The City as an Invention for the Future

<p>At the turn of the century, more precisely in 2005, the World Congress of Architects was held in Istanbul under the theme A Celebration of Cities. A vast number of ideas from around the world, translated into drawings and texts, testifying to the optimistic spirit of architects and urban planners. The presence of Zaha Hadid, renowned for her avant-garde concepts and realizations, contributed to the affirmation of the Congress's idea, which was focused on the urban society of the 21st century. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that event. It is quite difficult to assess where we stand today in relation to the plans and ideas presented back in 2005. It is worth recalling that the Grand Prix was awarded to the project Milano il centro intorno. Milan serves as an example through which we can discuss to what extent urban planning visions have become reality. In this note, we will present the most significant achievements of the new urban centers in Milan: City Life, Porta Nuova, Garibaldi, and Isola. Our goal is to critically examine the these contemporary accomplishments in the fields of planning, urbanism, and architecture. Such an overview allows for a more comprehensive perspective on the crisis of civilization on one hand and the inspirations and utopian visions of architects on the other.</p>