Milan Design Week 2024 invites enthusiasts and intellectuals to explore an immersive installation called Città Miniera: Design, Dismantle, Disseminate. The vision for this Città Miniera, or "The Mining City", comes from the Mario Cucinella Architects (MCA) team and it offers an opportunity to contemplate alternative urban futures. The event is held within the Brera Design District, at the Corriere della Sera's headquarters located at Via Solferino 26 in Milan. It is more than just a spectacle and aims to take visitors on a journey of exploration and discovery. In conversation with STIR, in Milan, Cucinella explained the many opportunities for innovation and sustainable progress that urban sites offer.

Cities are not always problematic. They can provide a great opportunity for recycling and reusing, in order to reduce the impact of materials and carbon emissions. – Mario Cucinella

From April 15 to 21, 2024, the installation unfolds within the historic courtyard, a testament to the collaborative effort spearheaded by Living e Abitare through the Solferino 28 event. With a deliberate focus on challenging conventional urban development paradigms, the installation embraces principles of regeneration and circularity, redefining our understanding of the built environment.

Città Miniera poignantly explores urban mining, a concept that posits cities as dynamic reservoirs of raw materials, constantly in flux and ripe for repurposing. Drawing inspiration from nature's cyclical processes, Mario Cucinella, the pioneering force behind MCA, envisions a consonance between urban spaces and the natural world, wherein the cyclical processes of deconstruction and reconstruction mirror those found in ecosystems.

Urban mining is a concept gaining traction in the sustainable development discourse, offering a promising avenue for addressing resource scarcity and environmental degradation in urban areas. It involves the systematic extraction, recovery, and repurposing of valuable materials from existing infrastructure, landfills, and other urban sources. By reclaiming materials such as metals, concrete, and plastics, urban mining not only reduces the need for virgin resources but also minimises waste generation and associated environmental impacts. This method is consistent with the tenets of the circular economy, wherein materials are kept in circulation for as long as possible through reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing.

The installation's narrative unfolds organically, beginning with the humble vegetable collection box, which undergoes a metamorphosis into the Città Miniera—an adaptable urban landscape teeming with potential. This transformative backdrop embodies a paradigm shift in city planning, emphasising flexibility, resilience, and sustainability as essential tenets of contemporary urban design.

As visitors traverse through the luminous towers and immersive skyline of Città Miniera, they are invited to engage with diverse thematic elements. From utilising reclaimed materials to integrating smart mobility solutions, each component prompts reflection on the interconnectedness of urban life and natural systems.

Themes such as The Materials Of The City, The Wood of the City, and The Living City serve as focal points for contemplation, inviting visitors to envision a future where cities thrive in symbiosis with their surrounding environments. These thematic explorations underscore the imperative of sustainable urban development, urging stakeholders to embrace innovative design solutions that prioritise environmental stewardship.

Before designing something, one needs to empathise with the place, try to understand where they are, look around and find connections within that place that may initially not be visible. – Mario Cucinella

The success of Città Miniera is emblematic of collaborative synergy, with project partners such as Koelliker, Acrobatica, Fantoni, and MV Line lending their expertise to the endeavour. Contributions from A2A and Biorepack, alongside technical support from industry leaders such as Artemide, De'Longhi, Kartell, Vimar, and Gardenia with the Central Park nursery, ensure the seamless realisation of the installation's ambitious vision.

Beyond its aesthetic allure, Città Miniera takes the city as a resource to be mined and serves as a catalyst for dialogue on pressing issues of circularity and sustainable development. Amidst the bustling energy of the Milan Design Week, the installation prompts visitors to confront the urgent challenges facing our cities, inspiring a collective reimagining of urban futures grounded in sustainability and resilience.

MCA stands at the forefront of this discourse with a rich portfolio of projects spanning continents. From the Fondazione Luigi Rovati Art Museum in Milan to the Sino-Italian Ecological and Energy Efficient Building in Beijing, their work embodies a global perspective on architecture and design, reflecting a steadfast commitment to sustainability and innovation.

As Milan continues to be a crucible of creativity and innovation, initiatives like Città Miniera offer glimpses into the transformative potential of design. Through introspection and exploration, visitors are invited to envision cities as dynamic ecosystems, poised to adapt and evolve in harmony with nature.

In a world grappling with existential environmental challenges, Città Miniera stands as a beacon of hope—a testament to the power of design to inspire change and catalyse a sustainable urban renaissance. As visitors engage with the installation's thought-provoking narratives, they are reminded of the profound interconnectedness between human creativity and the natural world, igniting a renewed sense of urgency and purpose in pursuing a more sustainable urban future.

With the spirit of collaboration and innovation as its guiding ethos, Città Miniera asks us to embrace a new paradigm of urban development—one that prioritises resource efficiency, environmental stewardship, and social equity. By harnessing the principles of urban mining and sustainable design, cities can become engines of positive change, driving towards a future where prosperity is synonymous with sustainability.

STIR is a media partner with the Brera Design District.

Stay tuned to STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2024 which showcases the best of exhibitions, studios, designers, installations, brands and events to look out for. Explore EuroCucina and all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5vie Design Week, Isola Design Week, Brera Design District and Porta Venezia Design District.