13 | Stazione Centrale

COMMENTED CITY WALK CENTRAL STATION OF MILAN to Via Fabio Filzi

GROUP 13

CONTEMPORARY CITIES: DESCRIPTIONS AND PROJECTS 03 APRIL 2019

Azunre Gideon Abagna Guo Haixu Salehi Atefeh 1 Vischi Chiara

Politecnico di Milano School of Architecture M.Sc. Urban Planning + Policy Design

CONTENTS 1.1 INTRODUCTION

1.3 COMMENTED WALKS

Type of data collected

Academic and Group Impressions

Method of data collected

Interviewee experiences in space

1.2 DEFINITION OF CONDITIONS Map of the area Selected path, Interview samples and profiles Research questions

1.5 CONCLUSIONS Summary of experiences

1.4 SYNTHESIS Summary of feelings and perceptions of the space from interviews

1.1 INTRODUCTION The commented city walks are based on materials we gathered from our on-site observations, interviews with the users, films, photographs and recordings of such observations and interactions.

Our main focus is on the social-spatial mobility of Via Fabio filzi and the point of interests along that route. The approach is a qualitative analysis of people's interaction with their surroundings. The users were chosen to cover varied races, gender, age groups, occupation, the purpose of use etc. The objectives also accord to factors like date, time, weather, temperature and attribute of the location while these interviews were carried out.

The overall commentary comprises of people walking in different directions along the route either toward or away from these point of interests. This was intentionally carried out to cover different uses of the same street under different circumstances.

These personal comments, from their perspectives of the street, were then compared to the physical dimension to create a social profile of the street.

The descriptive language (some not explicit) in the interview indicates the feedback towards the setting of the context. Tones of hesitation, uncertainty and refusal to answer were taken to reveal personal dilemmas and preferences which are important but separated in the collective to accumulate both a common and a specific attribute for the street.

Finally, we categorised these attributes declared by different users to reconstruct the physical dimension, later to understand the social-spatial interaction that makes up our daily life.

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1.2 DEFINITION OF CONDITIONS 1.2.1 Map of the Area

PIA ZZ AD UC A

D’A

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PIR ISTA BATT ANNI

Attracting Flower Shop

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CENTRALE

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FAB IO F ILZI

Front of KPMG

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Restaurants

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Peru Embassy view to English School

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PO

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REPUBBLICA

The path taken or the commented walk was the area around the Milan Central Station to Repubblica to Fabio Flizi back to Centrale.

1.2.2 Selected Path, Interview samples and Profiles

1) Elisa

2)

Age: 52 years old Hair Stylist Tuesday 9:25am

Tuesday 9:25am

FAB IO F ILZ I

What bothers me most is the continuous noise of the horns at any time of day. When they start, they never stop. In addition, there are often construction works along the road, and the noises become deafening and unbearable if added to the trams, mopeds and cars.

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Riccardo Age: 49 years old Worker at BNP

“I arrive by train at the central station and pass through this road every day because it is the shortest. The atmosphere is chaotic, full of noises and people talking, but it doesn’t bother me. To get to my office I have to cross the street 4 times and the intersections are regulated by the traffic light. I like that there are trees because they create shade and in my opinion, they make the road more beautiful, but the pavement should be kept better: the roots have split the asphalt into many places and when it rains it is a disaster”.

3)

4)

Teresa, Aged: 66 years old Housekeeper Tuesday

13:10pm

Tuesday

FAB IO F ILZI

“I have been living here for over 60 years and I am fond of this area, I know the owners of some older shops and I spend a lot of time talking to them during the day.

Over the years it has changed a lot, but I continue to live well. It is quiet and full of services, but sometimes I am annoyed by the homeless or by young people who ask for alms. I happened to have given them some food, but many are really insistent and just ask for money. I don't feel in danger here, in this street, but in the evening I never go out”.

