"La frontiera" / The border

The project works on an uncultivated space, enhancing the biodiversity born during the period of abandonment, while making these spontaneous natural areas accessible. This space - in front of the University of Trento- becomes an excellent experimental multifunctional landscape. Firstly, as a community centre space with public spaces useful for students and other citizens, but also as a landscape reserve that preserves the wild character of the site by revaluing and adapting the existing spontaneous environments.

Along the northern side of the project site runs the Fersina creek - a protected and valued ecosystem - while the pedestrian axis between the city centre and the University hill departments draws the southern one.

From here, the project explores the rough morphology of the area in search of flatter portions, recognizing the edges that separate them from slopes and steep areas. Along the most significant edges we rarefy the vegetation in order to make the undergrowth level accessible, leaving the opposite side intact and preserving its value as Third Landscape. This minimal action will never deviate from “the Border” for more than a few meters, creating paths and open-air rooms.

These boundaries take various forms without losing the biodiversity gained from the evolution in a Third Landscape condition. Going through simple trails, we arrive at grass fields and panoramic viewpoints overlooking the river and the surrounding landscape.

Natural evolution and the human actions coexist in dynamic synergy and the new public spaces can be easily adapted according to the wishes and needs of the users.