Milan's Bosco della Musica: A Cultural Urban Renewal
The Bosco della Musica project, spearheaded by the architectural firm Settanta7, represents a significant urban renewal effort in Milan's Rogoredo district. This ambitious undertaking aims to transform a historically industrial area, currently grappling with social challenges, into a thriving cultural and educational center. The initiative focuses on creating an inclusive environment where music acts as a catalyst for social cohesion, offering expanded musical education and integrating new architectural designs with the adaptive reuse of existing industrial structures. This development not only addresses urban decay but also introduces modern sustainable practices and technological innovations to support a dynamic academic and community space.
At the heart of this regeneration is the establishment of a new campus for the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi, designed to foster a wide array of musical genres beyond classical offerings. This expansion, coupled with community engagement programs, seeks to embed the campus deeply within the urban fabric of Rogoredo and the broader Santa Giulia area. The project's dual objective—revitalizing a problematic urban zone and preserving industrial heritage—underscores a holistic approach to urban development, demonstrating how strategic architectural interventions can contribute to significant social and cultural upliftment in metropolitan areas.
Transforming Rogoredo: Music as a Catalyst for Urban Renewal
The architectural practice Settanta7 has initiated the construction of the Bosco della Musica, a novel campus for the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi situated in Milan. This significant undertaking is located in Rogoredo, an area with an industrial past in the city's southeastern sector, currently experiencing urban challenges including safety concerns. The Italian Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has prioritized this district for development, and Settanta7 was awarded the project in 2022 following a competitive selection. The firm is responsible for both the design and the overarching coordination of this extensive urban regeneration, which encompasses the refurbishment of a 17,400 sqm site. This includes the innovative adaptive reuse of the historic 'Ex Chimici' industrial facility, alongside the erection of four new structures: three dedicated to academic pursuits and one for student accommodations.
Rogoredo, once a secluded industrial periphery, gained connectivity with central Milan through the advent of the subway in the 1980s. Today, with its rail and M3 metro links, it is a focal point for real estate ventures, such as the expansive Milano Santa Giulia project, slated for completion by 2034. Despite these progressive developments, the area has faced notoriety due to persistent social issues, notably drug-related activities. The Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi's regeneration initiative is specifically designed to address these complex social dynamics, aiming to integrate deeply within the community and offer enriching cultural and musical opportunities to all citizens. This project embodies a dual regenerative purpose: it confronts a significant social issue within the city's framework while simultaneously rejuvenating a derelict industrial building from a bygone era.
Architectural Design and Sustainable Innovations at Bosco della Musica
Settanta7's Bosco della Musica represents a comprehensive project blending urban regeneration, adaptive reuse, and new cultural infrastructure, with construction underway since December 2025. This initiative aims to establish Milan's first open campus in Italy, envisioned as an inclusive space where music drives social unity. The new facilities are poised to host diverse music courses, including rock, jazz, pop, and electronic genres, thereby broadening the Conservatory's existing academic curriculum, while its historical city center location will continue to specialize in classical music. This development will significantly increase student capacity, integrate community engagement programs in Rogoredo and Santa Giulia, and deploy smart building technologies across the campus. These technologies are designed to sustainably manage the complex's acoustic demands and align with the district's emphasis on innovation.
The project involves the restoration of the Ex Chimici building, a former chemical plant with a distinctive circular design by Francesco Griffini from the 1940s. After ceasing factory operations, the building served various corporate functions before falling into disuse for over two decades. Its refurbishment is planned to house the Conservatory's rock, pop, and jazz departments. Additionally, the complex features three new buildings: a 400-seat auditorium with facades adorned in multi-toned ceramic shingles, a 200-bed student residence, and a multi-functional center for electronic and experimental music, which includes a bar, restaurant, and communal areas. Beyond these structures, the former industrial site will also feature an open-air concert venue, parking equipped with electric vehicle charging stations, green roofs, and biodiverse wildflower meadows. The architects describe the design of the four main buildings as inspired by the organic contours of a forest and the geometric patterns of leaves, with each structure subtly referencing a distinct leaf type. The curvilinear forms and fluid circulation paths are intended to mimic natural movement, such as wind through foliage. Each building incorporates stepped terraces that provide common areas, ascending vertically. STAIN Engineering has developed the building systems, which include a digital management system for optimizing energy use and reducing waste. Acoustic precision is paramount for the facility, leading to the selection of discreet, non-intrusive HVAC systems that feature soundproofed fan coil units and radiant heating, ensuring thermal comfort without disrupting musical education and performances.