4

Kevin, Age: 24 years old trainee 13:10pm

“I don’t live here, but I reach school in less than 10 minutes by bike. I started this English school a few months ago and I attend it for 2 days a week. I feel really good and I am satisfied with the type of teaching. This area seems nice to me, but I don’t have a specific perception of the place. I admit, however, that it is dangerous to use a bicycle because there are many intersections and unfortunately the cycle path is fragmented and discontinuous, so you always have to be careful of cars and trucks, the tram tracks to people”.

6) 5)

Matteo Age: 37 years old Business man

Isabella, Aurora 20 years old ,19 years old student of the Bicocca and Aurora University, Università cattolica del sacro cuore

Wednesday

Wednesday

9:25am

FAB IO F ILZ

I

“I don’t like to walk along this road at lunchtime because there is a break, many workers walk slowly in groups, blocking the passage of people who, like me, are in a hurry. It would certainly serve a wider section of the pavement, perhaps taking away all these cars parked everywhere”.

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18:30pm

We live here only during the week because we do university in Milan and every weekend we return to our home. We chose this area because one of our friends was already living here and we came to live together. She recommended it to us. It was really the best choice because it is served by everything. We are at the centre of three underground lines (Centrale, Gioia and Repubblica), two railway stations (Central Station and Porta Garibaldi) and the passer-by (Repubblica and Porta Garibaldi) and the tram passes under the house so we can reach any area in a short time, especially the university. There are many bars where you can have breakfast and restaurants to eat, two grocery stores right in front of the house, the pharmacy and many other essential shops. For this reason, we always feel safe to go home at night because there are lights and people outside and inside the premises at all hours.

Furthermore, as there are many hotels, I know that in case of need I can count on the help of the guardians outside the main entrance. It is a road that we do every day, but we admit that for us it is just passing through.

7)

Dai Age: 30 years old Tour guide

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Clerk Age:about 35 years old business women

Saturday 23.03.2019 19:45pm “I am going to a restaurant to meet one of my friends tonight. The temperature is mild, I am in quite a good mood. The side walk is cosy, looks lovely, tidy. I especially like the side trees on the road, unlike other streets in Milan, these trees are taller, with slim shape and lively canopy. The gentle street lamp light goes through the leaves.

I walk on the right side of the street, but I start to get interest in a white church on the left side. It is near the street crossing, with a small yard, not a spectacular one like duomo, but it is unique on this road. I stop to take a photo but delete finally it because it does not look good on my phone. After that, I start to watch the shopwindow when walking to my destination, I usually do that.

I notice some people sitting behind the window playing with their mobile phones waiting for their dishes, some talking with their friends. Anyway I have traveled to this region before, but it is my first time to walk on the street, I do enjoy this experience”.

FAB IO F ILZI

Saturday 23.03.2019 19:30pm Today is sunny, even though it is a bit late, but the surrounding is not dark. I just end my journey from Switzerland and come back to central station. I am familiar with this area because I travel a lot. This place is crowded, as usual, packed with flood of people. Some people are rushing for their destinations, some only sitting on the benches or stairs waiting for the trains, friends or other sort of things. I feel tired after the whole day’s intense journey, so I walk directly and quickly to the main road (Via Vittor Pisani) near the station, my home is not far from the station, only a few minutes’ walk, it is my daily routine. I prefer to take the main raod, maybe because it is active in the day time, it is wide and the sound of vehicles make me feel safe, or just unconsciously reason drives me to choose it. Actually I do not have a particular reason to choose this road, other ways can lead me home, too. But I always choose the same road, I guess it is called habit or inertia. In my memory, I do not have too much impression about the vision of this street before, the side walk does not have a café or an attractive restaurant. But every time, the long corridor with pillars catch my attention.

Tonight there are no homeless people or beggars lying on the corridor, but they are common in Summer. I also remember the sharing bikes, there are so many sharing bikes on this road, maybe most in Milan. Most passengers on this road are just like me, indifferent to others and surroundings. I do not mean to criticize, it is normal, this road is not interesting at all.

