“Crescenzago” Affordable Housing

Milan, Italy

In collaboration with MTA Associati, arch. Enrico Bona, arch Giorgio Ciarallo

The project explores a new organic coexistence between the urban and the rural, between the inhabiting community and vegetation, and between the use and production of energy and materials, as part of a sustainable and circular habitat.

From an energy perspective, the buildings mimic the behaviour of a tree. Rather than adopting a single strategy, the design implements a plurality of integrated actions. These guarantee high energy efficiency with the lowest possible resource consumption for the building envelope, systems and integrated energy generation from 100% renewable sources.

The new affordable housing is anchored to the land: it draws sustenance from the earth and the sun’s warmth, catches the breeze, ‘breathes’ and is crossed by rain. In doing so, the project complies with the Energy and Atmosphere category of the LEED protocol, using efficient forms and structures harmonised with passive design systems that exploit natural resources (Nature-based Solutions).