MASONE SQUARE DESIGN

About the Place

Masone, which connects two mountains separated by a river, dates back to the 12th century. The competition area is located at the mouth of the Via Pallavicini bridge in the Masone town settled on both sides of the Stura River, where the old "ironworks" structure is located. This area and the "ironworks" on it have determined the socio-economic life and physical environment character of the town for centuries since the pre-industrial period. The facility, which switched to textile production under the pressure of the Industrial Revolution, initially located on the outskirts, found itself in the center with the opening of a new town road and the settlement of the new city around this road, gradually feeding the town's economy for some time before completing its lifespan. Today, this empty space quietly waiting in the geometric center between the old city and the new city eagerly awaits to rejoin the town's life with joy.

 

Promenade

The two banks separated by the Stura River are connected by three vehicle and one pedestrian bridge. Walking along the river from the south of the town, the first gap is at the intersection of Via Piave and Viale Vittorio Veneto. This area hosts an isolated children's playground. Continuing the walk parallel to the river leads to the focal point of the competition. This open parking area with a view of the old town panorama is the second large urban void. After crossing the bridge, a third public void is encountered between the municipal building and the new church. You can walk to the old town from the path behind the municipal building on Via Sotto Case or the stairway on Via Pallavicini's bend.

 

The route that ends in the old town can also be accessed from Via Roma. Via Roma is the liveliest street in the city's daily life. After a breather on Viale Vittorio Veneto, this street visits the project's focal point and reaches the old town by crossing the bridge, following the traces of the first route.

 

The neighboring "urban void" to the river visited by both "promenades" that connect the old town and the new town has the potential to be the heart of Masone's public life. Just like in the centuries when the "ironworks" transformed town life with the energy of the river.

 

Spatial Organization

The goal of the project is to create the "promenade" described above along with urban landscaping and public spaces. The promenade, starting from the southern end of the new town, is equipped with landscape elements and life path features along the coast. When you reach the project area, the route is covered under a roof. The roof grows to cover two spaces, one semi-open and the other closed, connecting them and then returning to cover the route to the Via Pallavicini bridge. Spatial units are placed parallel to the river between the river and Via Roma. Landscape areas are arranged along the riverbank, while a square is organized on the street side. This way, Via Roma opens up to a triangular square and nurtures public urban life. The tranquil riverbank is dedicated to rest and sports activities. Passages under the cover connect the square and the landscape. Both volumes (shared space and fair volume) open up to both the square and the landscape corridor.

 

The arcade connecting Via Piale through the square to Via Roma and the bridge connects the two main spaces. The first is a 280 m² air-conditioned enclosed space housing cafes, libraries, coworking spaces, and public toilets that nourish daily urban life. The second is a 400m² semi-open public space that enables periodic functions such as markets, fairs, ceremonies, shows, etc., along with ceremonies, shows, etc. This space is designed to allow for parking when not used for events. The Via Piale-Viale Vittorio Veneto route is arranged for entry-exit and service access.

 

Masone's Thursday market, set up on a 400m² semi-open area, has been relocated. This area has the potential to expand up to Via Piale. When more stalls are needed, the market area will grow towards the region where Viale Vittorio Veneto connects to Via Roma. In this case, the mentioned areas will be closed to vehicular traffic. While the market operates under the roof, a series of stalls on the square front can also open up to the square during market days. Urban furniture in this area of the square will provide resting areas after shopping.

 

In the landscape corridor with one side facing the river and the other facing the urban space series, children's play areas, vista points overlooking the old town, life path elements, relaxation niches equipped with landscape furniture and flowered plants, and walking trails surrounded by flowered plants were designed.

 

Considering the contour map provided in the competition attachments, the elevation at the mouth of the Via Pallavicini bridge where it connects to Via Piale is +396.5m. The promenade connects the mentioned two points, so this elevation was used as the basis for the square and landscape arrangement. Via Roma rises from the bridge mouth and reaches a 1.5m elevation difference at the end of the square. This elevation difference between the square and Via Roma sidewalk was resolved with steps and an amphitheater layout. The amphitheater surrounding the square was designed for casual meetings/resting in daily life and as a viewing platform during events. The geometric center of the triangular square enclosed by the amphitheater was allocated for crowded events. A dry pond system was installed in this area to invite "child joy" into the public space. A small inner square around a focal tree was envisioned in the area of the square narrowing and adjacent to the fair volume.

 

Material

The idea of ​​reminding Masone's iron production and the "ironworks" history in the area determined the character of the proposed construction. The construction consists of two volumes in a single-span workshop/factory typology connected by a canopy. The overall structure is erected with steel columns and roof beams. Except for the enclosed space, the roof cover is not limited by any surfaces. The enclosed space is surrounded by glass-paneled iron frames. This preserves the continuity of the view between the square and the landscape.

 

The exterior of the building (vertical elements and roof cover) is constructed with metallic materials (iron, steel, zinc), while the interior (furniture, roof, and canopy undersurface, flooring) is made of wood and terracotta. The cold atmosphere of industrial buildings is balanced with the warmth of wood and terracotta on the facades. The terracotta used in the roof projection is continued on the square ground. The water from the river merged with the raw soil of the landscape until reaching the square. The ancient tale of clay was retold in this small town of the old continent under the familiar new melody of iron in Masone.

 

Central laboratories are located on the 3rd floor, while the blood sampling, nurse station, and waiting area are placed near the central space open to the landscape from two directions to receive ample daylight. This way, the patient entrance is contained in a specific part of the floor, aiming for efficient laboratory services independent of patient circulation. The rest/wc/vestibule needed by the Radiology personnel on the B1 floor was considered along with the Laboratory personnel rest program on this floor. Waste disposal (3.10) and cleaning room (3.19) in the laboratory program were placed on the B1 floor.