Time period
Piazze Aperte per ogni scuola – Open squares for each school (Milano)
- Italy Milan
Summary
The Piazze Aperte per ogni scuola initiative in Milan is part of the broader Open Squares programme, which seeks to transform streets and squares into pedestrian public spaces that support social interaction, safety, and neighborhood life. Developed by the Municipality of Milan with partners including AMAT, Bloomberg Associates and GDCI, the programme combines urban regeneration and sustainable mobility within a city wide strategy.
Using a tactical urbanism approach, spaces are first tested through low cost, high impact interventions—such as pedestrianization, street furniture, and greening—before moving to permanent redesigns informed by monitoring and user feedback.
A core feature of the programme is the strong collaboration between residents and local authorities, enabling co creation, shared management, and long term stewardship through formal collaboration agreements.
With over 50 spaces transformed, the initiative demonstrates how iterative design and community participation can reclaim public space, enhance livability, and foster inclusive, people centred urban environments.
Key aspects
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Enhancing proximity and everyday accessibility
Reconfigures neighbourhood streets and squares as local, walkable spaces that support daily social life and community interaction. -
Prioritising safety
Improves conditions through traffic calming and pedestrianization, with attention to children and young people. -
Tactical urbanism as a transformation strategy
Applies low cost, high impact interventions to test and inform long term change. -
Collaborative governance and shared stewardship
Promotes cooperation between residents and local authorities through co creation and shared management of public space.