Città delle Idee

The installation took shape through an interlocking system of modules and submodules produced using 3D printing. At first, it appeared as a compact and solid volume. Gradually, however, elements were removed and the structure beganto dissolve, creating openings that defined a space dedicated to dialogue and exchange. The 3D-printed blocks symbolically represented buildings undergoing transformation through the subtraction of material, creating flexible environments capable of adapting to new uses while ensuring climatic comfort. At the center of the installation lay a public square conceived as a place for encounters and interaction. This space captured the essence of the project: an open-air experimental workshop exploring the technical and technological future of building. At the same time, it functioned as a civic environment for gathering, discussion, and leisure, an urban space intended to be experienced collectively.

The installation took shape through an interlocking system of modules and submodules produced using 3D printing. At first, it appeared as a compact and solid volume. Gradually, however, elements were removed and the structure beganto dissolve, creating openings that defined a space dedicated to dialogue and exchange. The 3D-printed blocks symbolically represented buildings undergoing transformation through the subtraction of material, creating flexible environments capable of adapting to new uses while ensuring climatic comfort. At the center of the installation lay a public square conceived as a place for encounters and interaction. This space captured the essence of the project: an open-air experimental workshop exploring the technical and technological future of building. At the same time, it functioned as a civic environment for gathering, discussion, and leisure, an urban space intended to be experienced collectively.

Within Città delle Idee, 3D printing became a tool for addressing one of the most pressing challenges of contemporary construction: reducing the use of material while minimizing waste. The process encouraged experimentation with new materials for additive manufacturing, while the blocks themselves, characterized by simple interlocking geometries, allowed for flexible configurations as well as easy assembly and disassembly. This adaptability enabled their reuse within the city or in future installations and events. The project also represented another step in the research carried out by MCA’s R&D unit, which had been exploring the potential of 3D printing in the fields of design, materials, and construction technologies for future living environments since 2020. This work was guided by a vision that combined ecological responsibility with architectural quality, investigating new building systems capable of expressing what the Studio defined as “ecological beauty.”

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The 150th anniversary celebrations of Corriere della Sera became an important opportunity for reuse.The vision developed by MCA within Città delle Idee, where creativity was combined with technological and material innovation through 3D printing, enabled the creation of dry-assembled modular systems designed from the outset for reuse.

At the end of the Solferino 28 event, the Città delle Idee installation became an integral part of the Corriere della Sera 150th anniversary celebrations: the project was transformed into a constellation of small installations donated by the newspaper to Milan and distributed across nine city squares. This gesture was both symbolic and concrete, spreading new urban ideas throughout the city and extending the dialogue with citizens beyond the duration of the event.

Città delle Idee then took on a new form: its original modules were disassembled and reborn as a constellation of sculptural installations donated to the city. The architecture was not dismantled but evolved and was redesigned, continuing to engage with citizens while offering genuine spaces for discussion and exchange.

Through this transformation, the totem-like micro-installations functioned as active fragments of Città delle Idee, dispersed throughout Milan’s public space. They continued the foundational theme of the arena and the piazza as open spaces for social interaction, dialogue, and the generation of new ideas, while also preserving the logic of dry assembly and multi-material composition. In this way, small urban arenas were created, each centered around a totem that became an identifying landmark of Corriere della Sera. Each installation, composed of approximately 80 elements, was reconfigured across different squares in varying layouts and color schemes, reflecting the project’s partner collaborations.

Città delle Idee then took on a new form: its original modules were disassembled and reborn as a constellation of sculptural installations donated to the city. The architecture was not dismantled but evolved and was redesigned, continuing to engage with citizens while offering genuine spaces for discussion and exchange.

Through this transformation, the totem-like micro-installations functioned as active fragments of Città delle Idee, dispersed throughout Milan’s public space. They continued the foundational theme of the arena and the piazza as open spaces for social interaction, dialogue, and the generation of new ideas, while also preserving the logic of dry assembly and multi-material composition. In this way, small urban arenas were created, each centered around a totem that became an identifying landmark of Corriere della Sera. Each installation, composed of approximately 80 elements, was reconfigured across different squares in varying layouts and color schemes, reflecting the project’s partner collaborations.

In keeping with a full integration of design, materials, and technology, the totems were also energy self-sufficient: the block-lanterns were powered by custom-designed photovoltaic panels seamlessly integrated into the installation’s architecture. For two months, each square became a space for public storytelling centered on a specific theme, with the totems themselves incorporating a curated selectionof historical pages from Corriere della Sera as narrative traces and interpretative keys to the present.

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The project did not end there: part of it was re-presented in a new form at the Clerkenwell Design Week in London, demonstrating how it was possible to design a future that used less material while generating greater value for everyone.

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The project did not end there: part of it was re-presented in a new form at the Clerkenwell Design Week in London, demonstrating how it was possible to design a future that used less material while generating greater value for everyone.

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