How major events have influenced Milan’s urban infrastructure

Urban development strategies increasingly rely on repurposing event infrastructure and integrating natural landscapes to foster resilient, functional cities. Milan’s MIND district demonstrates this by transforming Expo 2015 grounds into a collaborative innovation hub that unites research institutions and private industry. Conversely, Ottawa’s transit system reveals the operational risks of modernizing infrastructure, as aging bus networks and light rail struggle to maintain reliability during harsh winters. Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s approach to developing protected wetlands highlights the necessity of prioritizing ecological health over traditional concrete-heavy planning. By adopting "sponge city" concepts, architects like Matthew Potter argue that cities can treat natural environments as essential infrastructure, mitigating flood risks and improving quality of life while balancing the demands of high-density growth.