Milan is embracing a bold regeneration strategy for its first carbon-neutral social housing development, L’Innesto. Working on the six-hectare, former rail depot of Scalo di Greco Breda, Arup together with Fondo Immobilare Lombardia (FIL) and architects Barreca & La Varra have proposed what will be the country’s first zero-carbon affordable housing development.

The vision, predicted on the delivery of an innovative, decentralised low-carbon district heating network, has won the global C40’s Reinventing Cities competition, inviting innovative and resilient carbon-free design solutions for the regeneration of underused urban spaces. The design embeds circular economy principles from the strategic planning stage and unlocks stakeholder value. Stakeholders include private sector investors, public sector actors such as the Milan municipality, the rail administration FS Sistemi Urbani and above all, the local residents.

Arup is coordinating the project on behalf of FIL. Our consultants and specialists are leading the masterplan design and are the Circular Economy advisors, providing sustainable and environmental design as well as the decarbonisation strategy.

Masterplanning and urban design 

Located next to the Greco Pirelli train station in the north east of Milan, the Scalo Greco Breda site is a former freight depot. The botanical routes of the aptly names L’Innesto translate into real life, with the project being a ‘green’ implant grafted onto this industrial rail area. The masterplan will connect the mixed-use historical neighbourhood of Precotto and the former industrial area of Biccoca, which currently provides housing and services to the nearby university.

The partnership between the public and private sectors is expected to be a replicable and scalable intervention to test carbon-neutral initiatives and inform future policy making.

Soil excavation will be minimised with bio-remediation techniques on site to be re-used for landscaping. Vegetable gardens, a garden nursery, green seeded roofs and ‘edible’ landscapes will create an agricultural heart.

Driving decarbonisation 

The winning proposal is based on developing an innovative decentralised 4th Generation District Heating (4GDH) powered by renewable sources including an urban wastewater heat-recovery system. To achieve a zero carbon emissions balance within 30 years, the buildings are designed to be near-zero energy, built with a pre-assembled construction technology that enables the modular structures to be disassembled and recycled.

With over 70% of the former railway yard area redesigned as public space, active mobility will be the key driver behind the ambitious sustainable vision. Plans limit individual car parking spaces to around 100 for the 700 tenants and including 1,200m² of bike parking facilities, 10 electric charging terminals and a shared neighbourhood car fleet.

The project aims to encourage active travel measures
Plans limit individual car parking spaces to around 100 for the 700 tenants and including 1,200 m² of bike parking facilities, 10 electric charging terminals and a shared neighbourhood car fleet.
The design aims to be human focused
An engineered mix of activities on site – such as a Community Food Hub, a Circular Economy District, an Energy Showroom, a Zero Waste Store, a ‘Residents’ Handbook’, and a district App, will also support future inhabitants of L’Innesto in creating a sustainable community
l'Innesto will be Italy's first zero carbon housing
To achieve a zero C02 emissions balance within 30 years, the buildings are designed to be near-zero energy and will be built with a pre-assembled construction technology, enabling the modular structures to be disassembled and recycled.

Plans will also include a private carbon fund to enable a local carbon emissions swap system, so the district’s carbon debt can be offset through the continued implementation of carbon neutral projects. 

Incorporating circular economy principles

The development prides itself in being a human-focused initiative. To drive the site’s daily management, Arup have established and coordinated a multi-disciplinary think-tank which encompasses some of the city’s utility companies, bank foundations, and leading universities along with research and innovation centres and NGOs committed to social development.

An engineered mix of activities on site, including a Community Food Hub, a Circular Economy District, an Energy Showroom, a Zero Waste Store and a district app will support future L’Innesto residents in creating a sustainable community to be part of the change they are seeking.