Our Story
Fondazione Riccardo Catella was established in 2005 at the initiative of the Catella family, in memory of Riccardo Catella, a visionary entrepreneur deeply connected to the urban territory.
The Origins of Our Inspiration
Even before the establishment of Fondazione Riccardo Catella in 2005, Milan’s Isola district had already emerged as a place of dialogue among citizens, associations, and civic organizations. This space became a training ground for participation, capable of valuing differences and transforming them—through mutual respect—into shared solutions for the benefit of the community. It is within this civic architecture that the roots of the model on which the Foundation developed were laid.
RICCARDO CATELLA
Riccardo Catella was a romantic entrepreneur, deeply in love with nature and attentive to the social value of urban space. His vision placed “People” and “Quality of life” at the centre, conceiving the city as a human ecosystem.
In the 1990s, his meeting with entrepreneur Gerry Hines made it possible—together with his son Manfredi Catella—to undertake the redevelopment of former industrial areas in the heart of Milan, now part of the Porta Nuova district. The Foundation dedicated to him represents the natural continuation of a guiding principle: “Participating is Sharing”—an invitation to dedicate resources, time, and expertise.
FONDAZIONE RICCARDO CATELLA: PARTICIPATORY URBAN REGENERATION, EDUCATION, AND CULTURE IN PUBLIC URBAN SPACE
Since its inception, Fondazione Riccardo Catella has embraced an approach focused on urban regeneration, with particular attention to public space as a collective resource and a driver of social cohesion.
The initiatives promoted by the Foundation have consistently aimed to transform marginal areas into inclusive, vibrant, and accessible places through ongoing and structured dialogue among public institutions, local communities, third-sector organizations, and private enterprises.
Today, the Foundation continues its commitment to fostering a culture of urban sustainability through initiatives that combine education, culture, and nature in public space. Within this framework, the following programs play a key role:
- Città Generative (Generative Cities): dedicated to scientific research activities on cities.
- I Progetti della Gente (The People’s Projects): focused on generative projects in publicly accessible spaces.
These programs reflect the vision of Fondazione Riccardo Catella for fairer, more accessible, and more sustainable cities, where public space becomes a fundamental tool for well-being and social cohesion.
