Project: DIAPHRAGM
Author: Ilaria Marzano
A modular, data-driven wall system designed to transform physical barriers into readable and interactive urban elements.
A piece of urban furniture conceptually rooted in the context of Bosco La Goccia.
DIAPHRAGM is a modular, data-driven wall system that transforms barriers into interactive urban elements. Conceived as temporary urban furniture, it addresses how regeneration processes are often hidden behind walls, making them difficult for citizens to perceive.
Developed in relation to Bosco La Goccia in Milan—a former industrial site gradually reclaimed by spontaneous vegetation—the project makes these invisible transformations visible. The wall acts as a readable interface: from afar, tiles display vegetation coverage through two shades of green; up close, they can be rotated to reveal symbols, ecological data, and QR-linked content.
The system is based on a simplified modular unit, improving clarity and scalability. Its surface consists of 15 × 15 cm rotating tiles mounted on vertical cylindrical supports. Made from recycled fiberglass, each tile combines a cast component and a flat graphic layer, refined through iterative prototyping to ensure durability, precision, and ease of assembly. Subtle color variations are intentionally preserved, echoing natural diversity.
Beyond its site-specific origin, DIAPHRAGM is designed as a flexible solution for temporary urban interventions. It reimagines barriers not as elements of separation, but as tools for communication and engagement—inviting people to explore, learn, and connect with their environment through interaction.