8)

9)

Maria Age: 28 years old worker Wednesday

10) Martina

Age:about 65 years old worker

20:30 pm

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16:50 pm

We live in this area for many years, so it is the street we are familiar with. Near the city station it is convenient to go anywhere but sometimes noisy. Today the weather is pretty good with gentle breeze, we are back from the neighbor park from a stride. The street now has not too much people, but in the lunch break, it is really loud and active.

FAB IO F ILZ I

“I work in the other part of the city near the Bovisa but im live here which the one of the important reasons which I select this street because of the great transportation system to be honest some things are not very interesting in the area for example when I pass the in the night I can see the homeless sleep beside the street and it is not a very interesting image for me because I can see the cafĂŠ and restaurant here but beside them the homeless so its not great image.

In addition because of the central station you can see the strange people i n the night�.

Wednesday

11)

12)

Julia Age: 22 years old Student Wednesday 17:00pm

FAB IO F ILZ I

“I have lived here for 1 year and I like the neighborhood because i can go to the university immediately without wasting my time or having any problem for transporation during the day. In addition, there is a park near Garibaldi, where in the afternoon, I go there and play with my dog. These are some of the reasons that this street and nieghborhood is very interesting for me”.

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Gabriel Age:about 35 years old worker Friday

13:30pm

“I do not live here but my office is near the Vittor pisani street. I pass this street different times of the day and most of the time I eat lunch with my colleagues here.

In my opinion, it is a good street because you can find the resturants and bars any time of the day but at night after 8 o’clock, the number reduces which is weird for me because it is near the centrale station and people need these facilities most of the time”.

1.2.3 Research Questions The following research questions helped guide our commented walk and obtain information from the passers-by on the impressions of the walk.

1. What is your name?

2. What work do you do?

3. How many times do you use the path?

4. How do you feel here?

5. Why do you take this street?

6. What are your impressions about the elements of the path?

7. What emotions do you feel when walking here?

The following research questions helped guide our commented walk and obtain information on our external impressions and opinions of the walk.

1. What sounds are heard?

2. What feeling do we have of the path?

3. What is the ambience of the path?

4. What interactions occur during various times of the day?

5. What attracts us on the site?

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1.3 COMMENTED WALKS We are starting our walk from the front of the Central Station of Milan. The ambience is that of a typical city center with the weather being somewhat sunny. The typical sounds we are hearing is of moving buses, cars, trams and people talking. We are immediately drawn to a very large apple which behaves like a magnet constantly drawing us towards it. The usual happenings of skaters, couples talking, people selling and people sleeping along the pavements is being observed. These movements and interactions are quite normal at the front of the station which does not differ at any time of the week. There are several connecting pedastrian and vehicular streets to Via Fabio Filzi which are regulated by traffic lights. You immediately get the impression that people trying to cross are in a hurry either to get to work or need to be somewhere as soon as possible. We are seeing a different scenario where some other people are using the waiting area below the traffic light as a temporary meeting point. This from afar feels to us a nuisance but a close look is making us appreciate how spontaneous and complex movements and interactions are in the area.

We have finally crossed to Via Fabio Filzi. Two buildings immediately capture your attention: The Generali Building and the Regione Lombardia. We are seeing many cars parked on the side of the sidewalk, on the road, in a double row during all days of the week. However, the cars reduce during the weekend because the offices are usually closed. We are seeing some people park their cars for a few minutes, leaving the four-arrows and those who block the exit of the others for hours, triggering the delirium of a horn. An older woman who resides in neighbourhood is complaining to us about the noise from horns during the day. Also, she thinks there are often works along the road, and the noises become deafening and unbearable if added to the trams, mopeds and cars.

