ACADEMIC YEAR: 2021-2022
TEAM PROJECT: Alampi Greta, Corti Eleonora
COURSE: Laboratorio di Sintesi Finale
METANOIA
Alla ricerca di una nuova identità
Metanoia is a project to redevelop an abandoned shed in Bovisa district. Formerly the headquarters of Peroni and later of Eurolabel, the building still shows its industrial character through its architectural structure.
MASKING is the chosen design metaphor: it is a design approach that consists in maintaining the identity of the place, enhancing its defects and its past, welcoming the elements of degradation to translate them into additional components of the project. The goal is to create a space that is able to train a new generation of craftsmen by informing, sharing and communicating with the surrounding community. The shed is proposed as a center of reference for creativity, a new Renaissance laboratory where experimentation and training coexist.
The process of redesigning the building has its roots in the desire to bring to light the historical nature of the surplus through design interventions that respect its essence while modifying its appearance. We started, therefore, from the numerous photographs taken in the project area during the inspection to develop project strategies linked as much as possible to the current state of the place.
The main space dedicated to craft workshops comes to life from some photographs of materials
taken inside and outside the building. It is precisely from these photographs that the different textures
that characterise the moveable or fixed walls that divide the area into 4 individual stations
dedicated to the 4 proposed craft activities are born.
Inside the building a bar area has been designed that arises from the desire to bring to light the nature of storage and deposit of the surplus, functions that the structure carried out in the past. The space is therefore characterized by structures designed from some shelves on site and some old photographs of the place. Precisely from this reflection comes to life this place that, recalling the atmosphere of an industrial space, offers the possibility of enjoying a moment of relaxation literally immersed in the shelves: in the lower part thanks to the presence of chairs and coffee tables, while in the upper part thanks to some pouffes that offer a top view of the entire area.
Art and creativity play a fundamental role in the context of childhood evolution; through the practices of artistic activities, communication skills are strengthened, favoring physical-cognitive-emotional development.
For this reason, an Educational Space has been designed that is located right within the area dedicated to the artistic workshops.
The design of the space dedicated to children combines a sensory-knowledge path with an area for hands-on activities organized by the artisans themselves. Upon entering the mezzanine, children are invited to remove their shoes and place them in the designated shoe rack to freely explore the space.
The first area of the path features special “exploratory buttons” with raised, walkable surfaces made from different materials to ensure proper tactile exploration through their feet. Continuing along, a wall equipped with various textures from the tailoring workshop allows children to explore different surfaces and types of fabrics.
The second part of the wall illustrates the recycling process used to create the tables in the workshop which are made from recycled plastic.
Outside the project site, in the courtyard surrounding the shed, an attempt by nature to take possession of this now abandoned “grey” industrial space was immediately evident. For this reason we decided to combine these two aspects: emphasising nature’s attempt to occupy space and the desire to create a “green zone” that would make the user experience qualitatively better. The garden is therefore proposed as a place of meeting, experience, fun and sharing.
To attract visitors from outside, the approach to enhancing the natural and spontaneous greenery
of the garden has been extended to the exterior wall of the building.
Covered with climbing plants and lights displaying the names of the internal spaces,
the wall aims to give passersby a preview of what they can find inside.
Advertising is the best way to communicate with customers because it informs them of the existence of products on the market, encourages purchases, and is highly effective in enhancing the brand image and awareness of a company.
For this reason, the project also includes an exhibition space with the sole objective of advertising and introducing the artisanal businesses present in the workshop area to the Milanese community. These showrooms come to life inside containers designed as modules, making the space adaptable to the needs of the type of product being displayed.
