antonio citterio patricia viel unveils a new social housing complex for milan

a social housing project that fosters a sense of community and offers a wealth of facilities outside the city center. that’s what antonio citterio patricia viel (ACPV) achieves with ‘cascina merlata lot R7/2’ in milan, italy. located in the cascina merlata district of northwestern milan, this latest development forms part of a greater masterplan conceived by ACPV in 2011. the energy-efficient design covers a total floor area of 135,625 ft2 (12,600 m2).

images by giulio boem

the development neighbors fiera milano – the home of the annual salone del mobile furniture fair – and the MIND milano innovation district (ex-expo milan area). cascina merlata lot R7/2 integrates two new residential buildings between via daimler and via pier paolo pasolini. the site is just 15 minutes walk from essential services like shops, schools and transportation. the cascina merlata masterplan also features multiple parks, public spaces, pedestrian and bike paths to enhance the city’s social and environmental sustainability.

‘the goal here is to foster a sense of community and belonging while also innovating the way we design residential buildings,’  says architect antonio citterio, co-founder of ACPV. ‘the masterplan and architectural guidelines for cascina merlata play a crucial role in ensuring that the new residents feel at home and have access to all the services they need.’

the new buildings have obtained a class A rating thanks to their energy-efficient design and low-energy impact. the main material used for the residential complex is porcelain stoneware. the chromatic variations of the design, together with the sequence of full and empty spaces guarantee a balanced design solution.

the buildings’ first floors interact with the surroundings by seamlessly integrating entrance halls and retail spaces, and they face a large communal garden. overlooking via pier paolo pasolini, one of the buildings is a 10-story volume that aligns with the design of the adjacent buildings with its upper four floors set back 3 meters. the other development is made up of two volumes connected by a single core: the southern portion stretches across 17 floors, while the tallest portion to the north has 25 floors above ground. the roof of the residential complex is designed as a garden that will be visible from the street level.

‘the new development advances the idea of regenerating milan as a polycentric city. cascina merlata is a newly well-served area of the city where people can reach everything they need for their daily life within a 15-minute walk or ride,’  says architect patricia viel, co-founder of ACPV.

‘the completion of cascina merlata lot R7/2 this spring will mark a major milestone in the long-standing collaboration with our client città contemporanea. almost like a city within the city, this residential complex provides new alternatives for people who want to access affordable housing,’  says lorenzo laura, architect and project director at ACPV, who has been following all phases of the project design.

cascina merlata lot R7/2 is expected to open for residents in march 2021. the ACPV-designed complex will soon be followed by lot R7/3 (expected to be delivered in 2024), lot R5/4 (expected to be delivered in 2023), and lot R5/1.

project info:

project name: cascina merlata

location: cascina merlata, milan, italy

client: città contemporanea – CMB

architect: antonio citterio patricia viel (ACPV)

structure: SCE project

general contractor: CMB cooperativa muratori e braccianti di carpi

photography: giulio boem

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edited by: lynne myers | designboom