Bertalia Lazzaretto Social Housing Single-Stage Competition
Location: Bologna, Italy
Year: 2024
Project Team: GICO, React Studio, Studio Nuvolari, Warehouse of Architecture and Research

In the plan for completing the area in question, the new neighborhoods are conceived as a synergistic and open system of sustainable “eco-cells” (insulae), functioning both as individual units and as a complex aggregation of micro-systems. The interconnection between these new systems and the existing fabric occurs through the development of various connective networks and the implementation of local and supra-local services, both existing and planned.

From an urban planning perspective, the design strategy aims to stitch together and enhance the built fabric by reinforcing the complementary services related to the key local and supra-local attractors already present in the area, such as the university complex and the AUSL facility, as well as the expansion of extensive green spaces and the development of equipped parks.

“Urban Health” refers to a strategic approach that integrates health protection and promotion actions into urban planning, emphasizing the strong connection between physical, mental, and social well-being and the urban environment in which people live.

This urban concept is reflected in the competition masterplan through a holistic vision of well-being, ensuring a balance between high-quality permanent urban landscapes and flexible urban spaces that can change and support the development of various activities and events. These spaces aim to encourage and enrich the social diversity of the new settlement, foster a culture of participation and dialogue, and accommodate different uses according to the times of day.