For years, the Via Milano site was part of Cremona’s industrial landscape. Located along one of the main routes into the city, this former production area had gradually lost its function, becoming an unsafe and neglected space marked by environmental issues, illegal waste dumping and episodes of petty crime.
This was the condition we inherited when we acquired the site.
Choosing to redevelop it was far from the easiest option. Building elsewhere would certainly have required less effort. Instead, we decided to invest in what already existed, with the aim of bringing a long-unused industrial area back to safe and operational conditions.
The first challenge was remediation. More than 178 tonnes of waste were removed and properly disposed of, including construction and demolition materials, wood, metal, tyres and hazardous waste such as oils, asbestos and other contaminants. This was an essential step to eliminate critical issues and make the site accessible again.
From there, the redevelopment process could begin. By working with the existing site rather than replacing it, we set out to restore functionality to an area that had remained unused for many years, while preserving part of its industrial identity.
Today, the Via Milano project is more than the recovery of a former production area. It demonstrates how an existing place, once considered beyond repair can regain its purpose and become part of the city’s future once again.
