PASSA A LARGO

The chosen project area is located in Largo Passamonti, in the II district of Rome. In order to identify the features, in terms of advantages and disadvantages, characterizing the area and the whole San Lorenzo neighbourhood where the area is located, we firstly conducted a context analysis. The area is in front of a university venue that has recently been open and at the edge of a neighbourhood characterized by a significant deficit of green public spaces. It is surrounded by highly congested streets and, although well connected with public transportation, it is oppressed by wild parking practices. 

Using an online survey and face-to-face interviews as participative methods, we included perceptions from local inhabitants and stakeholders into the analysis. Within the local stakeholders, we consulted the ones whose activity could match with what we devised for the area (local associations; businesses and handcrafters; students attending to the university, etc.). Results pointed out that the revitalization of the area represents a great topic of interest within the neighbourhood.

Currently, however, the Passamonti park represents a residual space that is only frequented by the specific target related with the two functional areas in which it is divided: a dog area and one of the few free basketball fields in Rome. In general, the park is not attractive because it is currently degraded, barely maintained, inhabited by homeless people, polluted and poorly accessible. Nevertheless, due to the park potential to be alluring if regenerated, inhabitants and stakeholders as well as the local administration have shown interest in participating at the project’s promotion and implementation.

We are therefore proposing here a project of “participated urban regeneration” aiming to convert the park into a dynamic area where people can find a fine-looking and multi-functional place to stay and can contribute to the revitalization process, gain environmental awareness and develop a green stewardship. In detail, we propose the realization of many activities in the project area, such as environmental education for kids and young students; air pollution supervision and green solutions toward an improved air quality; auto-construction workshop of tactical urbanism linked to the themes of recycling and zero waste production; street markets and many more.

To allow such activities and recall people to live the park, a structural regeneration, both of the “brown” (wood) and “green” (vegetation) infrastructures, is required. We intend to plant the vegetative species, both trees and shrubs, which better absorb the atmospheric pollutants and the noises deriving from the adjacent streets. In addition, we plan to build a set of modular wooden sits for the people to relax, watch a basketball match or a street art performance, socialize, study or eat. Expected results concern a positive revitalization of an underused green area that become an attractive place and a pilot project for participative processes and ecologic solutions, and the promotion of the idea that a transition towards a sustainable urban regeneration is possible. Weaknesses inherent to this project can mostly derive from the participation approach, but, once overcome, allow for regenerating a green area in the described context, which constitute the powerful strength of this project. Future implementations can involve the building of a bike-lane connecting the park to the other green areas of the neighbourhood.