Reclaiming Space: A Hybrid Community Hub for Women and Girls in San Siro
This project explores how spatial and service design can empower the women and girls of San Siro: a diverse,
multicultural neighbourhood located in the heart Milan—to connect, learn, and thrive.
Through a human-centred research and co-design process, we envisioned a hybrid community hub that
combines physical space and service systems to support learning, social interaction, and belonging.
COMPANY
Milano San Siro
community committe
EXPERTISE
Service Design
(Primarily ethnography research)
YEAR
2022
Diary study through in-depth interview
of Maya (pseudonym), a housewife with 4 kids
Diary study through in-depth interview
of Julia (pseudonym) a worker with 2 kids
Children as a bridge
We found that children often act as social bridges, helping women connect with one another in public spaces—particularly when accompanying their kids to after-school activities.
Additionally, we observed that the Italian course institute inside the current community offers a baby area, enabling mothers to attend classes while their children are cared for nearby.
Passions, hobbies, personal growth
Women in San Siro usually have no passion for their personal and job development since poor awareness
of their potential and skills.
Women as community mediators
Women sustain the whole socio-educational part of the family: from getting information about their children's school to contacting associations for after-school activities.
How might we...?
Design a social activity space that empowers women and girls to provide them the opportunity to learn & socialise, fostering learning, belonging, and mutual support while caring for their children?
From space to activities
Through a co-design workshop, we identified the design goals, defined target user clusters, and brainstormed future activities to be implemented in the space based on user needs.
User Journey-User engagement strategy
With the design goals in mind, we mapped the current user journey to identify pain
points and opportunities for improving women’s engagement with the service.
Digital solutions
With the design goals in mind, we mapped the current user journey to identify pain
points and opportunities for improving women’s engagement with the service.
My reflection and lessons learned
Working closely with migrant women in San Siro has taught me the demand of discovering the need for social spaces to adapt to the real daily struggles, such as caregiving responsibilities and mobility limitations, and the desire for safety and a sense of belonging.
I learned to translate qualitative insights into clear design strategies, ensuring the final concept empowers women through meaningful social connection and genuinely listens to their real-life stories. This experience reminds me that creating meaningful change for marginalised voices always comes along with empathy and patience.