Politecnico di Milano and in particular dep.INDACO (department of Industrial Design and Multimedia Communication) will collaborate on this project through DIS (Design and Innovation for Sustainability). DIS is a research unit led by Prof. Ezio Manzini.  In addition to didactic activities, DIS is actively involved in basic and applied research concerning sustainable living and housing. DIS has been working closely and regularly with several organisations, including cohousing.it, providing them with strategic design, scenario building, and management of innovation. Other research activities include collecting, organising and visualising best practices on an online platform (www.sustainable-everyday.net), in exhibitions and in publications, thereby triggering social conversation and stimulating pollination.

sustainable product service-system innovation, from both the environmental and the social perspectives.

Didactic activities, basic and applied research in different fields:

·           strategic design,

·           scenario building,

·           life cycle design,

·           service design,

·           productservice-system design,

·           mobility and transportation management and innovation,

·           natural resources management,

·           urban planning.

General situation:

It is very difficult to create bottom-up housing initiatives in Milan. The real estate market Is rigid and closed. But there are some associations and private initiatives, which allow groups of people to create their own solution, keeping in mind the desire of socializing and caring about the environment. 

For example, one well-known solution in Milan are construction co-ops. There are many about 280 in milan. For example CCL, a consortium bringing together more than 50 housing cooperatives with approximately 5,000 members, is responsible to one of the first eco-houses in Milan in Via Candiani, an accessible house in Rogoredo and low-rent buildings in several locations.

Social housing program is carried out by Fondazione Cariplo and social housing fondation. The program aim is to create a set of dwellings (rent) and services, actions and instruments addressed to those who are unable to meet their housing needs on the open market for economic reasons or due to a lack of appropriate options on the supply side. Given the lack of public funding, in order to achieve a sustainable social and economic equilibrium, the Social Housing Program focuses on the segment of the population who are disadvantaged in that they cannot afford to pay rent at market rates, but who have not reached the point where they are eligible for Public Housing (ERP) allowances.

Some people decide to abandoned their private apartments spaces and income and find their place in Comunità in famiglia. These are strong communities united by their religion and believe who share their lives. For example Comunità villapizzone is living together since 1978 . one great thing about it is that they also open their services to the larger community, their neighbourhood. For example a place for children to play or for scouts groups to meet.

Just a few years ago co-housing.it came about and together with INDACO department made the first co-housing project in Milan happen. The young people who planned their new living place chose to have private apartments with a common swimming pool where they can meet and socialize.  There are many other projects in planning phase, including an eco-house with a big green-house connected to it, co-housing in rent and co-housing for older people.

Strategy: