EXPO Milan 2015

Milan Expo 2015, Photo by Caterina Maria Carla Bona

 

On May 1st, Expo Milan 2015 opened. For the following six months, twenty million guests from all over the world are expected to visit the city, attracted by the theme “Feed the Planet, Energy for Life” and Milan’s rejuvenated appearance. For the past ten years the city has experienced a real urban revolution, with about two million square feet of land being restored, leading to the rebirth of the metropolitan city which will politically and formally be established at the beginning of 2015.

Among the areas of transformation, Porta Nuova is the most representative example. Attractive enough for international investment, it was recently acquired in its entirety by a real estate fund from Qatar. Located in the city centre on a plot of 250,000 square metres, Porta Nuova is the outcome of a real estate development operated by the American investor Hines. It involves architects such as Cesar Pelli, Kohn Pedersen Fox and Stefano Boeri, authors of individual buildings as well as the master plan for the three areas that comprise the entire site. Porta Nuova has created a new urban centrality thanks to complete pedestrianisation and its symbolic and attractive buildings, including the Vertical Forest tower.  This was awarded the International High-Rise Award as the most beautiful building of 2014, covered with about 900 trees which represent a hectare of forest.

Besides the transformation of large areas, timely interventions by unique buildings are transforming different areas outside the city centre.  For instance the Museum of Cultures by David Chipperfield, which opened at the end of March, and the new Prada Foundation of Rem Koolhaas, which will be inaugurated in May.

 

For more information please visit our Destination MILAN