The Master in OTA and Unipol together to rethink the suburbs: the workshop results

The Workshop of the Master in Offsite Technologies for Architecture (OTA) has once again proven to be a key event in exploring the evolution of urban suburbs through offsite technologies. This year’s challenge focused on the regeneration of the business park towers in Via Tucidide, located in the Ortica district of Milan, a project developed in collaboration with Urban Up | Unipol Group.

Under the expert guidance of Nicola Scaranaro of Foster + Partners, participants tackled one of the most pressing issues in contemporary urban development: how to transform existing buildings into sustainable, integrated, and innovative residential and social spaces.

Here are the projects that took shape during the workshop, each offering a unique vision for the redevelopment of Ortica.

Team 1 | The Ribbon

Nora Seferi | Alicja Grzegorczyk | Lilibeth Martinez | Ahlem Balghouthi

This team focused on enhancing the historical and artistic identity of Ortica, a neighborhood deeply connected to its industrial past yet increasingly recognized for its cultural vitality. Their project addressed the concept of urban memory, transforming the towers into a multifunctional hub combining residences, coworking spaces, and cultural and community areas.

Key Features of the Project

• Adaptive reuse of the towers: The existing structure was preserved and repurposed to house a mix of functions, including student and young professional residences, shared offices, and creative spaces.
• New public spaces: The ground floor of the towers was converted into an open plaza, featuring green areas and event spaces for temporary markets and social gatherings, enhancing its connection to the surrounding urban fabric.
• Sustainability and offsite materials: The use of prefabricated wood and steel modules reduced environmental impact, while green facades and rooftop gardens improved living comfort and urban biodiversity.

The primary goal was to prevent gentrification, offering an inclusive development model that retains existing residents while attracting new creative communities.

Team 2 | Ortica’s Third Life

Abdu Farahat | Beatriz Magrin | Bruna Bonavita | Gabriele Bianchi | Maria Pia Iesu

This team adopted a layered regeneration approach, blending the memory of the site with a new vision for the future. Their project focused on transforming the towers and the former Cubotti Ligresti canteen into a mixed-use system encompassing residential, cultural, and commercial functions, all while ensuring energy efficiency and sustainability.

Key Features of the Project

• Offsite prefabricated balconies: modular balconies anchored to the existing structure improved the quality of life for residents, offering private outdoor spaces and enhanced energy efficiency through natural shading.
• Repurposing the former canteen into a multifunctional hub: the structure was transformed into a cultural center, featuring coworking spaces, event halls, artisanal workshops, and a public library.
• Public space redevelopment: the plaza in front of the towers was redesigned as a green area, with pedestrian paths, social spaces, and recreational zones.

This project demonstrated how offsite technologies can be used not only for new construction but also to upgrade and enhance existing buildings, ensuring minimal environmental impact while improving urban quality of life.

Team 3 | COLORTICA

Anthony Atoui | Darya Zhukouskaya | Angelica Vargas | Deniz Kaya | Sara Aramburu

This team leveraged Ortica’s strong cultural identity to propose a project that blends art and architecture, transforming the area into a creative and residential hub. The goal was to extend the Ortica Memoria project to the Via Tucidide towers, turning them into artistic landmarks that engage with the city.

Key Features of the Project

• Dynamic facades inspired by street art: prefabricated panels decorated with works by local artists integrate seamlessly into the neighborhood’s artistic fabric, effectively turning the towers into an open-air museum.
• Accessible housing for creatives and young professionals: designed with a co-living approach, the apartments include communal areas to encourage collaboration among residents, with a flexible rental system for short-term stays.
• Spaces for artists and coworking: the ground and first floors were designated for workshops, galleries, and artist studios, creating a dynamic environment for cultural production and public engagement.

This project aims to transform Via Tucidide into a new urban center for art and creativity, merging residential and cultural functions into a cohesive and inspiring urban experience.

Team 4 | Via Tucidide and Ortica | Cultural and creative Transformation

Aleksandra Stefanovic | Isabel Nicole Limpo | Saliha Rafiq | Esma Onur

This team focused on flexibility and scalability in housing solutions, proposing a modular system of prefabricated extensions that could adapt to changing needs over time.

Key Features of the Project

• Sustainability and reduced environmental impact: offsite production of modular components minimizes material waste and reduces on-site disruptions, such as noise, dust, and congestion. Prefabricated shading modules were integrated into the facade, improving thermal comfort and energy efficiency.
• Smart architectural expansions: the addition of modular extensions introduced new volumes to the buildings, diversifying their facades and enhancing the spatial quality of the residential units. Panoramic terraces and new connections between buildings encourage social interaction and visual openness to surrounding green areas.
• Enhanced urban mobility: a dedicated electric bus line and an expanded network of pedestrian and cycling paths were designed to reduce car dependency and improve connectivity to the rest of the city.

This project envisions a flexible urban regeneration model, capable of evolving over time without the need for demolitions or invasive interventions.

Team 5 | Tucidide ReGen: un Masterplan per la Milano di Domani

Fiona Hajerdini | Hind Abdelaitif | Sogol Nopoosh

The fifth team developed a comprehensive urban regeneration masterplan, integrating the Via Tucidide towers into a broader system that includes residences, services, and public spaces, carefully analyzing the neighborhood’s historical evolution and target demographics.

Key Features of the Project

• Functional mixité: the buildings accommodate a blend of residences, offices, shops, and cultural spaces, fostering vibrancy and long-term economic sustainability.
• Sustainable demolition approach: materials recovered from renovations were repurposed for new architectural elements, reducing waste and promoting circular economy principles.
• New urban connections: the plan enhances pedestrian and cycling accessibility, creates new public spaces, and reintroduces collective functions to activate the area.

This project sets a benchmark for metropolitan periphery regeneration, demonstrating how urban strategies and offsite technologies can revitalize underutilized spaces into thriving, contemporary urban districts.

The value of the OTA Workshop

The OTA Workshop 2024 has once again proven how the synergy between academia, design, and industry can generate innovative ideas and tangible solutions for urban transformation. Thanks to Unipol’s collaboration and the expertise of Nicola Scaranaro, participants had the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges and develop scalable projects that could be implemented on an urban scale.
Offsite technologies continue to emerge as key tools for the future of urban architecture, proving that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand in shaping the cities of tomorrow.