Milan, Italy - Emily Hassler


Milan is a city in northern Italy set between the Ticinno River and the Adda River. To the north of the city is the Alps mountain range. Milan is known for its production of automobiles, fashion, and design. The city is divided into 9 different zones that each have a number neighborhoods within.

Milan is located amongst the plains of norther Italy, however surrounded by mountains. The cityscape consists of many skyscrapers such as the Pirelli Tower as well as historic landmarks such as the Duomo. The standard streetscapes appear to be populated with mid-rise mixed-use buildings.. The city is known for its high-end designers and its association with the auto industry, contributing to it being the richest city in Italy. Additonally, Milan is settled along many important transit routes amongst Italy and Europe, making it the economic capital of the country.

Milan saw a significant population increase post World War II and then again in the decade following 1950. The surge of migrants were primarily coming from southern Italy, looking for better working conditions that Milan was able to offer.This population growth allowed for economic growth within the city as well as overall expansion as poeple began setting in areas surrounding the city center. Milan is located near a series of canals, making it a prime location ofr settlement. Previously the neighborhoods surrounding these waterways were for poor, working lcass families. However, these areas have been revitalized with local businesses and are now booming.

Milan’s green spaces, or lack thereof, have caused many people to move out of the coty and towards the countryside. Recently, more attention has been put into analyzing the need for green space and public space to embrace social interaction.

 The 7 Zones of Milan

Population:

Urban: 1,362,000 people

Metro: 4,336,121 people


Area:

Urban: 182 square km

Metro: 1,575 square km


Population Density:

Urban Average: 7,483.52 people/km2

Metro Average: 2,753.09 people/km2


Views of Milan
Top Left: Sempione Park   
Top Right: Bosco Verticale High-Rise Housing
Bottom Left: Naviglio Grande Canal
Bottom Right:  Street Via Danter in the city center

Politics:

Milan, Italy holds elections for city mayor every 5 years. Every resident above the age of 18 and is also an EU citizen is eligible to vote in these elections. Milan has an elected city council that contains representatives from various political parties in which votes are represented proportionally. The City Council and Mayor are responsible for the city’s education, transportation, and general activities. Milan is the wealthiest city in Italy and also referred to as the “moral capital” and the economic capital.


Density, Typology, & Urban Void Studies

Neighborhood Studies


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Sources:
https://milanostyle.com/im-moving-to-milan-where-should-i-live/ ; https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/milano-skyline
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_1_of_Milan ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_2_of_Milan ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_3_of_Milan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_4_of_Milan ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_5_of_Milan ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_6_of_Milan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_7_of_Milan ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_8_of_Milan ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_9_of_Milan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milan_metropolitan_area ; https://www.britannica.com/place/Milan-Italy/Landscape ; http://www.therococoroamer.com/2014/08/milan-italy.html ; https://peakvisor.com/adm/milan-lombardy.html ; https://www.archdaily.com/941723/systematica-releases-first-assessment-on-milan-public-realm-green-areas-and-gathering-places ; https://twistedsifter.com/2016/06/vertical-forest-residential-towers-in-milan-by-boeri-studio/ ; https://www.dreamstime.com/people-street-via-dante-milan-evening-milan-italy-february-people-street-via-dante-view-castello-sforzesco-image142208019 ; https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/25/realestate/real-estate-in-milan-italy.html ; https://www.seemilan.com/geography#:~:text=Milan%20is%20situated%20in%20the,topography%20and%20the%20summer%20heat. ; https://photos.com/featured/an-aerial-view-of-milan-in-italy-andeva.html
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-92813-5_12#:~:text=In%20the%201930s%2C%20the%20economic,class%20and%20the%20working%20class. https://milantips.com/parco_sempione.html
https://www.comune.milano.it/en/aree-tematiche/verde/verde-pubblico/parchi-cittadini/parco-guido-vergani-e-giardino-valentino-bompiani-ex-parco-pallavicino
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giardino_Oreste_del_Buono


Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning 2025 — Ann Arbor, US