Architect Gianandrea Barreca has died at age 56, just months before his 57th birthday. The news was announced on June 15 via the social media profiles of Barreca & La Varra, the Milan-based studio he co-founded in 2008 with Giovanni La Varra. Barreca was best known for his work on the Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) in Milan, the world's first vertical forest tower, and for co-designing the future Policlinico of Milan, a hospital featuring a therapeutic hanging garden. He also co-founded the architectural collective A12 in Genoa in 1993 and taught at Domus Academy, where he directed the Master in Urban Vision and Architectural Design from 2006 to 2012.
Barreca's death marks the loss of a prominent figure in contemporary Italian architecture, whose work consistently integrated sustainability, public space, and nature. The Bosco Verticale became an internationally celebrated and award-winning icon, sparking ongoing architectural debate. His emphasis on the urgent need for higher-quality public spaces in Italian cities, expressed in a recent interview, underscores his lasting concern for urban livability. The article suggests that a public space within the new Policlinico could be named in his memory, reflecting his impact on Milan and beyond.