How many times has a city had the opportunity to reinvent itself thanks to an event? Milan 2026 (yes, there's also Cortina, no offense to the Ampezzo residents) is not only an Olympic event, but an unprecedented urban metamorphosis. While the Lombard capital prepares to welcome the Winter Olympics, an impressive array of starchitects is redesigning entire neighborhoods with works destined to change the face of the city forever.
Da Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) a Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), David Chipperfield a Kengo Kuma, the biggest names in world architecture are working to transform Milan into a laboratory for urban experimentation, where sustainability, innovation and redevelopment merge in projects that look well beyond 2026. It is not just a question of prestige or temporary infrastructure: it is a long-term vision that uses the Olympic event as a catalyst for structural, almost genetic change.
Olympic Village: the rebirth of the Porta Romana dockyard
Il Olympic Village signed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM) is obviously one of the most emblematic projects of the transformation of Milan. Winner of an international competition in July 2021, this intervention is not limited to creating temporary accommodation for athletes, but completely redefines the area of the historic Scalo di Porta Romana.
SOM’s approach is centered on sustainability and the creation of an urban community that will survive well beyond the Games. The project includes public green spaces, two renovated historic structures, and six new residential buildings that will house athletes during the Milan 2026 Olympics. But the real magic will come afterward: the Olympic housing will be transformed into student residences, the park and buildings along the railway will become (hopefully) affordable housing, and the Olympic Village Square will be transformed into a neighborhood plaza with social functions such as shops and cafes.
The completion of Olympic Village is expected for July 2025, offering the city a virtuous example of how a major sporting event can catalyze permanent urban regeneration.
Arena Santa Giulia: Chipperfield's Modern Amphitheatre
In the Santa Giulia district, in the south-east of the city, theArena Santa Giulia, designed by the studio of David Chipperfield in collaboration with Arup. This stadium, which will become one of the main theatres of the Winter Olympic competitions, is inspired by classical amphitheaters but reinterprets them in a contemporary key.
With a capacity of 16.000 spectators, The arena features a distinctive elliptical shape articulated by three “floating rings” separated by glass bands. During the day, these rings will glow with gleaming aluminum tubes, while at night the building will be illuminated by LED strips, creating a silhouette visible from afar.
Destined to become the beating heart of the new Santa Giulia district, the arena will be completed by 2025 and will represent an important cultural and sporting legacy of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.
Citywave: the green wave by Bjarke Ingels
In the CityLife district, already characterised by the towers of Zaha Hadid Architects, Daniel Libeskind e Arata Isozaki, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is making City Wave, a sinuous building that will house new office spaces. The project stands out for its monumental roof, which will likely be the largest integrated urban solar plant in Europe, capable of producing around 1.200 megawatt-hours of energy per year.
This structure perfectly represents the vision of Milan 2026: not only creating infrastructures for a sporting event, but rethinking the city in terms of sustainability and quality of life. City Wave aims to represent the workplace of the future, combining innovative design and top-level environmental performance.
Welcome: Kengo Kuma's "Biophilic" Vision
In the Rizzoli district, a former abandoned industrial area, Kengo Kuma & Associates is accomplishing Welcome, a mixed-use project that aims to revitalize the entire area by bringing people and nature together for a better quality of life and work. Centered around a new public plaza, the complex will include offices, co-working spaces, meeting rooms, auditoriums, restaurants, lounges, shops, a supermarket, a wellness area and spaces for temporary exhibitions.
Kuma’s “biophilic” approach, which harmoniously integrates natural elements into architecture, represents one of the most significant trends in the transformation of Milan in view of the 2026 Olympics: creating healthier, more sustainable urban environments in tune with human needs.
Lighthouse Tower: the Citterio and Viel lighthouse
The Symbiosis commercial district will be home to the Lighthouse tower (Lighthouse Tower), designed by ACPV ARCHITECTS Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel. 144 meters high, this tower will house the new Milan headquarters of the Italian company A2A and will revitalize the local urban fabric with 6.320 square meters of new public green spaces.
The tower, which will accommodate 1.500 people, is designed to adapt to the changing needs of contemporary work, with flexible and open spaces, complemented by a green courtyard. Vertically, the building is divided into two groups of office floors, framed by the large entrance hall on the first floor, the panoramic garden in the center and a belvedere at the top.
Pirelli 39: the dialogue between Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Boeri
In the Porta Nuova Gioia district, the team formed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) e Stefano Boeri Architects (SBA) is regenerating the “Pirelli 39” site. This mixed-use project involves the renovation of the existing “Pirellino” office tower and the construction of a new residential skyscraper which will integrate 1.700 square meters of vegetation.
A bridge connecting the two structures will serve as a hub for events and exhibitions, while also housing a biodiverse greenhouse that will offer immersive educational experiences. The tower is expected to will absorb fourteen tons of CO2 and produce nine tons of oxygen per year, comparable to a 10.000 square meter forest. Thanks to 2.770 square meters of photovoltaic panels, the tower will be able to produce 65% of its energy needs.
Padel Pavilion: the sporty touch of November
In the CityLife district park, Fabio Novembre designed the new Padel Pavilion, an innovative sports center that visually aligns with the existing architecture, particularly with the project's gentle curves City Wave by BIG. The structure, characterized by a 17-meter curved protrusion, invites visitors to the park towards the entrance.
Twelve meters high and with a surface area of 2.800 square meters, the pavilion will host seven padel courts, a refreshment area and an elevated multifunctional space that will offer a privileged view of the sports activities. This project demonstrates how the transformation of Milan in view of the Olympics 2026 does not only concern large infrastructures, but also extends to smaller-scale interventions that enrich the urban fabric and the quality of daily life.
Milan 2026, wonder after wonder
The redevelopment of Milan for the 2026 Olympics is an extraordinary example of how a major sporting event can act as a catalyst for long-term urban transformation. The seven architectural projects described are not simply temporary structures, but strategic interventions that redefine the urban fabric of the city, improving its sustainability, livability and international attractiveness.
This architectural metamorphosis marks a turning point in the urban history of Milan, definitively projecting it into the ranks of the most innovative and cutting-edge global metropolises. The legacy of Milan 2026 will be visible not only in sporting memories, but in the concrete forms of a profoundly renewed city.
