URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION
Match Boxes
Site: Venezia-Mestre
Year 2013
Europan Europe E 12 VENEZIA-Italia-europan 12
URBAN REGENERATION AROUND A NEW STATION
Special Mention
With: Camilla Fasoli, Elisa Riviera, Fiorella Zambrano Medina
CONCEPT
The first aim of the project is the reconnection of Mestre and Marghera urban fabrics, through the superimposition of a pattern of different scaled elements (Match Boxes) able to give a new, unified system of references to this Urban Landscape
The backbone of the project lies along the railway line to serve as interface of the two urban system re connecting, the break defined by the railroad; the combination and the modulation of a module acts as a porous threshold in both directions thanks to the inclusion of a continuous and repeatable front. Its basic modules, connected one to each other by a green way, create a design clearly identifiable within the mesh of the city helping to perceive the continuity of the intervention composed by element at small, medium and large scale (public spaces, residential areas, station) as a unit and routed in to the urban fabric.
The new green artificial ground, conceived as an element belonging to the slow mobility system and routed to the existing public and green spaces net, penetrates into the hybridizes with the fast connections, proper of an infrastructural hub, enriching thus its spatial complexity. In this sense the station is seen a multi scalar reference both to the city and to the infrastructural system. It creates a cultural tour widespread between the city and the infrastructure to serve as attractive landmarks for Mestre and Marghera, changing their identity, from suburb to the new gate for Venice.
The pattern defined by the modules is based on a study done on the tracks of the existing city, it retains the principal axes, and continues them tying up each other.
Elements and design strategies
The project consists of the repetition combination and deformation of two basic modules developed in different forms.
Modules
Module 8X8m:
The module is composed and declined to adapt to different functions; Each basic module integrates its specific functions with those of the exhibition hall. The module 8X8m, takes up the size of the platform, and defines a pattern of punctual elements over the railway, and within the urban fabric.
Module 24x24m:
the multiplication of these measures gives the 24X24 module, assembled and revisited in more variations. The multiplication of the basic module is used to mark the main lines of this new porous threshold made by the new station and the new residential areas.
Each of these elements creates a different space, permeable, closed, compact, according to the function
Station; design process:
Step 1: Insertion of a continuous plate/artificial ground over the railway, to connect to Mestre and Marghera
Step 2: Placement of the patterns made of basic modules.
Step 3: break of the plate and the intersection with modular elements
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