Milan: The Configuration of a Metropolis

The configurational approach to the study of urban settlements has been largely debated in the last years, gaining a wide audience and a full recognition as a useful and reliable tool for the analysis and the comprehension of the inner geography of cities. Milan, whose diachronic genesis was never before analysed by means of a configurational approach, appears a peculiar and outstanding case study, as its com- plex structure, actually difficult to read, has undergone significant changes over time; a broad and varied sequence of projects, developments and planning choices have materialized and interiorized within the whole grid of the settlement, from its inner nucleus up to the external edges. Yet, the purpose of this research goes even beyond the mere understanding of the diachronic genesis of the inner geography of Milan, anything but easy, due to the dimension of the settlement and to its internal complex- ity. The configurational analysis is here also shown as an excellent planning tool, suitable for supporting the decision-making process of urban actions and projects, with a particular reference to those involved with to the theme of accessibility, so as to usefully orient the present and future planning of public spaces. The results show that the space syntax approach actually enhances the transparency of strategic decisions concerning the design and planning of urban spaces, making to emerge and highlighting their likely effects on a wide range of aspects and phenomena.