Opening Lectures

The conference will address the issue of upcycling of urban infrastructures through the contribution of Dieter Leyssen and Matteo Motti.

The speech of Dieter Leyssen, “Negotiating Infrastructure”, will focus on the new role of infrastructure. Infrastructure is often seen as a backdrop to urban life. In this lecture this perception is challenged, proposing a more dynamic and transformative role for infrastructure in shaping our collective spaces. Using several projects by 51N4E as case-study, it rethinks infrastructure as a catalyst for a new type of collective imagination. While the contribution of Matteo Motti, entitled “Upcycling Infrastructures in Europe”, will address three European case studies: Houthalen-Helchteren (Belgium), Milan (Italy), and Lahti (Finland). Using urban design, site observations, and spatial analysis, it covers a variety of strategies and tools – masterplans, small-scale tactical interventions, adaptive reuse of public facilities, and integrated design – and develops practical instructions for scaling up upcycling methods and integrating them into long-term frameworks.

Relatori: Dieter Leyssen 51N4E, KU Leuven; Matteo Motti Comune di Milano.

Discussants: Cristina Renzoni, Giulia Setti, Michaël Stas, Riccardo Monella, Mattia Tettoni, Valentina Rossella Zucca, Politecnico di Milano DAStU.

Responsabili: Cristina Renzoni, Giulia Setti

Contatti: giulia.setti@polimi.it