The rewriting of the urban palimpsest through an “evocative building renewal” of two Milanese architectures

The topic of urban regeneration consistently involves a reflection on the relationship between pre-existence and transformation, between permanence and the research for an image renovation of the buildings that participate in the construction of the urban palimpsest. A contemporary architectural narrative cannot overlook the fundamental coherence between what it was – and now what is lost – and what remains. That point is symbolic of what happened in some industrial districts, which were subject to a functional conversion that is still in progress. As a result, these industrial archaeologies appear as silent buildings without any function. Otherwise, a building could still be used and play a leading role in the urban setting as an integral part of the contemporary urban story. In this instance, the conservation requests frequently prevail over the transformation requirements. However, this does not preclude design strategies that can also encompass the partial or complete renovation of the building, solely focusing on the functional and technological enhancement of the exterior envelope or even the reorganization of the interior spaces. Two significant examples of these directions – namely the first pertaining to the recuperation of industrial archaeology heritage that has been incorporated into the urban fabric, and the second aimed at reshaping buildings that necessitate urgent technological and formal renovation – were executed by Park Associati in the past decade.