Lea Garofalo Community Garden

The Lea Garofalo Community Garden is located at a busy area of Milan, in Viale Montello, 3. To the community, the garden is perceived as an oasis of peace at the heart of the city.

The garden was born from the will of a group of citizens, who is now called the Giardini in Transito association, with the goal of redeveloping this municipal area that is abandoned to decay, and returning them to the city as a space for meeting, culture, leisure, new sociality and new integration. Lea Garofalo Garden is initiated as a contribution to Lea Garofalo’s passing and her story on the violence towards women and girls. It is a shame to see that the garden is now perceived as unsafe for many people and its own community.

This project and proposed the design of product that is focused on the problem of safety and the feeling of abandonment atmosphere that the garden is currently experienced, due to the tall old bricked fence that is placed around the garden. The old fence in question is tasked by the Municipality to be reserved, as it is a part of Milan’s historical history. While it keeps the place safe at night, it could also act as a physical barrier and reduces the visibility making the garden looks unwelcome and abandoned, the visitors feel trapped and reduce utilise space of the garden.

Professor:

Hyperderen, Davide Sala