The residential complex Social Village Cascina Merlata is part of a huge urban requalification project that covers the entire area of Cascina Merlata” in the peri-urban area of Milan, in the vicinity of the Gallarate neighbourhood and close to the M1 metro line. The overall project includes the realization of 11 tower blocks (for a total of 690 apartments). To date, seven buildings have already been constructed and designated to be re-used for social housing within the project (for a total of 397 apartments). These buildings were used during Expo 2015 to provide accommodation for the representatives of international delegations and the staff of countries taking part in the Universal Exhibition.
At the end of Expo 2015, the buildings (both the private and communal spaces) were completely renovated and the 397 ‘new’, energy class A, apartments were offered for long-term rental or for rent-to-buy, as well as for direct sale at affordable prices.
The apartments, of various dimensions and typologies – from one-room to five-room – each have either a cellar or underground parking space included.

THE NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CASCINA MERLATA
The Social Village is part of the large new district of Cascina Merlata (approx. surface area 900,000 sq.m.), which is situated to the North West of Milan, close to both the location of Expo 2015 and also to the trade fair centre at Rho-Pero.
In addition to the new residences, the urban plan included an array of services – a kindergarten, a primary school and middle school, two nurseries, well-equipped public spaces, play parks and the historic farmhouse, Cascina Merlata, restructured for use for public functions – which are being built. The project is completed by a large shopping centre and a new urban park of approx. 250,000 sq.m. which is closely integrated with the Social Village Cascina Merlata towers.

The buildings that make up the Social Village Cascina Merlata were designed by a team of renowned Italian architects – CZA ARCHITETTI, C+S Associati, MCA di Mario Cucinella Architects, Teknoarch, B22 and PURA – using construction systems that make it possible to combine high standards of housing, technology and energy-consumption with cost-efficient realization and management.
The -planning concept of the Cascina Merlata district is the product of a design contest among 11 of the best Italian architects’ studios.
Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel & Partners, Caputo Partnership and MCA were judged to be the winners in a three-way tie. Subsequently the architectural design project was awarded to the first two studios who developed the masterplan that was approved by the Local Agencies in March 2011.

Social Village Cascina Merlata offers an innovative housing model which the residents, with the support of the Social Manager, actively participate in to share and keep alive the communal spaces (located at the base of the buildings) and to develop initiatives or services that they themselves consider to be useful or functional. It therefore offers a new interpretation of contemporary urban living, which becomes “collaborative” as it is able to generate a community that is oriented both towards solving shared problems and towards creating new opportunities through positive actions of inclusion, innovation and interaction.

INVESTORS OF THE FONDO IMMOBILIARE HOUSING SOCIALE CASCINA MERLATA
FUND MANAGEMENT AND HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
InvestiRE SGR
TECHNICAL AND SOCIAL ADVISOR
Fondazione Housing Sociale
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
Comune di Milano

ARCHITECTS
CZA Architetti
C+S Associati
MCA di Mario Cucinella Architects
Teknoarch
B22 e PURA

PARTNERS
Quality Living Service–QLS
Cooperativa Edificatrice Ferruccio Degradi
Cooperativa Edilizia di Abitazione Uniabita
Cooperativa di abitanti Ecopolis

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Euromilano

SOCIAL MANAGER
QLS