Oasi Fontana, Milan, 1928: Redevelopment of the Carate Brianza Quarry: a balance between nature and community.

Description

The ‘Oasi FONTANA Milano 1928’ project was born out of a desire to repurpose and enhance a disused gravel quarry within the protected area of the Alto Lambro Park, as promoted by the Valagussa Group. The design concept focuses on the relationship with the area’s often industrialised and forgotten waterways, and on transforming the numerous abandoned quarries in the Milan metropolitan area, which are perceived as ‘wounds’ in the agricultural landscape and residual nature.

As mining activity has decreased, nature has gradually reclaimed the banks of the Lambro, creating a wild landscape rich in biodiversity. The disused quarry adjacent to the river reflects the interplay between human and natural processes: historic agricultural terraces coexist with river formations and spontaneous vegetation, providing a valuable opportunity for sustainable reuse.

The project reimagines the quarry as a hub of green infrastructure, serving as a strategic tool for fostering ecological continuity and integrating it with the urban fabric. We envisage the space as a ‘Landmark/Groundmark’: a vantage point and meeting place that can transform an apparently unwelcoming natural environment into an area for recreation, cultural activities and environmental education. The ground will be modelled using recycled inert materials to restore what has been taken from the territory, while also defining paths of ascent, educational areas, and outdoor living spaces.

Inspired by the Sacred Mountains, the narrative path features stops and devices that tell the story of the landscape and its transformations. This creates a sensory experience that encourages reflection on memory, nature and community. The project also incorporates the future cycle path of Valle Lambro Park, ensuring accessibility and connectivity. A glass pavilion with minimal environmental impact, integrated into the landscape, will house exhibition and reception facilities.

Oasi Fontana is an open and inclusive space where community, nature and industrial heritage converge to create a contemporary landscape experience. The project takes its name from the historic local fashion brand, which is giving back to the community a long-abandoned space through this CSR initiative, generating cultural and environmental value for the area.