The eco-sustainable redevelopment project for a public square in the municipality of Ausonia, a small town in the province of Frosinone, has all the aesthetic and functional characteristics necessary to transform an anonymous urban area into an attractive and highly serviceable public space. But perhaps the most interesting aspect of the project is its use of porcelain pavers in an urban context that retains much of its original mediaeval character.
The starting point for the project was the need to consolidate some of the walls surrounding the square and to partially rebuild the water collection and drainage system running underneath its surface, given that its poor state of repair had caused significant deterioration of the existing structures. This meant that substantial excavation work was required, in turn making it necessary to repave almost the entire square.
The initial idea was to use local Coreno Stone in alternation with non-slip basalt slabs for the walkways, but to minimise the environmental footprint of the project by reducing the use of natural quarried materials, project leader Roberto Simonelli and site manager Mario Tomas opted for the eco-sustainable solution of Saxa Gres porcelain stoneware. In this case the two architects chose to use the Pietra Lavica Sand collection in a 30 mm thickness and a 60×60 cm size for the pedestrian areas and Basalto naturale and Pietra Lavica Sand in a 50 mm thickness and 40×60 cm size for the vehicular areas.
Both collections are part of Grestone Urban Pavings, an exclusive range of products designed by Saxa Gres specifically for urban applications that contain up to 30% recycled inert materials. They stand out for their highly realistic natural stone-effect surface textures as well as their exceptional durability and mechanical stress resistance deriving from their large thicknesses. The Pietra Lavica collection is designed to create elegant outdoor pavings that combine powerful aesthetic appeal with exceptional solidity and durability, while the traditional colour of Basalto Naturale together with its strength and versatility makes it ideal for applications such as public squares, streets, pavements and cycle paths.
As a result, this urban redevelopment project maintains the original appeal and authenticity of the historical location while protecting the environment.
