Urban regeneration of the San Paolo district of Martina Franca
This is an urban regeneration project for the Contrada San Paolo district of Martina Franca. It is driven by a desire to improve the area’s urban and architectural quality by providing communal spaces.
The square in front of the church, which was once a busy thoroughfare, is being transformed into a multifunctional space characterised by large steps on the sides that divide the area vertically. Distinctive paving will be created using local stone, and trees will be planted to mitigate the heat island effect.
DETAILS
Status: Architecture Competition
Client: Municipality of Martina Franca
Design team: M. Valagussa, M. Fraschini, E. Costa, A. Lipovica, M. Viganò
Location: Martina Franca (Taranto – Apulia – Italy)
Scope: Public
Sector: Public spaces
GALLERY
Description
The Contrada di San Paolo district of Martina Franca is a suburban area situated between the city centre and the surrounding countryside. Despite having services such as schools, pharmacies, post offices and churches, the area lacks a central hub. The project proposal aims to improve the area’s urban and architectural quality by providing communal spaces, enhancing the beauty of the settlement while preserving the landscape. In the project, the square in front of the church is transformed from a simple road junction into a proper square. This will be a place for people to enjoy, enhancing the civic significance and urban quality of public services. To delimit the space, the square’s sides were closed off with two rows of steps.
The new square has a clear and simple layout: the side steps divide the space vertically, while the decorative paving provides a distinctive identification of the location. The floor is decorated using local stone (carparo and mazzaro) and marble to enhance the beauty of the area. The addition of greenery helps to mask the steps. This can help control the temperature during the hottest months of the year, limiting the heat island effect throughout the neighbourhood.
Status: Architecture Competition
Client: Municipality of Martina Franca
Design team: M. Valagussa, M. Fraschini, E. Costa, A. Lipovica, M. Viganò
Location: Martina Franca (Taranto – Apulia – Italy)
Scope: Public
Sector: Public spaces
