In a bold move, the Porta Nuova or ‘New Gate’ development aimed to bridge across rail lines and main roads adjacent to the city’s primary train station. Pivotal to the development is the striking Piazza Gae Aulenti that lies at the centre of it, creating a vibrant destination for new and old communities to meet. AECOM was asked to create a design that embodied flexibility, sustainability and people-oriented design. As Milan is a fashion capital, the design needed to be adventurous and contemporary in style. This was further highlighted by being named in commemoration of one of Italy’s renowned architects, Gae Aulenti. One of the key challenges the piazza answers is creating a welcoming human scale within a large space surrounded by high-rise towers while simultaneously being founded on the Italian tradition for open piazzas with few vertical elements, to form an authentic public space in the best tradition of Milanese culture. AECOM was asked to respond to a very ambitious brief where smart solutions such as integrated car park ventilation, solar powered light features and interactive water features had to be married with a vibrant, flexible and beautiful public space. AECOM landscape architects rose to the challenge and crafted a sculpted space that is efficient and inspired by the city, its culture, and people.