International ideas competition – FIRST PRIZE
location Ozzano dell’Emilia (IT)
area 30 Ha
client Comune di Ozzano dell’Emilia
amount 2.000.000 euros
year 2010
with LAMBER + LAMBER, INOUT architettura and TASCA Studio
The project exploits the archaeological site of the historic roman city of Claterna, located on Emilia Street, east of Bologna. The aim is to create a park, integrated amongst excavation activity, sociability for the local community, access to the territory and development of technical-scientific knowledge. The ancient traces, the agricultural structure based on the roman land division and the areas of excavation are the structural grid of the park. Variable elements are: the presence and size of the areas of excavation and the paths connecting them, the areas dedicated to teaching and outdoor laboratory. Temporary elements are the spaces dedicated to events, shows, leisure activities. The soil is covered with carpets of grass with superficial roots, a choice that does not come into conflict with the scarce depth of the archaeological structures and guarantees high flexibility in the definition of spaces: obtaining new empty spaces and new distances involves the simple task of mowing . The old paths are obtained from the planted volume by structuring the fixed distance system of the park. The area, outside the limits of the ancient city but inside the edge of the park, is full of flowers in low maintenance. The presence of this grass emphasizes the perception of historical extension of Claterna and at the same time it identifies an area for leisure activities.
The areas of excavation instead take the form of open-air rooms, empty or full, bordered by vegetation. Once the excavation phase is concluded, the area can be left open and protected with roofs in case of significant archaeological finds, or covered with low grasses and a totem indicating timing, methods of excavation and the results of specific archaeological research. Finally those areas that do not reveal any archaeological interest can be used to obtain new spaces for relaxing and leisure, enriching the structure of the urban park even by planting vegetation with deep root system.
