in the loop - rome, italy
professor: lawrence zeroth
partner: wengelyn muñoz
arch 402 (spring 2023)
THE SITE
My eighth semester of architecture school was spent abroad in Rome, Italy. The prompt for this studio was what we would alter to Rome’s urban planning and landscape if the Lungotevere, a large highway system added during the Mussolini era, was removed.
The site chosen for our intervention extends from the area surrounding the Foro Boario, across the river and downwards. This means that our project encompasses a variety of historical landmarks, all of which have been embedded accordingly in our design. These include: The Temple of Portunus and Hercules, Fountain of the Tritons, Arch of Janus, Ponte Rotto, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, and the existing Campagna Market, as well as the Circus Maximus. Prior to our intervention, all are overtaken by the highly packed traffic along the Lungotevere, leading into a large parking lot. As it stands, the site is very isolated from pedestrians.
Our goal was to start to bring a more direct interaction among the monuments, the city, pedestrians and the Tiber River.
My eighth semester of architecture school was spent abroad in Rome, Italy. The prompt for this studio was what we would alter to Rome’s urban planning and landscape if the Lungotevere, a large highway system added during the Mussolini era, was removed.
The site chosen for our intervention extends from the area surrounding the Foro Boario, across the river and downwards. This means that our project encompasses a variety of historical landmarks, all of which have been embedded accordingly in our design. These include: The Temple of Portunus and Hercules, Fountain of the Tritons, Arch of Janus, Ponte Rotto, Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, and the existing Campagna Market, as well as the Circus Maximus. Prior to our intervention, all are overtaken by the highly packed traffic along the Lungotevere, leading into a large parking lot. As it stands, the site is very isolated from pedestrians.
Our goal was to start to bring a more direct interaction among the monuments, the city, pedestrians and the Tiber River.
PROGRAMS
The Church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, which was built in the 8th century, was one of the first food distribution centers of ancient Rome. It was a place where charitable distributions were given to the poor, and it is appropriate that such an institution was built near the Forum Boarium, which was a cattle market. This majorly served as inspiration for our project - we sought to restore this area to its former glory by re-introducing these programs to the area, while linking them together physically and visually.
The terraced gardens supplement the food bank, restaurant, and markets, which would be an open service interconnected with our homeless shelter program. The homeless shelter is meant to temporarily house and provide further resources to about 200 residents at a time
Embedded within our series of monuments, which stand in the Forum Boarium, is a playground, meant to aid community interaction with the monuments on our site and activate the site as a network for social interaction and activity.
The boat house program exists as a method of activating the river, allowing for canoes, kayaks, and rowboats rentals.
ZOOMED IN: RESTAURANT
The paths bring the restaurant and part of the garden program towards the Trastevere side of the river. This allows for complete social activation of the site, allowing for access down towards the river. The inclusion of the restaurant allows for a program focusing on food, sourced by the gardens. The restaurant also provides lounging and views of the water and Tiber Island.
The paths bring the restaurant and part of the garden program towards the Trastevere side of the river. This allows for complete social activation of the site, allowing for access down towards the river. The inclusion of the restaurant allows for a program focusing on food, sourced by the gardens. The restaurant also provides lounging and views of the water and Tiber Island.
ZOOMED IN: PLAYGROUND, SHELTER, MARKET
This larger view includes the playground, homeless shelter, new market and the existing Campagna Amica market. The strategies employed for the placement of the paths intend to emphasize the existing monuments. Between two halves of the homeless shelter is an extension of the path that leads directly to the arch of Janus, in a grand, framed procession. The Temple of Hercules, Temple of Portunus, and Fontana di Tritone are surrounded by stepped paths that lead upward in elevation to emphasize the importance of the monuments. Both markets, the homeless shelter, and the parks are embedded within the topographic landscape the paths create. There is an emphasis on connectivity and bringing elements of the city - new and old - together. The path in lower right corner leads to the Circus Maximus, which is to be used as farmland.
ZOOMED IN: BOAT HOUSE, FARM
This larger view shows our boat house towards the south. Here, kayaks, rowboats, and canoes are stored for rental. This provides a direct flow of movement from city level, into the boathouse, and out into the river.
This larger view shows our boat house towards the south. Here, kayaks, rowboats, and canoes are stored for rental. This provides a direct flow of movement from city level, into the boathouse, and out into the river.
SHORT SECTIONThis section shows the ground manipulation that is formed by terracing and the placement of the paths around their orbiting objects. The proximity of monuments becomes very evident in section - it is imperative to tie these elements together thematically and visually. Dispersal of park and playground equipment among monuments fosters interaction and replaces what is currently a parking lot. They serve as a method of visual framing while facilitating movement and learning.
UNROLLED SECTION
This section reveals the interconnection that the paths create in section through their topography, and how the placement of the programs flow, creating continuity.
