Campus Nord Politecnico di Milano

The essence of this project was already embedded in the site. The idea was there, waiting to be realized. First, the forest, with its majestic trees. Then, the traces of the old factory—ancient buildings that bore witness to the site's history and identity. The factory sheds, the gasometers, all reclaimed by the lush nature that had taken over. This was what we found: the topos.

What we brought was the vision of an open and accessible university campus, where the classrooms and laboratories of the Politecnico would stand alongside student residences, Milan’s Civic Schools, research labs, and startups. A campus open in every sense—to the forest, to the city, and to the natural transition from school to active life. It could only be an energy-independent project with zero CO₂ emissions. It was once a factory, and a factory it remains—a factory of ideas, filled with light and surrounded by greenery.

The project introduces 20 new four-story buildings, each standing 16 meters tall—the same height as the trees that will be planted—totalling approximately 105,000 square meters, with additional space for the Civic Schools. Designed as an interconnected, multifunctional neighborhood, the campus will remain vibrant throughout the day. These buildings occupy no more—and in some cases, less—land than the original factory, preserving the surrounding 24-hectare forest, free from roads or construction.

Seamlessly linked to Milan via upgraded Bovisa and Villapizzone rail stations, the campus regenerates this area of the city through connectivity, historical preservation, and a diverse mix of uses. At its core is a deep connection to nature, with trees threading through the campus, forming a living, breathing landscape.