ARIA is a groundbreaking urban regeneration project transforming the neglected 15-hectare Ex-Macello site, a former slaughterhouse in Milan's Calvairate district, into a vibrant, sustainable neighborhood just 2.5 kilometers from the Duomo. Led by developer Redo SGR through its Fondo Immobiliare Lombardia (FIL) investment fund, the initiative won the C40 Reinventing Cities competition and aims to create Europe's largest social housing project, accommodating over 1,200 affordable units with rents 30% below local regulations.
The design team includes prominent architecture firms Stantec as lead coordinator, alongside Snøhetta (Oslo), Barreca & La Varra, and CZA Cino Zucchi Architetti, focusing on reusing over 30,000 square meters of existing structures to cut construction emissions by 54%. Key features encompass 60,212 square meters of intergenerational collaborative housing, including cluster flats for youth and seniors, student accommodations, proximity services like a medical center and arts workshops, municipal kindergartens, and flexible workspaces. Partners such as Delta Ecopolis handle community management, while E.ON supplies a fifth-generation district heating system with geothermal energy and 36,000 square meters of photovoltaics.
ARIA pioneers Milan's first Carbon Negative Area through innovations like the Fabbrica dell’Aria for phytoremediation, green roofs, and renewable energy communities, targeting LEED Gold certification for buildings and LEED for Cities for the masterplan. It promotes social inclusion via Next Generation ESG contracts, enhanced mobility with 72,950 square meters of cycle-pedestrian paths and shared vehicles, and cultural hubs including a science district and university campus, fostering a mixed-use urban landscape that blends heritage, nature, and future technologies.