MICROSCAPE Designs A Public Car Park Using Up-Cycled Materials

Camaiore, Italy

Project Status: Built

Year: 2021

Size: 0 sqft – 1000 sqft

The small public car park that the citizens had long been requesting from the local administration was tasked with combining functional needs with integration into the agricultural landscape of Nebbiano. Situated on a small wooded plateau, this low-cost project challenges the concept of property boundaries. Beyond all clichés, property boundaries structure the whole design of urban public space: its demarcations, rights of way, privacy.

Architizer chatted with Patrizia Pisaniello, Co-founder and partner at MICROSCAPE to learn more about the project.

Architizer: Please summarize the project brief and creative vision behind your project.

Patrizia Pisaniello: We believe that architecture is a process which combines multiple scales. In our approach, the most important thing is the space, the space between community, client, environment, technologies, memory, desire. We paid attention to the wishes of the inhabitants of the neighborhood and at the same time the landscape captured in its wildest expression. The new car park is not only the answer to a functional request but is the Palinsesto where the community meets together and identifies itself.

© MICROSCAPE architecture urban design AA

What inspired the initial concept for your design?

The wild landscape and the Arte Povera of Jannis Kounnellis inspired the concept for our design.

What do you believe is the most unique or ‘standout’ component of the project?

The use of recycled materials. When we visited Nebbiano we remembered Jannis Kounellis’ Arte Povera and we decided to use recycled materials: the railway sleepers that make fence between private and public places.

What drove the selection of materials used in the project?

Our sensibility to the surrounding wild landscape and the environment as well as our technological skills to repurpose materials. Sustainability was a very important criteria in our design process.

What key lesson did you learn in the process of conceiving the project?

We learned that it is necessary to have much more patience with the clients throughout the process.

Credits Client: Municipality of Camaiore (LU)Architectural and landscape design: MICROSCAPE architecture urban design AA Safety: MICROSCAPE architecture urban design AA Work supervision: MICROSCAPE architecture urban design AA Contractors: Panza s.r.l.

For more information on Public car park in the Nebbiano countryside, visit the in-depth project profile on Architizer.