Revitalising the old town centre of Cassano d’Adda for a more inclusive urban environment

“Beauty will save us,” wrote Dostoevsky, a sentiment that perfectly captures the spirit of an urban regeneration project recently carried out in Cassano d’Adda in the province of Bergamo. The initiative involved removing architectural barriers and redeveloping the town centre to make it more attractive and accessible. “The Via Veneto project arose from the municipal administration’s need to upgrade the town’s main street,” explain architects Angela Ceresoli and Massimo Bernardelli. “Before the intervention, people walking through the town centre were forced to use two old, narrow pavements with architectural barriers. Moreover, cyclists often chose to ride on the pavements to avoid the traffic, leading to constant conflicts with pedestrians. Conditions for people with disabilities were even worse. Cars parked on both sides of the street and heavy, fast-moving traffic made the entire area unsafe. The aim of the project was to restore the street’s urban functions. With the opening of a ring road and the diversion of through traffic, it was possible to rethink the role of this street and redesign the town centre as a more liveable space. Freed from vehicles, Via Veneto has been opened up to different uses, while offering more space for shops and services. The decision to abandon the worn-out, car-dominated layout has led to a new design that is appealing, original and accessible to all.”

The result is a more inclusive historic centre. “One of the project’s aims was to create a single, attractive, open space,” the architects continue. “A safe place free of architectural barriers, where people can finally enjoy conditions such as suitable paving, high-quality street furniture for pedestrians and cyclists and effective traffic-calming measures. In short, it is a new urban space where people can meet and socialise around the church, town hall, parish centre and shops.”

For the paving, the architects chose Pietra Lavica from the Saxa Gres brand Grestone. “Porcelain stoneware was chosen for the urban paving as it offers good aesthetic and textural qualities while being relatively thin. The smooth, uniform surfaces of Pietra Lavica are ideal for both pedestrians and cyclists, and it also performs well in all weather conditions. We opted for the Sand and Grey versions, which fit in well with the historic setting.” Ceramics can play an important role in improving townscapes. “In our project, porcelain stoneware proved to be an effective and versatile choice for contemporary urban design. It allowed us to combine aesthetics and functionality and to create paving with flowing, organic forms.”

Environmental considerations were equally important. “We also chose Pietra Lavica from Saxa Gres because its composition incorporates waste materials that would otherwise be sent to landfill, thereby avoiding the use of raw materials and the quarrying of natural stone.”