Soil, Water, and Community: Rethinking Landscapes in the Lambro Basin
The iCOSHELLs Living Lab explored the intersections of nature, culture, and co-creation
On May 9th at the occasion of the Milan Civil Week, the Italian Living Lab of iCOSHELLs brought people together at Off Campus Cascina Nosedo – Politecnico di Milano for a hands-on workshop exploring the deep connections between soil, water, and community resilience.
Set in the culturally rich landscape around the Lambro River, the event focused on co-creating ideas to better understand and valorise the role of local environments—not just as natural resources, but as shared heritage. While water was a powerful starting point, the dialogue extended to the health of soils, land use, and the circular practices that can regenerate both ecosystems and community relationships.
Giovanni Porta (Politecnico di Milano – DICA) presented ongoing work within iCOSHELLs that links scientific research with local engagement, using the Lambro territory of Campus Cascina Nosedo as a living testbed for innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to environmental sustainability.
Moderated by Ornella Bonomi (Osservatorio per il Paesaggio Fiume Lambro Lucente APS), the event brought together artistic reflection, historical perspective, and community action. Participants took part in a collaborative workshop designed to reflect about new visions for urban soil and water regeneration.
As one of the first public activations of the Italian Living Lab, this event helped lay the groundwork for future initiatives that bridge science, design, and civic participation—all key pillars of the iCOSHELLs project.
