ABSTRACT

This chapter looks into the diffusion of new types of workspaces in the Milan urban region, such as hybrid spaces for creative and cultural production, makerspaces and, specifically, co-working spaces. After a short overview of the main economic trends and their effects in terms of spatial organization of production in the city, the chapter argues that such diffusion has a significant transformative potential, but is not devoid of pitfalls, in particular as far as these spaces risk to become exclusive islands and club goods, rather than generative urban hubs.