Bolzano, Italy
2023 - 2028
Ponte Roma Quartier
Prioritizing adaptive reuse, urban mining, and timber construction, our proposed redevelopment design for Ponte Roma Quartier in one of Bolzano’s post-industrial zones looks to transform the area into an inviting, multi-generational, mixed-use neighborhood and green oasis, promoting biodiversity while offering a solution to the city’s affordable housing crisis.
Project details
Client
SIGNA and Habitat
Status
Located in the South Tyrol region of the Italian Alps, the city of Bolzano, holds both a historic medieval, and industrial past. In an urban plan inspired by both, our design for Ponte Roma Quartier, a once industrial zone, is embedded with a deep understanding of the layers, nuances, materials, and qualities associated with the site and surrounding city, as well as the challenges found in both.
Bridging disconnected neighborhoods in a site just a few minutes by bike from the University of Bolzano, the urban redevelopment looks to support a multi-generational social fabric, responding to the challenges that young people and students currently face with rising costs of living and a significant lack of affordable housing in the city. The new neighborhood plan includes 1,000 new homes, of them affordable housing and accommodation for 500 students. Plugging into the existing transport network, the neighborhood will form connections with other parts of the city, while prioritizing accessible transit within the district.
"Envisioning the Ponte Roma Quartier, we set out to create not just a new neighborhood, but a vibrant community that breathes new life into Bolzano and gives the young generation a compelling reason to call the city home,” says Global Design Principal Louis Becker. “Prioritizing adaptive reuse and urban mining ensure the industrial heritage of the area will be celebrated and Bolzano’s playful and colorful urban fabric will be preserved."
Set within a disconnected cityscape and with mountainous views, the project seeks to restore a vital connection to Bolzano’s urban center. Referencing historical Bolzano’s walkable charm, the concept is oriented around a central park which will run through the area. A green oasis to promote well-being and enhance biodiversity, this space will support micro-mobility with improved pedestrian routes and cycling infrastructure.
"Envisioning the Ponte Roma Quartier, we set out to create not just a new neighborhood, but a vibrant community that breathes new life into Bolzano and gives the young generation a compelling reason to call the city home."
Louis Becker
Global Design Principal
Circularity as a design driver
Connection to context extends into the finest grains of the project’s design. Making use of existing infrastructure, buildings, and material resources onsite, this connection defines the urban plan’s adaptive reuse, material reuse and transformation strategy. The result is a design that preserves and celebrates heritage while also minimizing the project’s environmental footprint.
On our journey of moving away from linear economic models towards circularity, reframing existing resources and adopting them as drivers within a design process, is key. The design of Ponte Roma Quartier provided an exciting opportunity for such a process; incorporating ‘urban mining’ — a practice of recovering and reusing existing materials on site — quite literally mining anything that could offer itself to the area’s second life.
Two expansive open-concept industrial buildings will be transformed into public spaces featuring cafes, shops, eateries, common areas, and a climbing gym. Nearby buildings will be resourcefully repurposed, reclaimed materials like bricks and cobblestones will find new life as flooring, and robust beams will be crafted into urban farming greenhouses. Other materials, including metal, will be reimagined as porches, terraces, and decorative accents.
"Prioritizing adaptive reuse and urban mining ensure the industrial heritage of the area will be celebrated and Bolzano’s playful and colorful urban fabric will be preserved."
Louis Becker
Global Design Principal
Localized, connected, responsive
In honor of Bolzano’s colorful character and aesthetic, charming alleys, intimate public plazas, and modest towers included in the design are intended to pay homage to the city’s bright spirit. Varied building volumes will optimize sightlines to the scenic mountains surrounding the neighborhood, ensuring access to beautiful views from all perspectives, including affordable residences, student accommodation, cafes and restaurants, offices, co-working spaces, a fabrication laboratory, and a nursery. Open spaces like courtyards and rooftops will be designed for maximum exposure to sunlight and accessibility, and both will offer recreational spaces for relaxation and panoramic viewpoints.
Increased biodiversity is central to the design, which will enrich the urban landscape with natural spaces that contribute to the well-being of residents and the environment. Green rooftops, parks, and urban farming initiatives will foster an environment that acts as a ‘sponge city,’ efficiently collecting and recycling rainwater while establishing a comfortable microclimate for residents. Thirty percent of rooftops will feature solar panels designed to supply more than 50% of the neighborhood’s energy needs, ushering in a greater reliance on renewable energy sources.
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Architect
Louis Becker
Global Design Principal
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