Where urban value is created: Leonardo Cavalli for l’Economia, Corriere della Sera

What does urban regeneration mean today, and what role should it play in shaping the future of our cities?

These are some of the themes explored by Oneworks Partner Leonardo Cavalli in a recent interview with Elena Papa for l’Economia, Corriere della Sera, where he reflects on the relationship between architecture, public space, and long-term urban value.

Drawing on projects currently under development in Milan, Trieste, and Rimini, the conversation examines how regeneration can move beyond the simple transformation of buildings to become a tool for strengthening connections between people, places, and communities.

Among the projects discussed is Piazzale Lugano in Milan, developed for EGI – Europa Gestioni Immobiliari S.p.A., where a complex urban gateway is being redefined through new public spaces and improved connectivity.

In Trieste, the Porto Vecchio waterfront project for Costim RE explores the relationship between heritage, landscape, and future development along the city’s historic seafront.

In Rimini, Rimini Life, developed for Ariminum Sviluppo Immobiliare (ASI), transforms a formerly abandoned area into an integrated district where landscape, sustainability, and community become key drivers of regeneration.

Throughout the interview, Cavalli highlights the importance of designing places that respond to local contexts and everyday life, arguing that the success of a project should not be measured solely by what is built, but by the quality of the spaces it creates around it.  As he notes; “The value of a building depends on the quality of the space surrounding it. The square, the park, the street are what truly hold the city together.” 

Read the full interview.