Andreas Kipar, article for Swiss magazine COLLAGE

Italy has evolved from the traditional ritual of the urban walk ("passeggiata") to today's urban explorer, as in the 'Green Rays' case in Milan. The 'new promenade' is a question of displacement in space: no longer a social and community activity but an activity that combines the action of walking and the possibility of experiencing the experiences offered by the urban context.

Italy has evolved from the traditional ritual of the urban walk to today’s urban explorer mode, as in the case of the ‘Green Rays’ in Milan. The ‘new promenade’ is a question of movement in space: an activity that combines the action of walking and the possibility of experiencing the urban context.

“As the foot strikes the beat, the eyes must dance”.

The urban planning studio LAND started walking in Milan over twenty years ago. The production facilities that transformed the city into a flourishing economic centre since the 19th century have been relocated since the 1980s, thus freeing up around five million square metres of space in the city centre.

Starting with numerous small green tiles, often created on the initiative of the inhabitants, the spatial awareness that emerged through these city walks led to the ‘Green Rays’ strategy (2003), which takes advantage of the ongoing metamorphosis: the large redeveloped industrial estates, the pre-existing parks and gardens, and the remaining fragments of an almost forgotten cultural landscape form a new and robust structure of green spaces that opens the horizon to the city of the future: the region.

The article by Andreas Kipar was published in the Swiss Magazine COLLAGE 4/23 (Download file)
Cover Swiss magazine Collage 5/23

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Italy has evolved from the traditional ritual of the urban walk ("passeggiata") to today's urban explorer, as in the 'Green Rays' case in Milan. The 'new promenade' is a question of displacement in space: no longer a social and community activity but an activity that combines the action of walking and the possibility of experiencing the experiences offered by the urban context.

The productive landscape on Rigeneriamo il Territorio

Italy has evolved from the traditional ritual of the urban walk ("passeggiata") to today's urban explorer, as in the 'Green Rays' case in Milan. The 'new promenade' is a question of displacement in space: no longer a social and community activity but an activity that combines the action of walking and the possibility of experiencing the experiences offered by the urban context.

Nature-positive landscape on Rigeneriamo il Territorio

Italy has evolved from the traditional ritual of the urban walk ("passeggiata") to today's urban explorer, as in the 'Green Rays' case in Milan. The 'new promenade' is a question of displacement in space: no longer a social and community activity but an activity that combines the action of walking and the possibility of experiencing the experiences offered by the urban context.