The redevelopment project of the ex-Scalo Farini in Milan represented an ambitious challenge: to transform a historic industrial space into a modern educational campus for the Brera Academy of Fine Arts. Our intention was to respect and enhance the existing building, adapting it to accommodate all the functions and spaces required by a prestigious educational facility.
We designed a campus that integrates classrooms for face-to-face lectures, workspaces equipped with advanced technology for high quality technical workmanship, and more informal areas intended for reception and study. The whole is designed to be surrounded by open spaces, accessible to the neighborhood and the city, creating a direct link between the Academy and the surrounding urban fabric.
The main facade of the building is designed to act as an entrance gate, allowing the entire lot to be traversed. This is a significant change from the original function of the yard, which was a closed system in itself. We wanted to open up these spaces, making them permeable and accessible, transforming the former Farini yard into a new center of cultural and academic life.
The inner courtyard and industrial garden are designed to elevate the existing spaces to new levels of public use. The connection between these spaces is defined by an access podium that, through a targeted demolition of the ground floor, opens the entirety of the intervention to the surrounding environment. This intervention aims to create a spatial continuity that connects the interior with the exterior, fostering the integration of the campus with the city.
In summary, our project for the redevelopment of Scalo Farini is not just an extension of the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, but an opportunity to breathe new life into a historic area of Milan, transforming it into a place of meeting, creativity and learning that reflects the evolution and innovation of the city itself.