Ricerc@Sapienza

The research aim is to reconnect Rome's Walls and central archaeologica area to the city's vital circuits , as complex infrastructure that can generate new cultural-historical meanings and encourage new functions (tourism, group activities, and urban accessibility) and contemporary outlook (ecological, walkability, ciclability and social inclusion). The concept of complex infrastructure is a transversal reference to the different disciplines involved, within the same intervention strategy.
The Walls and Forums are considered simultaneously as:
1. Historical-archaeological infrastructures - capable of supporting new excavation and documentation campaigns; to be open-air texts for communicating extraordinary urban and environmental evolutions
2. Ecological infrastructures - able to connect and enhance the network of green spaces -precious pools of biodiversity and environmental comfort- and support sustainable mobility
3. Urban infrastructures - multiple, complex spaces that involve different scales of the architectural project, suggesting new public and collective uses.
4. Infrastructures of technological innovation - labs for experimenting new techniques and technologies specialized for cultural heritage;
5. Infrastructures of imaginary - spaces that can communicate the extraordinary stratification of literary, cinematographic, pictorial, photographic and design images and imaginaries.
The research activity begins by developing a model (Phase 1), then validates it through structured comparisons with significant subjects (Phase 2), acquires and analyzes its results and finally achieves its final definition, which will be developed through specific planning simulations in different urban contexts (Phase 3).
Dialogue and interaction will be provided through seminars and design workshops actively involving significant actors (administrators, citizens¿ associations, foundations) towards concrete prospects of social, economic and administrative feasibility.