The Gardens of Science and “Oxy.gen”

The area before the intervention was a large unpaved grass with few trees among those two old mulberry. Historically this area, like most of northern Italy, was specialized in the mulberry culture necessary to feed the silkworm. In the project it was important to bear witness to this vocation of the area so it was planned to insert new mulberries and to valorise the two mulberry trees remained.

The aim of the intervention was to improuve the quality and characterize this area of the Park strongly interconnected in the village of Bresso. The area owned by Zambon Group, one of the leading pharmaceutical multinationals, was donated to the municipality of Bresso and then managed to the Parco Nord. The needs were to requalified the area with a specific garden. The “Science Gardens” declins the theme of all sciences and, specifically, of Oxygen both from human point of view (breath, respir

The valorization of this particular place has been found by a coordinated design of the public and the private skills.: the Parco Nord experience in the design and management of green spaces and the experience of Zambon Group in the specific scientific field of breathing. Oxy.gen is a futuristic pavillon, a science-related site with a breathing course, and hosts cultural and educational activities related to the human body and the environment.

We signed a general agreement with Lombardy Region, Zambon Group, Municipaly of Bresso and Parco Nord in which all of subscribers engaged to finance the project. Specifically Zambon Group engaged to build Oxy.Gen Pavillon and Parco Nord to build the Science Gardens with Lombardy Region financing. We coordinated two projects in all construction site stages. Afterward the Rotary Club of Milan decide to give all the green equipments to celebrate its centennial anniversary.

The partners with whom I collaborated with the Park were: Zambon SPA, Rotary International Milan and Regione Lombardia.

The Science Gardens project has been completed, the Park now has an area with equipment for fruition and a pavilion with scientific and technological connotation to be targeted to the public. The green works are perfect, sprouted trees, shrubs and refinements. The wetland natural lake makes the area enjoyable and appreciated even naturalistically. The cycling system and accesses is fixed in continuity with the others around the area and those of Parco Nord Milano.

The main difficulty encountered was the coordination of the two working teams, one public and one private. Two tenders and two different companies were made; The work had to proceed according to a complete chronoprogram with hard times and predetermined, despite the unavoidable unforeseen and delays the works were concluded within the established times.

This experience has enabled us to confront the business world. In particular, the co-ordination of a center of scientific culture such as Oxy.gen has linked the world of environmental education to that of scientific research, enabling the spread of complex concepts and the transmission of lifestyles in harmony with the environment.