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The planning scheme starts from the typologial conformation moslty diffused in the high-density outskirts,
defined by the enclosed and self-referring courts. the built facades have been opened applying two urban-
connection systems: the first one derives from the analysis of the four urban distriscts sorrounding the
buiding zone (Main Street, Canal Section, District Square and Park Section) each defined by precise
functions and scenaries, whose interrelations generate dynamical urban flows modelling the spatial and
functional design of the inner court. The other system represents the traditional court as a collective
area mediating between the urban square and the private courtyard strictly related to the housing
buildings. In this meaning the inner court elevates from the ground floor and defines a new covered square
rising through two main levels: the covered square represents the natural extension of the district square
and contains public functions of different types (entertainment, cultural, commercial, social and communal
facilities). The square is strictly for pedestrians and has entrances from any of the four sides of the
building zone. The introduction of the covered square doubles the height relations between facades and the
ground levels: the higher elevation faces the urban surroundings on the outside of the Building Zone,
while on the inside the buildings have lower facades proportional to the human scale of the inner green
square.
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The raised square, though keeping up a strong relationship with the urban Square, is meant as the communal
area most tightly related to the buildings and indoor functions, with intimate and protected spaces where
the urban flows slow down entering large green areas (collective gardens) and private places for building
facilities (daily-cares, common rooms for housings, relaxing and meeting areas). The main entrances to the
higher square are represented by two wide ramp rising from both the canal and the park section corners, as
well as by two large stairs rising from the urban square.
The 50 meters high tower on the corner between the Square and the Canal Section stands like a totem and
points out the entrances to the three squares system.
In order to stress its intimate character, on the south side of the area, facing the Main Street, the
higher square maintains its high level with terraces surrounding the buildings; this solution reveals the
gap between the almost private garden and the main urban axis of the district.
The indoor functions placement is strongly related to the characters of the four urban district
sorrounding the Building Zone. Three high buildings alongside the Main Street are reserved to private
offices and communal facilities for residents (post office, police departments, bank and similar). The
access from this side to the covered square is strictly for pedestrians. The employees can use the multi-
storey car parks already existing nearby the Building Zone, while users and customers are allowed to
short-time parking along the Main Street.
The indoor functions on the ground level alongside the Canal promenade, are mainly commercial, in
particular for sell retail, while the housing building developes from the higher level of the inner square
with common areas on the ground floor (bike parking, common rooms, and similar). The other housing
building, along the park section, on the ground floors, contains housing facilities and social care units.
In particular, on the lower level, between the park section and the covered square, and nearby the south
ramp, there is a day-care for elders directly connected both with the green areas of the urban section and
with the cultural function of the covered square; on the ground floor of the higher square there is a
day-care for children whose playground and outdoor areas need to be more protected.
Along the urban square and below the higher garden there are clubs and small restaurants that mark the
entrances to the covered square, while on the higher level no building is planned in order to set a visual
continuity with the system of the three squares.
On the corner between the Canal Section and the Square stands the 50 meters high tower which contains
showrooms, business offices and a restaurant with panoramic terrace.
The glasshouses play an important role both in the buildings natural ventilation method acting as an air
stack for air circulation and as a noise barrier for the urban facades. As regards to covered square, the
natural ventilation and air clarification is guaranteed by the windowed surfaces running along the ramps
and paths together with the pavement lights openings.
Rainwater works on advantage of the buildings water requirement as soon as it’s been phyto clarified
through the roof gardens’ green areas. Clarified wastewaters are piped into channel running through the
main structure elements and towards both the Park and Canal Sections.
Each building is equipped with heat storage glasshouses, and with solar panels on the higher terraces, all
meant to regulate the indoor air natural-conditioning. At the same time the green areas of the high square
act as heat storage masses for the air conditioning of the covered square below.
The office-towers have open floor plans with an inner pillar structure and glass facades. the building
plans are molded by the glasshouses and staircase volumes inserted within the string courses. the glass
surface is encircled by a system of photovoltaic stripes with function of heat storage and brise-soleil.
The 50 meters-high tower is a plastic compound of three different volumes, representing different
functions and material treatment: on the north eastern side the opal-glass volume is made for vertical
links to each floor and its facilities; the middle is occupied by the vertical glasshouse, while on the
north western side lies the functional volume including show rooms, offices and a panoramic restaurant.
The facade of this volume presents large irregularly shaped windows of coloured glasses which enphasizes
the totemic role of the building.
The functional distribution within the three square system corresponds to the different fruition of the
common areas during the day: daily activities are held mainly along the Canal Section, the Park Section
and the Main Street at the covered level; while the Square side and the core of the covered area are the
place for the night-time activities. The entrances system to the different levels doesn’t interfere with
the residents destined areas, though marking a continuity with the various levels. Natural lightning of
the covered square follows the upper paths design:ramps e their glass surfaces and the pavement lights
corresponding to the green of the garden above.
Residential buildings are meant to preserve architectural continuity with the front of the Main Street: on
the two corners, the buildings’ height is proportional to the southern towers, and it decreases
proceeding towards the opposite side. The use of the encircling theme of the string courses has a plastic
and functional value. Housing units have windowed facades both on eastern and western side, with terraces
and private glasshouses. Each stairway serves two apartments, with a surface of 100 square meters each,
except for the ones on the corner that are 75 square meters. The common rooms are placed on the ground
levels, while the large roof gardens are meant to be private places for collective entertainment.
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