Milan Garden Competition: Designing Therapeutic Spaces for Vulnerable Youth
- A new creative competition entitled "A garden in which to flourish again" was presented as part of Myplant & Garden 2026.
- The competition is open to green designers and operators in the sector (architects, agronomists, landscapers, garden designers, nurserymen) individually or in association.
- The area subject to the intervention is located in Milan, at the headquarters of the Caf Association (Centre to help minors and families in crisis).
The News in Brief
A new creative competition entitled “A garden in which to flourish again” was presented as part of . The initiative is organized by the Minoprio Foundation in collaboration with Myplant and Aiapp, with the patronage of the Order of PPC Architects of the province of Milan. The project is part of the ‘Myplant Gardens’ initiative which, since , has identified social contexts with green spaces to be redeveloped for the benefit of vulnerable users.
The competition is open to green designers and operators in the sector (architects, agronomists, landscapers, garden designers, nurserymen) individually or in association. Participation is free and registrations must be received by .
The area subject to the intervention is located in Milan, at the headquarters of the Caf Association (Centre to help minors and families in crisis). The facility hosts minors between the ages of 3 and 21 who have been removed from their families due to abuse, and mistreatment. The project requires the creation of a path that connects the different areas of the garden, guaranteeing flexible spaces for socialization and play (up to 30 children). The maintenance of perimeter hedges for privacy and the creation of paths suitable for bicycles and skates is required. The vegetation must be safe, possibly enriched with flowering or fruit plants, favoring low maintenance materials.
A budget limit of 30,000 euros has been set. The promoters point out that the supply of greenery will be borne by Myplant, while the students of the Minoprio Its Academy Foundation, coordinated by technical teachers, will support the implementation. The organizers define the initiative as a model that combines “professionalism, creativity, training, volunteering and greenery”.
The selection will be entrusted to a commission made up of representatives of the Minoprio Foundation, Aiapp, the Order of Architects of Milan, Myplant & Garden and the Caf Association. The evaluation criteria include coherence with the theme, innovation, feasibility, ease of maintenance, economic sustainability and safety. The announcement and composition of the jury will be available on the official websites of the promoting bodies.
The Therapeutic Value of Green Spaces
This initiative, focused on redeveloping the garden at the Center for Help for Minors and Families in Crisis, underscores a growing recognition within modern medicine: the profound interplay between the physical environment and mental well-being. The quality of the surrounding space is increasingly understood not as a peripheral element, but as a genuine determinant of health. For minors who have experienced trauma, the external environment can serve as an extension of the therapeutic process, offering stimuli that promote emotional regulation and stress reduction.
Exposure to natural settings is associated with measurable physiological responses, including a reduction in cortisol levels – the body’s primary stress hormone – and stabilization of heart rate. These benefits are particularly relevant in residential settings where the vulnerability of the individuals requires a delicate balance between protection and stimulation. A thoughtfully designed garden functions as a “decompression device,” offering a form of regeneration that clinicians describe as recovery from mental fatigue.
Nature and Post-Traumatic Rehabilitation
Designing green areas for children and adolescents separated from their families requires careful consideration of the need to rebuild a sense of security and predictability. Nature provides a form of non-invasive sensory stimulation, allowing the nervous system to transition from a state of hyper-activation, common after trauma, to one of “regenerative attention.” The integration of flowering and fruit plants, as specified in the competition announcement, enriches the sensory experience through color, scent, and texture, fostering a sense of presence and body awareness.
The inclusion of safe natural elements is a critical clinical requirement. Choosing non-toxic plant species and removing architectural barriers not only ensures safety but also promotes the minor’s autonomy in movement. In preventive medicine, outdoor physical activity, facilitated by bicycle or skate paths, is considered essential for psychomotor development and strengthening immune defenses, which can be compromised by chronic emotional distress.
Socialization and Neuroplasticity
A garden designed as a flexible socialization space supports the development of executive functions and relational skills. Interacting in an open, less structured environment compared to indoor spaces allows children to experiment with group dynamics spontaneously. This type of interaction is fundamental to neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganize itself and form new connections in response to positive and restorative stimuli.
The use of natural materials and the continuity between indoor and outdoor spaces reflect an approach that favors a sense of connection. From a medical-rehabilitative perspective, the garden is not merely a recreational area, but an informal clinical setting where observing a minor’s behavior in a free environment can provide valuable data for healthcare professionals. Transforming a green area into a therapeutic space represents an intervention in environmental medicine aimed at restoring well-being and resilience to individuals in vulnerable situations.