Riuso Lambrate: A New City Courtyard

Just a stone’s throw from Lambrate Station on the eastern outskirts of Milan, DAP studio has designed Riuso Lambrate, a redevelopment and reuse project involving a former workshop that occupied two sides of a service yard.

The goal of the project was to transform the building and its basement, which extended partly beneath the yard, upgrading its architectural quality and making it suitable for its new residential use.

A new way of living in Milan

The project began with a thorough survey of the existing conditions. The L-shaped building comprised a south wing, with a raised first floor and a basement, and an east wing on a single level. It occupied two sides of a service yard shared with an existing six-story, street-facing building.

The transformation addressed both the internal layout and the relationship between the building, the yard, and the new entrances. A key part of the project was to uncover the basement and bring it above grade by excavating part of the yard and reimagining the space thus created for communal use. Conceived as an outdoor meeting place, the new courtyard is now a sunken area with terraces, seating, and greenery.

From the energy perspective, the building was fully upgraded with external thermal insulation, insulated partition walls, aluminum thermal-break windows, and a roof-mounted photovoltaic system.

Bright, contemporary homes

The new residential complex comprises ten units, including studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, all with independent entrances. Their interiors feature gray stone floors, oak details, and neutral color palettes based on light blue, glossy white, ochre, and dark gray. In designing the rooms, the project team prioritized flexibility, reflecting the temporary nature of the housing.

Basement spaces now house common facilities, such as cellars, a laundry, a storeroom, a refuse room, and a multipurpose room available to residents for work, study, or small group activities.

The completed project is defined by essential volumes and white surfaces that harmonize the complex, while large full-height glazed doors provide natural light and create a continuity with the courtyard. Lightweight guardrails and short ramps keep the courtyard space airy, transforming what was once a service yard into a new communal space for the city.

>>> Discover Bologna’s overhauled Ex-Scalo Ravone district, designed by Settanta7