We feel that Via Fabio Filzi changes “face� continuously during the day and if it is observed during the weekend, especially on Sunday, it does not look the same. Walking early in the week, it starts very early, with the noise of the freight trucks that stop on the road to allow loading-unloading, accompanied by the metallic sound of the goods carts that are dragged along the unstable surface of the cracked asphalt or pebbles. The deafening noise of the broken glasses inside the garbage collecting trucks is reproduced all along the road, while the smells of the collected waste are dispersed after a few minutes in the air. We are walking around and it is 8.00am to 10.00am. The road is hectic: dozens of children are accompanied by their parents or grandparents, those on foot and those on bicycles; hundreds of workers, dressed in elegant and mostly dark colours, walk at a brisk pace in the direction of their office holding small suitcases or bags, looking absently at the street or more carefully at their smartphone; the roadway fills up with cars, taxis and mopeds whizzing fast, stopping at the red light at the intersection, and then starting up again. A worker at BNP is telling us that he uses the path because it is the shortest route to his office. He generally feels safe taking the path but has minor complaints about how the street is chaotic, full of noises and people talking.

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He and a woman clerk are telling us that they like the trees because they create shade and they make the road more beautiful, but the pavement should be kept better: the roots have split the asphalt into many places and when it rains it is a disaster.

We are now walking during working hours (10:00am- 13:00pm) and we are seeing very little activity in most of the restaurants. Others are closed and possibly work at night. We think that the inactivity is because they just opened and most of their customers who are workers were at work at that moment. The most active restaurants, however, are the Cafeterias which are pretty busy with people having their breakfast. Again, we are observing a few people with trolley bags being dragged. Possibly coming back from travelling and going home or going to a hotel since there are many high-class one’s around. The other peculiar thing we are observing is that the paths in between the blocks are very inactive and we are gliding through at some point of the walk alone.

We are now walking on another side of the path. What is peculiar to us is the many Peruvian people queuing outside the Peruvian embassy, silently awaiting it’s opening creating a sort of small station.

The noises create a pleasant atmosphere, among which the children's voices, the tram rails and coffee spoons that strike the cup or saucer stand out. In the following hours during the day, we see the flow gradually decreasing, leaving a tranquil atmosphere. It is now lunchtime, the smell of food starts to breathe in the street and in an hour the situation changes as all those workers who a few hours before went to work hastily, are now walking relaxed in a group chatting among themselves and laughing, entering in the numerous refreshment points or eating a sandwich or focaccia. A middle-aged worker is telling us about how unpleasant it is walking along the road at lunchtime because many workers walk slowly in groups blocking the passage of people who are in a hurry. He thinks it would certainly serve a wider section of the pavement, perhaps taking away all these cars parked everywhere.

The Afternoon has settled in. We are now walking in between the blocks. The road never empties with people waiting for the tram to the bus shelter, others entering and leaving the hairdressers, bars and shops, others still walking straight without lingering. We are hearing changes in the sound of the city because the children have returned home. A resident who has lived in the area for over 60 years feels connected to the area andis telling us how she spends a lot of time talking to shop owners during the day. She is however angered by the homeless and young people for beg along the street. These types of individuals were seen directly in front of banks, shops and restaurants.

The area seemed to be temporary for some while others looked like permanent dwellers of the space. Some of the homeless are very insistent in making requests for money or food which angers some passers-by. Residents in general feel safe during the day but opt to stay indoors during the nights because of fear of the homeless. Towards the late afternoon, we are seeing many workers head to the central station with people relaxed and observing the activities along the street.

One attracting element we are seeing is a flower shop where people stopped and appreciated the beautiful flowers on display. Again, the English school on the corner of the area is beginning to fill up. A young trainee learning English at the school uses a bike to get access to the school.

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In general, he feels attracted to the area but is indifferent about the specific happenings in the area. He is telling us that it is dangerous to use a bicycle because there are many intersections and unfortunately the cycle path is fragmented and discontinuous, so people always have to be careful of cars, moving trucks and the trams.

