© Antonio Bergamasco . Pubblicata il 04 Dicembre 2008.

LINKING-SION conceptural approch of the project

The aim of the proposal is to link Sion together, to join the different urban tissues which today is clearly separated by the railroad terrain and the chaotic area around the Place de la gare. Linking Sion is a necessary objective for the future development of the city. Connecting the historical city center with the Rhone river area holds great potentials. The proposal aims to link Sion on different levels of scale: large, medium and small.

LINKING-LARGE LINKING LARGE, is a study of the whole region, especially concentrated on the Rhone valley. Analyses of the typography, economy and programmatic values of the are points at the fact that Sion has a very privileged position, with great potentials in fields as: transportation, culture, leisure, housing and tourism. The key theme in developing this position is the creation of the new Logistic Park west of the city center, as an integrated part of the new Rhone Valley Park. This Logistic Park will constitute Sion as the main regional transportation hub. The Logistic Park will be perfectly situated between the railroad and the major car roads in the region. The second important reason for creation this new transport center, is to liberate the very valuable terrain in Sion city, today occupied by the railroad. In the future all goods and cargo will be de-charged in the new Logistic Park and delivered directly to the respective industries and other companies in the region. This is a highly efficient, flexible and space reducing principle.

LINKING-MEDIUM The next scale of interest in the proposal is the study of the city center of Sion. Binding together the torn city is the main issue. The study is closely connected the LINKING LARGE. The new master plan is a continuation of this urban/ landscape study. The aim of LINKING MEDIUM is to introduce a zip, a series of staples that together with the new park links together Sion in an successful and interesting way. The transversal patterns of the park guides the understanding of the idea of crossing the former barrier, the railroad terrain. The continuation of the existing roads in the city into the new park, interconnects the existing with new in a very direct way. The creation of the tunnel, as a continuation of Rue de la mayonnets, so it now connects with Rue de l´industrie creates a new important north- south connection in Sion. The study LINKING MEDIUM also introduces an integration of several public attractors in the master plan. As giant stepping-stones the new terminal building, the new multifunctional hall, the new sports hall and the new cinema complex joins together Sion. They function as physical connections in the park. Residents and visitor can cross the railroad tracks through these objects. But also their value as social attractors is an very important issue in the project. They link together the people in Sion on many levels.

LINKING-SMALL In LINKING SMALL the focus of the proposal is directed to the scale of the human being, the architecture and the social aspects of the life in Sion. The proposal aims at linking together spaces and function of the master plan, through the use of different gradient transitions. The bordering streets of the city park: Avenue de France / Avenue de Tourbillon and Rue de l´industrie are enforced by creating the new housing volumes. The street spaces get defined and articulated by the creation of the new “neighbors”. This new street spaces weld together the existing urban tissue with the new. The mineral bands preserved for the pedestrians continue the urban character into the park. These bands connect with the rhythm of the existing city. The ground level of the housing volume, towards the streets, is occupied by commercial spaces. This intensifies the character of the streets. In the “arms” of the volumes that reaches into the park, the ground level is also used for public purposes, but less commercial. Here the residents finds kindergartens, youth clubs, old peoples clubs and other associations. They serve as at gradient transition from the busy street side to the more clam park side. The apartment typologies are all transversal organized. Through the waste livings paces the residents have both contact to the street side and the park side. Besides this quality the apartments also profit of the sun through out the day. The proposal also aims to link people together socially on a small scale. Therefore residents find common function on ground level as well se shared roof terraces. On ground level are located rental spaces for residents. Workshops for bikes and skies and other user defined program. The common roof terraces holds facilities as: sun terrace, herbs garden and laundry section.