MAST Transforms a Former Quarry in Milan, Italy, right into a Central Park and Floating Forest

MAST Transforms a Former Quarry in Milan, Italy, right into a Central Park and Floating Forest

Danish Maritime Structure Studio MAST, working along with the Municipality of Segrate, plans to remodel a former sand quarry right into a central park to reconnect the encompassing neighbourhoods and create a brand new vacation spot for the residents of Milan, Italy. The deserted quarry has left behind a singular panorama. The off]ice’s proposal features a sequence of buildings alongside the lake’s perimeter linked by a public walkway and a cluster of islands within the centre of the lake. MAST is presently working with the Municipality of Segrate towards realising the challenge.

The 1 kilometre broad, 60 metres deep sand quarry has been inactive for years, making a panorama encircled by industrial remnants and overgrown vegetation. MAST’s proposal hopes to reimagine the world right into a leisure house to supply metropolis dwellers a retreat into nature. To realize this, a sequence of buildings alongside the lake’s perimeters act as small nodes alongside a branching wood walkway. The constructions will home public facilities equivalent to a spa, a restaurant and a ship rental station.

A few of these buildings, just like the spa and boat rental station, are proposed to be constructed on floating foundations to offer uninterrupted entry to the lake water regardless of fluctuating water ranges, which may differ by as much as 2 metres, relying on groundwater ranges and rainfall. The boat rental will provide low-power electrical boats for guests to navigate the lake and uncover the floating forest islands at its heart. 

Moreover ample vegetation, the islands provide a sequence of extra points of interest, such because the elevated amphitheatre on the most important island, offering a singular location for performances and public occasions. Smaller islands, marooned to the lake backside, however allowed to float inside a restricted radius, can welcome non-public occasions and picnics. All the buildings will probably be pre-fabricated utilizing timber portal frames and will probably be clad in domestically sourced timber. The cladding will probably be left untreated to fade over time and “settle into the pure environment.”

The challenge represents the primary of its form in Italy, an revolutionary improvement that unlocks entry to the distinctive pure setting. – MAST co-founder Marshall Blecher

MAST is a maritime structure studio based mostly in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their works cowl structure proposals and analysis geared toward reconnecting cities to their waterways with the intention to create more healthy marine environments. Not too long ago, the workplace has developed the “Land on Water” challenge, a system that gives an adaptable resolution to constructing nearly something on the water: floating houses, campsites, even small parks, and neighborhood facilities.