It is now 7.30pm and we are seeing that many shops are closed, but the road is far from turned off. Streetlights illuminate the street, while restaurants and open hotels guarantee a positive perception of safety. Two young residents who are students live in the neighbourhood and are telling us that they like the area because of its proximity to Bicocca and Aurora University and their homes. They can therefore move to school easily during the weekdays and go home during the weekends. The area is at the centre of three underground lines (Centrale, Gioia and Repubblica), two railway stations (Central Station and Porta Garibaldi) and the passer-by (Repubblica and Porta Garibaldi) and the tram passes under their house so they can reach any area in a short time, especially the university. There are many bars where they can have breakfast and restaurants to eat, two grocery stores right in front of the house, the pharmacy and many other essential shops.

For this reason, they always feel safe to go home at night because there are lights and people outside and inside the premises at all hours. Because there are many hotels in the area, in case of need people can count on the help of the guardians outside the main entrance. The path is a road they pass through every day, but it is just a space to walk through not stop and interact often.

Another commuter who is a tour guide and stays close to the area is also informing us that he uses the path frequently and mostly at night. He is familiar with this area because he travels a lot and is mostly tired when using the path. As such, he walks directly and quickly through the main road of Via Vittor Pisani. He prefers to take the main road, because it is active in the day time, it is wide and the sound of vehicles makes him feel safe, or just unconsciously this reason drives him to choose it making it a form of inertia. He does not have too much impression about the vision of this street because he feels the side walk does not have a cafĂŠ or an attractive restaurant. The main attracting element in the street to him is the long corridor with pillars. The feeling of safety and enjoyment was expressed by a first timer commuter while we walked on the street at night.

It is now Midnight. The area seems peaceful compared to the day. The most piercing sound is that of trams that work throughout the night. Those affected massively by the sound are the buildings adjacent the roads. What we like about this area is the faces of day time and mid night are not so different. We think this is because the area is at the center and close to the station, so activities continue but are not as intense as the daytime. We feel the spontaneity, complexities, relationships, impulsiveness and swagger in the air as we walk through the area.

We are very exhausted and we are saying goodbye to each other. We are now right in front of the Milan Central Station and we have taken separate directions to go home. The walk is over.

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1.3.1 Landmarks and Keywords

KEYWORDS:

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1.4 SYNTHESIS After having compiled the feelings and perceptions of the various individuals during their walks, we mapped out the major elements. We also showed the intensity of the feelings and perception using a likert scale of degree of intensity. These provide a pictorial image of how the varied users perceive and feel while passing through the space.

PIA

ZZ A

Dangerous for cyclists

Safe street durring the night (Good lighting)

D’A

OS TA

Less busy street all day LLI

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GIOVAN

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GIOVAN

CENTRALE

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Presence of homeless CA

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Busy street during lunch time

LO CA TE L

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1.5 CONCLUSIONS The commented walk experience was fulfilling and provided us with a different dimension of space.

We documented the experiences and impressions felt by passers-by and triangulated that with our own experience. This made us appreciate the diversities and spontaneity with interactions in space. The walk also made us appreciate space as not a stagnant and fixed object but as an element that one passes through and feels while moving through a fixed object. As Thibaud indicated in his piece on Commented City Walk that these impressions and helps one understand the sensory construction of space.

Our walked showed several impressions such as safety, danger, noise, beauty and attracting elements. All these different feelings and impressions were tied to the different days and times of the week. This only goes to show how occupation and utilization of space is different from different perspectives. We therefore conclude with the following interconnected impressions from the various interviews: • • • •

The path is much safer during the day than night The path is somewhat dangerous for bikers The path is much more active in the morning before work and during lunch time Elements of the path and area attract attention such as the Big Apple in front of Centrale, the Generali Building, the Peruvian Embassy, KPMG, a flower shop and restaurants.

• The path changes FACE during the week.

Recommendations • Increase the size of the pavement to ensure safe and faster mobility • Put signage or crossing signals for cyclists • Reduce on street parking • Fine people who park haphazardly • Improve lighting along some parts of the street during the night • Restrict the homeless from the area because it scares and mars the beauty of the street

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