Subterranean Piazza

TIMELINE: 6 Weeks

MEDIUMS USED: Bristol Paper, spray paint,  Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

CONSTRAINTS: Located underneath a busy intersection, must include a bike shop, a cafe`, eating and lounging space, a mural, and ramps + stairs for bikers and pedestrians. Must also connect the Opera House with the neighborhood and the metro station.

ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS:

The technical challenge of this project is the underground aspect, limiting both space and light opportunities. The true design challenge is to make a space that adheres to the three locations it is connecting: The Opera House, residential neighborhoods, and the metro station. The site proved challenging because of the lack of civil planning involved, which meant the subterranean plaza had to provide at least three openings and in fixed locations. The Opera House’s monumental size, when compared to the neighborhood it faces, created a need for part of the size to be included in the design.

 

The northeastern opening, or the Opera house opening, utilizes the Opera House’s vast green park located at the entrance, creating a stairway that gradually lowers the pedestrians underground. Halfway through the stairway, a stage can be found for public performances. The space feels like a funnel guiding you underneath, where the first sight is the corridor leading to the opposite side of the road, toward the residential neighborhood. Upon entering the underground space, the pedestrian/biker is met with a gathering space surrounded by terraced flowers leading to the sky. On the left side, is the bike shop. Across from the bike shop is the cafe area, where the service elevator can be found. Between the cafe and bike shop, the long ramp leading to the metro station is located. The exit facing the neighborhood is aligned to the above ground green space located in the center of the residential road. 

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The shape is designed to align with existing constructions, as well as to maximize comfort and lighting; with the idea behind it being it leads to a pleasant bike ride as well as a comfortable walk up and down. There is a fourth exit available solely by stairway leading to the bus stop, as I observed that station was used often by locals. The project features a mural that runs alongside the southwest wall. The mural depicts the history of Florence and its people around the river Arno through iconography using spray painting as a medium. Spray painting is also used as the medium to depict the “vignettes” or viewpoints inside the Piazza.