Rovigo (RO), Italia

castello e spazi pubblici

recupero dell'area del castello di rovigo

navarrini architetti e associati, Marco Venturi, Paolo Bolner, Emanuele Ferrarese

The City Council administration promoted a “rehabilitation plan” for the development of the area around the Castle, which had, until then, been a “marginal” site despite the fact it was in the very heart of the historic centre of Rovigo, a place in which it is difficult to perceive its original memory as it has been subjected to different kinds of interventions over the years, which either restricted or changed its visibility and fruition.

percorsi nel parco

This “museum” restoration was therefore part of the overall restructuring of the district, modifying its flows and uses, and restoring the green areas for continuous use. As such, the project organises an integrated system of itineraries, both guided and independent, to allow the visual fruition of the archaeological sites and use of the green areas and of the equipped areas that are related the area of the Castle to the surrounding urban context.

First and foremost, this meant eliminating obstacles that hindered its perception and fruition. Secondly, highlighting the original location of the Adigetto, the port and Ponte Zemello, simultaneously determining and planning a small square towards Vicolo del Castello. This would result in a permanent equipped linear area which, reinforcing the historic memory of the border of the city, would make the market in the periphery a place of exchange and communication, like the old river banks, and not an exclusion between the areas.

At the same time, a system of interconnected squares equipped for multiple functions would be created, outlined in relief and faced with brick, like the typical barnyards typical of the delta of the Po. In this manner the principle of non destruction prevails while reinterpreting the past and strengthening its identity. The idea is to reconstruct the old castle network as an additional tourist offer; this would not be in competition with the neighbouring ones but complementary, offering something that is lacking elsewhere; Spaces for youth associations underground, an equipped market, and facilities for outdoor performances.

Qualified free time is probably the sector with the greatest chance of growth: this requires offering opportunities and light-weight structures so that the local initiative may develop.