Architecture firm Skidmore Owings & Merrill has been chosen to design a mass-timber Olympic Village with "minimal environmental impact" for the 2026 winter Olympics hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.
SOM was selected following an international competition to complete the village, which will form part of the redevelopment of rail yards in Milan's Porta Romana area.
The studio's proposals include the transformation of two historic structures and the construction of six timber buildings to house athletes during the event in 2026, which will then become student and affordable housing afterwards. A series of public spaces will eventually be surrounded by shops, bars, restaurants and cafes at street level, and will host farmers' markets and community events ? integrating the village into the existing urban fabric.
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