Open space of Cascina Merlata Social Housing Village

The masterplan for the new area of social housing in Cascina Merlata proposes a dense residential quarter of high volumes alternating with communal gardens. The design of two residential towers and the open spaces interprets the scheme and reinforces its urban character. Within the parameters of high-level energy performance and extremely limited cost and implementation times, the project will give a convincing architectural response to the theme of contemporary “residential buildings”, capable of generating a strong sense of domesticity and urbanity, while providing a “landmark” quality from the nearby motorway. Two high rise bodies extend upwards to achieve the long views over the landscape, reducing their size on the upper floors in a stepped profile that generates a kind of “canyon” between the two buildings that creates an important visual axis for the intervention and a dialogue between the buildings and with the open space in front. The triangular pattern pilasters articulating the facades, are light in color – contrasting with the dark recesses, unify the windows, while the balconies are grouped in large figures distinguished by glass railings giving a strong horizontal theme. On the south side, a tall, slender porch connects the two buildings, creating a jagged profile that interacts with the common open space and allows a uniformed distribution of the two buildings.