Page 62 - Designing Ways 243

ALL ABOUT
ART

Quadra - “Piazze Aperte” Municipality of

Milan - Via Val Lagarina

erena Confalonieri presents a grid that recalls the sheets of squared
“Quadra” as part of the initiative, notebooks, hence the title of the work.
Spromoted by the Municipality This grid was then decorated using
of Milan, “Piazze Aperte”: a graphic primary colours and simple geometric
art project for the enhancement and shapes as a starting point: these are the signs
characterisation of tactical urbanism and tones that children learn and draw in
interventions in specific city areas. the pages of their school notebooks.
Quadra is part of the redevelopment The layout of Quadra was personally
activities of a former parking lot in Via painted by students and volunteers at the
Val Lagarina, in Quarto Oggiaro district, launch of the initiative on May 8th, 2021.
in collaboration with the volunteers of the “It was very stimulating to have the
Milanese association WAU! and with the opportunity to work on a project on such
students of I.C.S. “Via Val Lagarina”, the a large scale, which fits into a strongly
school adjacent the lot. characterised urban and social fabric.
The aim of this initiative is to create We designed this graphic intervention
a recreational space open to everyone, considering all of the functional and
that could enhance the existing areas aesthetic needs, but also, and above all,
and encourage the neighbours to a new the needs and the external stimuli that to involve them directly and give them
fruition. children require in order to play and a sense of direct belonging to this new
The project conceived by Serena interact. With Quadra we wanted to work colourful urban space. “
Confalonieri is inspired by a both side by side with the students and their - Serena Confalonieri
educational and playful concept: a graphic parents, not only during the design phase, According to the students and the
subdivision of the 600sqm lot through but also during the realisation, in order parents association’s requests, the designer

62 Issue 243 • dw