POP HOUSE
The project is located in the urban context of the Molise district, Milan. The block was de- signed in its entirety by the architects Maurizio and Cesare Mazzocchi, winners of a 1932 competition to build low-cost housing for 2,250 inhabitants. The architectural references are the Karl-Marx-Hof in Vienna and the Großsiedlung Siemenstadt in Berlin, two iconic exam- ples of central European rationalist popular architecture.
Over the years, the building has been partially abandoned and often undervalued, despite its architectural quality and great residential potential. The project is conceived as a pilot inter- vention to inspire, where possible, other housing regeneration projects, with the aim of en- couraging reflection on how living spaces can be regenerated while respecting their essence. It highlights the historical and architectural value of the original buildings and aims to renovate housing at an affordable cost without compromising quality, while giving new life to spaces that might otherwise be forgotten.
The renovation of a one-bedroom apartment of 56 square meters, perfectly orientated ac- cording to the competition guidelines (east-west), is not just a simple restoration, but an act of enhancement that restores the authenticity and functionality of the spaces. The generous inter- nal heights of 3.30 meters have been exploited, and the original flooring, terrazzo tiles from the 1940s, has been preserved – today a sought-after material in Milanese refurbishments. All of this has been achieved with a truly low-budget approach, demonstrating that it’s possi- ble to combine quality with cost-efficiency.
The project is a dialogue between the past and the future, where the choice of a contempo- rary and post-modern architectural language interacts with popular tradition. The result is a mixture of elements that combine color, form and functionality. The opening up of the spaces and the attention to detail give the house a unique character that respects the history that has shaped it.
