Che cosa? What’s new in Rome? The mixed-use development Città del Sole, designed by Labics, in Rome is the newest mixed-use kid on the block, and it is streetwise. The belle figure of newly dressed architecture is juxtaposed to the fabric of Rome’s aged and durable buildings.
Love for urban vitality and sensible patterning of passage are evident in this project, located on a challenging site near a transit station, a place of perpetual movement which subjects property to high-volume circulation of vehicles and people. The site now provides space for retail, offices and residences, leaving enough ground level urban area for pedestrians, occupants, and visitors.
Italian urban plans are ekistic marks and public realm is presumptive. Public realm is not only space; in Italy it is also the trending course of society and includes periods of only having the street. Rome is a city that is historically unafraid of change, if archaeology of boundary lines provides enough proof.
As seen in Labics’ design presentation, the ground plane is an important consideration when planning circulation and its modalities (or medium such as foot, bicycle, bus, etc…). The way the ground appears to be sliced and folded shows how Labics created contextual urban continuity. In addition, the building volumes are extruded above the folded piazza.
It’s good to see a winning proposal of this scope and scale built. The surfaces of the architectural massing demonstrate the design principles Unity and Variety, distinguishing between the retail, office, and residential uses. Urbanism with social ethos and style is all an audience can ask.
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Written by CPG
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