CICLOFFICINA . Milano

A lantern-like cycle workshop in Milan

San Cristoforo Ciclofficina stands as a beacon of adaptive reuse and community engagement, nestled within the urban fabric of Milan. Designed by the innovative minds of Tommaso Aliverti, Paolo Catrambone, and Tommaso Sossi, this temporary cycle workshop reimagines a disused railway site into a lively civic space.

The project is characterized by its lightweight steel structure and polycarbonate envelope, creating a luminous, lantern-like presence that transforms at night. The building rests delicately on a compacted soil embankment, eschewing permanent foundations and underscoring its temporary nature. This approach not only preserves the ground but also highlights the project's commitment to sustainability and circularity.

Inside, the space is a testament to material reuse, with aluminum sheets, plywood panels, and other reclaimed elements forming the interior finishes. The workshop is designed to be flexible, serving as a repair shop, meeting venue, and community hub, fostering new forms of collective life in Milan.

Design Highlights

• Lightweight steel structure with a polycarbonate envelope

• Reversible construction on a compacted soil embankment

• Modular steel frames allowing for future extensions

• Ventilated sheet metal roof with generous overhangs

• Use of reclaimed materials for interior finishes

Key Facts