Work with us

We are city-making artisans: professionals committed to urban and territorial regeneration

Who do we work with?

Public entities

Private actors

Non Profit

We support our clients in the design and management of initiatives aimed at generating the desired impacts on the territory

Our Story

KCity, a pioneer in the field of city making.

Founded in 2009 as a spin-off of its founders’ academic work, KCity has, over the years, helped to establish integrated approaches to territorial development in Italy

The stages of our story

In 15 years from a start-up to reference point in the sector

SPIN-OFF:
Politecnico di Milano

2009-2011

Start-up phase

IDENTITY:
KCity 1.0

2009-2013

Start-up phase

Headquarter:
Villaggio Barona

2009-2013

Start-up phase

2009

PEOPLE:
rete Urban Renaissance

2011

Start-up phase

2011

Identity:
KCity 2.0

2013-2018

Growth phase

Headquarter:
Frigoriferi Milanesi

2013

Growth phase

2013

network:
ingresso in audis

2017

Growth phase

Award:
Urbanpromo

2017

Growth phase

EVENT:
Convegno Futuro periferie – MIBACT

2017

Growth phase

event:
Collana Pacini Editore

2017

Growth phase

2017

EVENT:
Politecnico di Milano

2018-2025

Development phase

EVENT:
PREMIO urbanpromo

2018

Development phase

network:
Accreditamento per tirocinio professionale

2018

Development phase

Headquarter:
Via Fra Galgario

2018-2025

Development phase

Identity:
KCity 3.0

2018-2025

Fase di sviluppo

2018

MISSION

KCity takes over the role of coordinating regeneration processes

We activate, guide and manage the regeneration processes, promoting reuse, the valorisation of local resources and the alignment of diverse stakeholder goals. We design solutions that re-organise spaces and services in ways that broaden their uses and maximise shared benefits

ORGANISATION

KCity stands on two pillars: a solid internal team and an extensive network of multidisciplinary expertise

The in-house team ensures projects’ scientific grounding and operational management, while the network of specialised professionals and trusted technical partners provides the specific expertise required for each assignment.

OUR STAFF

NETWORK

KCity Staff

CEO and DIRECTOR

Paolo Cottino

Paolo is an urban planner and policy designer with a PhD in Territorial Planning and Public Policy and is a registered professional with the Province of Milan. An expert in policy analysis and integrated approaches to territorial development, in 2017 he was appointed by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Art and Architecture and Urban Peripheries of the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiBACT) as a national expert in city-making processes.

He conceived and founded KCity following over a decade of consultancy work in the urban policy unit of IRS, and academic research and teaching at the Politecnico di Milano.
During this period, he was awarded the Italian National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor in Urban and Regional Planning and authored numerous scientific publications and journal articles in the field.

He is responsible for the scientific direction of KCity’s services, with a particular focus on coordinating activities related to process and product innovation in the field of urban services.

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He is responsible for the scientific direction of KCity’s services, with a particular focus on coordinating activities related to process and product innovation in the field of urban services.

TECHNICAL TEAM

Head of Units

HEAD OF ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC REAL ESTATE ASSETS

Nicla Dattomo

Nicla is an architect and holds a PhD in Urban Planning from IUAV University of Venice, and she is a registered architect with the Province of Milan. She specialises in concept design and feasibility analysis for the restoration, transformation, and enhancement of urban spaces.

Project manager in KCity since 2018, following a decade of experience at the engineering firm Tekne, and previously at the Secchi-Viganò architecture studio. Between 2015 and 2021, she was among the promoting figures behind Super – The Festival of Milan peripheries.

She coordinates services and projects focused on the study and development of models for the enhancement of public real estate assets, with particular attention to housing policies.

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She coordinates services and projects focused on the study and development of models for the enhancement of public real estate assets, with particular attention to housing policies.

HEAD OF STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

Dario Domante

Dario is an urban planner with a specialisation in Real Estate Finance at SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan. An expert in complex local development programmes and the management of participatory processes, in 2017 he was awarded a scholarship for training in the Enhancement of Sports Facilities, promoted by LUISS Business School.

He joined KCity in 2016 after ten years of experience as a project manager at Milano Metropoli, a local development agency.

He coordinates services and projects involving participatory activities and the engagement of local stakeholders, with a focus on the integrated management of social impact, environmental and economic sustainability objectives.

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He joined KCity in 2016 after ten years of experience as a project manager at Milano Metropoli, a local development agency.

Collaborators

Federica Bellini

Urban Planner – Territorial Analysis and GIS

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Lisa Ferrari

Environmental Engineer – Sustainable Planning

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Martina Mion

Urban Planner – Placemaking and Social Impact

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Matteo Chirico

Urban Planner – Climate Change & Data Visualisation

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Natalia Trzmielak

Graphic Designer – Participatory System Design

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AREA OFFICE

HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION

Gloria Ostuni

Gloria is an accountant with extensive experience in management control, bookkeeping, and executive support.

She has been leading KCity’s Administrative Office since 2020, following a long career in accounting, and administrative and financial corporate management.

She is responsible for managing contracts and overseeing relationships with clients and collaborators.

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Gloria is an accountant with extensive experience in management control, bookkeeping, and executive support.

She has been leading KCity’s Administrative Office since 2020, following a long career in accounting, and administrative and financial corporate management.

She is responsible for managing contracts and overseeing relationships with clients and collaborators.

HEAD OF COMMUNICATION

Federica Mameli

Federica is an architect and webmaster specialized in Marketing and Communication at the Business School of Il Sole 24 Ore.

She previously collaborated with architecture firms in Milan and Seville and gained experience as a freelance webmaster and teaching assistant at the Politecnico di Milano. Since 2016, she has coordinated cultural projects in the Milan area on behalf of AIM – Associazione Interessi Metropolitani.

At KCity, she is responsible for the activities of the Communication Office, combining analysis and creativity in managing the company’s digital strategies and supporting the work of the teams.

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Federica is an architect and webmaster specialized in Marketing and Communication at the Business School of Il Sole 24 Ore.

At KCity, she is responsible for the activities of the Communication Office, combining analysis and creativity in managing the company’s digital strategies and supporting the work of the teams.

NETWORK

KCity activates specialised professionals and multidisciplinary technical partners.

KCity has a broad and diverse network of trusted professionals with specialised skills and expertise, which is mobilised and engaged according to the specific characteristics and needs of each project.

Planners and urbanists, architects, engineers, political and social scientists, creatives and cultural designers, service & business designers, facilitators, and social managers.

KCity has, over time, established a well-tested system of partnerships with technical firms and operational organisations working in fields and areas of expertise complementary to its own, with whom it develops collaborations and integrated services.

Engineering and architecture, social policies and economic studies, real estate management, landscape design, legal aspects, tactical urbanism, European project design, welfare services, cultural management, tourism, sustainability, commerce.

OUR NETWORK

WORK WITH US

KCity is a single-member limited liability company (SRL) registered with the Milan Chamber of Commerce since 2007.

KCity is authorised to operate under the ATECO categories for “business, administrative and management consultancy activities” (70.22.09) and “architectural practice activities” (71.11).