Dropcity, located beneath the iconic Milan Central Station, in disused railway tunnels, is a visionary centre for architecture and design, conceived by Andrea Caputo spanning 40,000 m² across 28 vaulted tunnels— Dropcity reclaims abandoned industrial space, transforming it into a network of exhibition galleries, craft workshops, robotics and prototyping labs, production studios, and public libraries. The initiative supports over 400 workstations, ergonomic office zones, and retail nodes, creating an ecosystem for Milan’s vast community of architects and designers.
Dropcity is positioned as an “anti‑institutional” platform, inviting open-ended experimentation. It’s transformation of unused urban space and industrial heritage to a collaborative space for the creative economy is an exemplar for impact-led urban interventions. By distributing access to tools, dialogue, and space, it offers a new model for creative practice in cities dense with design talent but lacking inclusive production ecosystems.
Dropcity’s inaugural exhibition—Prison Times: Spatial Dynamics of Penal Environments—spans five tunnels and uses archival objects and infographics to interrogate incarceration through architectural critique. The exhibition co-incided with Milan Design Week 2025.
What sets Dropcity apart is its fusion of civic purpose and cultural exchange. Free exhibition spaces, integrated production labs, and open-access research tools are offered as a counterpoint to the economic barriers that often gatekeep innovation. It’s offered as a creative space in service to Milan’s creative community.
