The father of the vertical forest cries: “They rejected the pirellino”. But every day he wrote in the Sala. Turnover of 6 million euros for his study
Archistar Stefano Boeri says he is the victim of an adverse fate. “If I were the powerful they describe, why I was unable to approve my botanical tower?” He explained yesterday to Repubblica, complaining about the rejection of the “Pirellino”, while around him a political and judicial clash is being consumed (with accusations of corruption, false and undue induction) that involved the entire Milanese urban planning machine.
But looking at the facts, and above all the investigation papers, which also sees the mayor investigated, Beppe Sala, emerges that the architect Boeri (also under investigation) not only be a man of power, but has become almost a shadow mayor in recent years. Judging by the cards, in fact, Boeri writes every day to the first citizen to dispense advice. He complains. He asks for help for his projects, proposes to organize meetings, involving room on any topic, from Inter to the Triennale, from San Siro to Security. It is in these chats that the investigators found the pressures that Boeri would have made on the room for the Pirellino (the now known “take it as Warning”). On 10 September 2019 Boeri had written to him about his project on Meazza, which Sala had supported in 2017. “We were excluded because” we did not respect the parameters of the Masterplan presented in July by the companies “. Since when to present a masterplan is equivalent to making it approve? ». And then: «Be careful that a serious precedent is created (…). Beppe, for me the case is closed, losing competitions is completely normal … but I would like to point out that this is different here ». Sala’s response is not long in coming: «For the stadium they seem crazy to me. They are putting me in difficulty. Now let’s see what to do ».
On the Boeri stadium it is very active. On 23 October 2018 he still wrote in Sala. «With Steven Zhang here in Shanghai we talked about the stadium. If you think we see you and go on the Bifronte Stadium proposal. Inter could take a trotto side. He rightly worried by uncertainty Milan (he says that Scaroni does not count). Anyway, super awake … » On January 5, 2023 he returns to office. “Next week if you want, I bring you owners former Snai training slopes interested in making stadium”. On February 23 he insists: «I know you see Scaroni and Furlani. If we feel before I pass some reflection. ” Also on March 1st: «I arrive today Pom from Cairo. When you want we feel on the stadium ». And Sala replies: «Ok. Today I see cardinal ». On February 22, 2022 Sala wrote to Boeri that he does not want to support an urban planning project in the Cadorna area: “I can’t make Torri pop up where there is nothing today”, consistently with his campaign on “regeneration”. Boeri proposes “a large park, a neighborhood for young people”, but admits that he has no strength on the promoters. Sala proposes a restricted meeting: “Better before me, Te and Tancredi (Councilor Giancarlo also investigated and for which house arrest were asked, editor’s note)”.
In the face of what was declared by Boeri, his was a professional path that dominated Milan in recent years and prospered especially under the center -left councils. Under Pisapia, room and their administrative continuity, Boeri has collected public positions, international prizes and economic growth that few Italian architectural studies have experienced. The official data of the Chamber of Commerce clearly indicate that the study invoiced 6,417,695 euros in 2023, with a net profit of 609,123 euros: a significant result for architecture study. Comparing these numbers with 2022 (turnover 5,652,160 euros, +13.5% per year; growing useful) and with a net profit of about 104,420 euros in 2019, reported by the official budgets, the key data is the growth supported: in a few years the turnover increased by over 60% and the profit has multiplied.
The Milanese context offered fertile land. In 2011-2013, Boeri already showed his institutional presence as Councilor for Culture of Pisapia, creator of Bookcity and Pianocity and promoter of large urban projects within Expo 2015 and CityLife or on the Darsena. After a few years of break, after the crack with Pisapia and the farewell to Palazzo Marino, it is with a room that finds a certain harmony. Since the settlement in 2016. In 2018 Sala appoints the president of the Triennale and then confirmed it in 2022 The study signed great real estate operations: in 2018 Bosconavigli part, continues the design of the Pirellino and the start of the Beic competition. Just the European library cost Boeri another investigation for auction and false disturbance in the international competition. To this was added an interdictive measure for a year of suspension from public calls while the trial on Bosconavigli goes on with accusations of building abuse: in September there should be the first hearing.
