attention to the anthropic ecosystem and replicability of the model. These objectives were complemented by careful aesthetic and functional planning, with green areas, spaces for socialising and shaded paths. The project has maintained continuity with Vittorio Gregotti’s original design, enriching it with new features oriented towards sustainability. Fundamental to the project was the desire to increase the amount of greenery, so as to improve the quality of the public space, and to replace mineral paving with greenery to reduce heat islands by making the most of the plants’ evapotranspiration and shading. In total, the work involved the planting of 52 trees and large shrubs and 568 shrubs of other sizes,
Piazza della Scienza is thus configured as a place for research and education, thanks to the collaboration between researchers, students and citizens. Initiatives such as the ‘Sustainability and the City’ podcast and the B-YOUth Forum have deepened the dialogue on urban sustainability, involving young people and schools in and around Milan. But also events such as the ‘GenerAzioni Festival’ have further promoted awareness of the transformations taking place, offering a model of inclusion and innovation that can be replicated in other urban contexts.
