IT
For this project we were commissioned by the Municipality of Pomezia. The site is located in the municipality of Torvaianica, in the immediate vicinity of Piazza Hungary and Piazza del Belvedere. It is part of the main gathering point of the city center. The focus of the brief was rearrangement of the existing garden in terms of services and equipment, and in the modernization of the playground, whose condition was extremely poor. As part of the urban context, the area is overlooking at the neighboring residential buildings, with services dedicated to the tertiary sector. The size of Piazza Italia is about 2400 square meters in rectangular shape and had five access points, three of which are on the long sides of the perimeter, with both ramps and stairs. The restaurants that lie on Viale Denmark and the Bus Terminal, form the most important access point of the garden. The lack of adequate lighting system within the area was making the use of the space during night hours very hard. We decided to design a spatial structure similar to the existing one and improve the functionally with more fluid spaces, paying attention to the following points:
1 – evaluation of the heart of the area, through the creation of a true central space, which focuses on the symbolic value of the Monument to the Fallen. The piazza will have a symmetrical shape with a central area and paths, main and secondary to the sides, to underline the representativeness of its function. The function of each space will be further emphasized using flooring with different textures and colors. The Monumentoai Caduti will be the catalyst of the square while on the right and on the left sides, systems of illuminated benches will be located. Moreover, to allow a better use of the area mentioned above, accesses will be increased from 5 to 6, through the inclusion of an additional entrance on the south-western front.
2 – designing small structures, that would attract people to gather around them and utilize them. They will be located sideways and are like ‘islands’ which would invite the visitors to stop and socialize. The same strategy was adopted in the choice of seats placed inside the play area dedicated to children.
3 – redesign of the play area intended for all age groups as well as to children with disabilities; the area is intentionally presented with a more organic arrangement of spaces than the Piazza. The surface material would be colored rubber flooring cast in place. A series of colored circles would define the areas dedicated to the various types of games, while the areas dedicated to adults would be designed in the shape of puzzles.
4 – designing the vegetation areas, in a way, which will help to guide the public and give them signals where are the points they can stop and socialize. The project will maintain the existing vegetation along the sides and increase the space dedicated to the flowerbeds. In this case the choice of plants to be implanted was made on their ability to take root and able to survive in environments with a high degree of salinity, such as seaside resorts.
