EFUF Milano 7-11 May 2013 EXPO 2015 – WATERWAYS PROJECT ____________________________________

May, 8th 2013

Arch. Anna Rossi

Expo 2015 and the Waterways Project

Water represents: • a primary resource for planetary nutrition; • an essential territorial, landscape and environmental

matrix for the Lombardia plain; • a historical mode of relationship between Milano and its

surrounding territory. The Waterways Project constitutes an ideal landscape scenario for representing the EXPO MILANO 2015 theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life” and a connective tissue to: • connect the Expo site to the city of Milano and the

surrounding territory; • contribute to the development of a varied sustainable

tourism portfolio; • leave an interconnected, cohesive system of parks and

green areas and an extraordinary network of bicycle paths as a legacy to Milano and Lombardia.

A wide project, by light works, in order to build a strategic permanent network. The most important legacy of Expo Milano 2015.

Waterways project is a hydrological and landscape project focused on several issues, involving several territorial elements:

• Irrigation network improvement – Canale Villoresi and new Expo Waterway canal

• Natural waterways protection – Guisa Valley requalification

• Bicycle/pedestrian paths and system of green areas extension – new connection West Milano areas and redevelopment paths along Naviglio Grande and Canale Villoresi

• Historical waterways valorisation – Darsena recovery and Naviglio Grande redevelopment

• Rural landscape promotion – rural paths improvement and landscape green infrastructures re-building

Expo 2015 and the Waterways Project

A long technician and institutions shared work needed to define project contents

2007 – the Water Way idea in the Milano Candidature Dossier

2008- 2009 – the Water ways studies of the Lombardia Committee

2010 – the Waterways Project in the Registration Dossier The priority of the Canale Villoresi - Expo Site – Naviglio Grande waterway connection in order to solve rural areas irrigation and Expo Site hydrological problem

Expo 2015 and the Waterways Project

The Waterways Project from Lago Maggiore to Milano

The Waterways Project – West area Milano

The Waterways Project – Territorial Scenario

The Project is part of local and regional redevelopment plans: • applying a multifunctional, integrated

approach on different scales; • landscape improvement within the system

of open spaces; • with special emphasis on developing

network systems in direct works. There are three principal lines of action: • landscape/environmental and functional

redevelopment of the existing waterways network;

• reconnection of green and agricultural areas west of Milan;

• expansion of “soft mobility” to promote extensive tourism.

The Waterway Canal issues and opportunities

A permanent rationalization of the Villoresi irrigation system in order to serve better the agricultural area south of Milan, and to valorise the waterways network improving the environmental conditions of the Darsena.

A potential connections between the “Parco delle Groane” and the “Parco Agricolo Sud Milano” and permanently interconnection of the system of green and agricultural areas west of the city (Parco Cinque Comuni, Boscoincittà, Parco di Trenno, Parco delle Cave, Parco delle Risaie …)

The connection between the Canale Villoresi and the Naviglio Grande represents the fulcrum of a wide promotional system: • The extension and completion of the

local network of bicycle paths, closely related to the reworked waterways system, is part of a system of interconnections with the broader territory.

• The development of the paths along the Canale Villoresi and the Naviglio Grande multiplies the options and levels of use and the possible interconnections with the system of regional waterways.

• The connection with boat service and railways is efficient and strategic

• The Darsena is re-established in its role as the Port of Milan.

Expo 2015 offers the city and the local area new forms of solidarity and promotional opportunities.

The Waterway canal and soft mobility opportunities

The hydrological problem solving became the opportunity of a landscape project that has been developed in close synergy with local and regional plans and policies.

The Waterways Project landscape approach

Landscape issues: • The protection of natural and cultural

heritage and landscape identities • The promotion and the enhancement of

local and rural landscape • The redevolepment of run-down areas Project landscape actions: • Design of new infrustractures by

attention to landscape characterization • Historical heritage restoration and

landscape resources link • Re-design of abandoned or disastered

areas considering their social use.

The central project element: Expo Waterway Canal

The project unites the hydrological functions of the Expo Site, the permanent rationalization of the irrigation system serving the agricultural area south of Milan, and the valorisation of green areas. The new waterway connection between the Villoresi Canal and the Naviglio Grande is: • an essential and urgent work for Site functionality

– providing water supply to the Expo Site canals and cooling for the temporary structures; – ensuring the collection and recovery of rainwater runoff and treated rainwater from the

canals on Site, discharging them into the Naviglio; • a permanent work to rationalize the irrigation network of the Villoresi ET Consortium

aimed at – enhancing the services offered by the network in the agricultural areas south of Milan; – improving the hydrological and environmental conditions of the Darsena;

• a fundamental element of the Expo Waterways Project – the indispensable pillar of the green-blue ring , the connection path between Milan and

the Ticino River; – an opportunity to establish connections between the Parco delle Groane and the Parco

Agricolo Sud Milano and to permanently interconnect and valorise the system of green and agricultural areas west of the city.

The Waterway Canal

The new Waterway Canal is a unitary and continuous element of the irrigation network which can be subdivided into three sections: Northern Waterway 7.3 km: from the Canale Villoresi to the Expo Site (much of it will comprise refurbishment and extension of elements of the existing irrigation network) Central Waterway 2.3 km, included within the Expo Site (a completely new section of canal) South Waterway 11.4 km: from the Expo Site to the Naviglio Grande (part of it will comprise refurbishment and extension of elements of the existing irrigation network and a long stretch of new, open-air canal connecting the parks) Total length: 21 km (16.5 open canal, 4.5 in culverts) Flow rate: 2-2,5 m/s

Naviglio Grande

Canale Villoresi

NORTH STRETCH

CENTRAL STRETCH

SOUTH STRETCH

3

The Expo Northern Waterway canal and path from Parco delle Groane to Expo Site

Natural heritage preservation

Green areas and paths improvement

Run-down areas redevolepment