FLEXIBILITY AND POLYVALENCE — UNDERGROUNDA New Layer in Urban Architecture

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This article was written by UNI Editorial and published on uni.xyz, a platform for design professionals and creative thinkers.

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This article covers topics related to Urban Space, Urban Layers, Urban Morphology, Urban Forest, Flexible Spaces, Urban Infrastructure, Urban Void, Open Space, Underground, Public Building, Educational Building, Urban Landscape, Urban Dimension. A transformative blend of public park and underground space redefining flexibility in urban architecture.

A transformative blend of public park and underground space redefining flexibility in urban architecture.

5 min read·54 reads

UNI Editorial published Results under Urban Space, Urban Layers on Mar 31, 2025

In an era of densifying cities and evolving public needs, underground architecture emerges as a groundbreaking solution to reclaim and optimize urban space without compromising the utility and beauty of the surface level. Flexibility and Polyvalence — Underground delves into the potential of subterranean environments by crafting a hybrid natural-architectural grotto beneath a vibrant public park, where architectural innovation and ecological awareness merge into a single spatial narrative.

The winning entry of Co-design Milan 2020, designed by Sanad Wir, challenges conventional spatial hierarchies by preserving the surface as a lush community park while introducing a subterranean realm that adapts fluidly to the activities and desires of its users. This dual-level intervention integrates landscape design, environmental systems, and social function in a cohesive architectural statement.

Aerial view of the CityLife site with the proposed intervention zone outlined — integrating architecture below ground.

Sunlight pierces through the trees above, revealing glimpses of the workshop spaces below the park surface.

At the heart of the project is a continuous flow between interior and exterior, where natural elements such as trees and vegetation blend with minimalist architectural forms to create an open, wall-less environment. The absence of physical barriers allows for uninterrupted movement and intuitive exploration. This fluidity enables visitors to reinterpret and reshape the space as they wish—whether it be transforming it into private, intimate workshops or expansive public zones for gathering and collaboration.

The design seamlessly connects with the CityLife masterplan, preserving green space while expanding underground use.

A cross-sectional perspective reveals the interplay between the built and natural environment across two levels.

All furnishings are mobile and customizable, allowing full user autonomy and flexibility. The man-made forest-cave hybrid provides a unique spatial experience that is simultaneously calming and inspiring, fostering imagination, social engagement, and experimental practice. This type of environment invites users to participate in the ongoing redefinition of how space is used and shared.

Above, the park canopy not only acts as a green civic space but also performs critical environmental functions. It operates as a water collection and filtration system, capturing rainwater and funneling it into subterranean storage for sustainable reuse. The structural system is designed to enhance natural ventilation and daylight penetration, reinforcing a seamless and energy-efficient relationship between the two levels.