Doppia Identità

  • Date: February 2022.
  • Typology: Competition of Urban regeneration for the city of Borgaro.
  • Dimension: 2.500 m².
  • Location: Borgaro, Italy.

The project proposal aims to redevelop a now abandoned area of ​​Borgaro with the aim of creating a center recognizable through a well-defined square that serves as a catalyst. Borgaro Torinese is inserted into the context almost like a perfect circle of which the Dora runs along one side, flowing towards the South.
This two kilometer diameter circle proves perfect for promoting light traffic.
In this scenario Piazza Vittorio would be used as a spark to trigger a series of chain reflections that could lead to subsequent more widespread pedestrianisation.
It is therefore considered right to create a limited traffic zone in the center area (bounded to the west by Via Torino to the south from Via Generale Perotti, to the east from Via Giacomo Matteotti and to the north with Piazza Vittorio). The buildings in this area like the Parish Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary including the nursery school and the cobbled street stand out
for historical and architectural value, and must be preserved and enhanced. A place where only residents can access, thus freeing traffic and returning this area to pedestrians.
As regards the context: Reversing only the direction of travel of via Giacomo Matteotti and making a stretch of via Santa Chiara with a two-way route (as in fig. 2) it would be possible to make the block free of external traffic (as in fig. 1).
Via Costituente, on the other hand, should be made one-way to limit the traffic currently present in a small road but leaving the possibility of accessing both the town hall and the relevant houses from both the south and the north.
As regards Piazza Vittorio: “Via Settimo” is closed, allowing the municipal block to reclaim of the portion of space in front of it. Traffic from east to west is however guaranteed by via Pietro Micca built as a low traffic service road.
The car parks currently on Via Pietro Micca are being eliminated, so as to be able to resurface the Gora dei Mulini and create green and natural banks. They are then moved in equal number and size onto Via Torino (West side of the square) in order to not creating imbalances but thus managing to better maintain a unitary and coherent design of the square.
The intersection between via Torino, via Caselle and Viale Martiri della Libertà, increasing the volume of traffic due to the closure of the square
Vittorio Veneto sees the inclusion of a roundabout in order to fluidly direct traffic in three directions.

n. 1 – Orthophoto city Area.
n. 2 – Concept.

Starting from the conformation of the city of Borgaro and Dora within the context, we wanted to translate this language from a territorial scale to a city scale, specifically reporting the theme of: Natural-Artificial.
This combination wants to start from the primordial origins of man linked to nature, up to the creation of his own artifices.
The square is thus divided in two, and united by a strong binder: a circular space, halfway between the artificial and the natural.
The part that previously included the farmhouse is left completely green, to leave the mark of how it was nature has reclaimed that place after years of abandonment.
The flowerbeds and green spaces are divided into different categories and equipped accordingly:
-Green tree-lined tip that breaks the rigid division and creates shelter from the sun even in the most artificial part. 108 m2.
-Greenery dedicated to flowerbeds, where different types of greenery and shrubs color and liven up the landscape. 650 m2.
-Two areas equipped for children’s play. 215 m2.
All circumscribed and connected by natural pedestrian paths.
As regards the choice of tall trees, we opted for the inclusion of Lime trees, both in the perimeter of the space multifunctional and on the green barrier of via Torino. In order to create continuity with the Viale Martiri della Libertà.
To create color and cheer up the spring days, they are instead inserted as small/medium trunked trees.
Prunus avium and Cercis Siliquastrum.
The user finds himself immersed in nature as if looking for a moment of peace from the chaos of the city.

n. 3 – Urban Studies.
n.4 – Diagrams.

The junction circle between the two elements is architecturally composed with both natural and artificial characteristics. The flooring squared which recalls cobblestone paved streets, is instead composed of wooden squares inserted into the ground to make this portion is also permeable, but with a historical connotation.
This space is created avoiding design constraints in order to be exploited according to the needs of the day. In everyday life,
as a space for children’s recreation, free to play in a limited environment, with parents who can safely supervise your children sitting on the benches located along the circumference.
On special occasions and in conjunction with city events it can easily transform me into an exhibition space, placing the
center the works and creating a new situation to observe the works. A space free from museum constraints and capable of best exhibit art in its many forms. It can also easily be transformed into a venue for events and concerts, in fact the conformation best allows the insertion of a circular stage or even if a capacity is needed larger would allow the insertion of a front stage, thus creating a natural background that changes according to the seasons and the whole square is transformed into an audience.

The circular lighting supported by six poles allows these functions to be freely carried out without problems of impediments of any kind within it.
Almost like a light ring it characterizes this space, it defines an internal square, and thus creates a place that wants to be discovery.
Piazza Vittorio was thus designed so as not to reveal all its potential, as often happens in the major squares of the world but instead wants to stimulate the user to continuous discovery. Different situations and scenarios are thus alternated, in order to guarantee constant use throughout the day and alternating not only the users but also the areas of use. They are thus created
three squares capable of satisfying all the needs of the city.