competition | urban
redevelopment of
piazzale degli alpini

© archos studio Our proposal envisions transforming this space into a place of connection, making it not only emotionally attuned to its surroundings but also using it as an element of transformation, reconciliation, and growth—between those who arrive, those who depart, and those who stay, not just for a brief moment. It is not static, but always dynamic.

© archos studio Everything, from the station exit to the city center, is designed with vehicular traffic in mind, effectively placing pedestrians in a subordinate position to vehicles. Our intention is to rethink the space as an urban square rather than a public garden. In built cities, it is no longer possible to evoke emotion with a public garden; the emotion in a free space comes from the surrounding urban landscape that interacts with it, and from the people who use it.

© archos studio The goal of the architectural project, as it should be, will not be the construction of one or more building volumes, but rather the activation of a collective and shared process capable of filling this void. It is nature in all its forms that gives us energy and emotion, but we must understand that nature in the city is different from that in the countryside. Only the old trees of Piazzale degli Alpini should be preserved, as they awaken the primal feelings that make us feel alive, but they must be freed from their prison and solitude.

© archos studio To achieve this, before any other intervention, it is necessary to clear the entire area of anything that may hinder the park's crossability, encouraging its passage. Following that, we must consider an extraordinary object that contrasts with the current ones, capable of attracting and revitalizing the space. The choice to propose a single pavement made of stabilized quarry material is not only due to the limited budget available, but also a precise ecological and maintenance choice, as well as a decision aimed at overall urban comfort.

© archos studio In a subsequent phase, from the new parterre, an organic element will emerge, almost spontaneously generated by the trees. A large root that rises from the ground, leveling out the uneven terrain, guiding pathways and visual cones, allowing people to climb over it, walk across it, beside it, and through it.

© archos studio

© archos studio

© archos studio