The Olympics can leave a lasting legacy on the various cities that have the honour to host it. Sometimes it is incredibly positive, such as the lovely Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford for London 2012. In other cases the legacies are negative, such as Athens 2004 causing ongoing financial issues for Greece and numerous pieces of commercial architecture with no future. The upcoming 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games have taken a really impressive approach that could be amazing for Milan. Let’s have a look.
Redevelopment
One of the crucial details is the Olympic Village for the Games is part of a wider master plan to redevelop an old railway yard. Therefore, the goal is to create a lasting legacy with a vibrant new neighbourhood in the future.
The most interesting thing here is there is a dual purpose for six new structures and two older historic buildings. Initially, they will be accommodation for athletes. However, after the event they will transform into student accommodation. It will provide 1,700 new beds for students. On top of that, other buildings in the area will become affordable housing.
Public spaces
Part of the redevelopment is also creating new public space. The highlight is a new plaza for the Olympic Village. In the future it will be a wonderful new piece of space for the community. There are plans for it to host markets as well as community events.
Many of the new buildings will have ground floor commercial and community spaces in the future. Designs also feature communal terraces with shade and greenery; they will be perfect for gatherings and studying. The inclusion of green spaces and courtyards will support climate resilience too.
Sustainability
A major focus of the redevelopment is to ensure the new neighbourhood is sustainable, including housing and commercial architecture. The new buildings are timber frame, and also feature facades using materials with low embodied carbon.
Additionally, the development is nearly zero energy. There has been a big focus on sustainable energy strategies. This includes passive cooling, solar panels, and harvesting rainwater. Ultimately, an impressive 30% of the neighbourhood’s energy demand will be generated on the site.
Integration
There has also been attention to ensure the new neighbourhood fits into the streetscape. The layout ensures it retains the same rhythm. There are also new connections for walkability.
It’s also interesting how much everything will work together. The juxtaposition of new contemporary buildings and historic properties creates a wonderful dialogue. It shows how effectively heritage and modern properties can integrate.
Think carefully about the future with commercial architecture
The legacy of different Olympics shows how important it is to think about the future with various properties. Building permanent venues without a good plan for them can lead to huge financial issues. On the other hand, they could become fantastic amenities with the right designs. In some cases you can even plan to change or relocate them to ensure their future is positive.
If you’ve got ideas for commercial architecture or any other kind of project, speak to us. Coffey Architects is a creative, dynamic team, so we can work with clients to make your ideas a reality. Have a look at our portfolio to get a feel of what we can do.