Giustiniano Imperatore masterplan

location: Giustiniano Imperatore district - Roma, Italy

program: strategic masterplan proposal for the urbanistic refurbishment of the Giustiniano Imperatore neighbourhood, with progressive substitution of existing blocks consisting of 2.300 appartments and 25.000m2 commercial space, neighbourhood park design, tram stop.

dates: project 2004

data: total built area 200.000 m2

masterplan architect: waltritsch a+u, Arch. Dimitri Waltritsch Trieste, Italy
in partnership with Frits van Dongen / de Architecten Cie., Michael van Gessel, Pietro Celli
team: Dimitri Waltritsch with Marco Medizza

The project sets the basic guide lines for the refurbishment of an entire district built in the post war period, and now facing a dramatic situation because of the hydro geologic instability of the soil. Up to twelve high storeys buildings where then built on top of a river bed, and have today dramatic static problem. The Municipality decided therefore for a program of progressive demolition and substitution of the buildings self. The masterplan project redesign this part of the city reinterpreting the close garden city Garbatella, built in the ’20, looking at its the public/private relationship, the public space hierarchy and typological and architectural diversity, while adapting those original qualities to up to date density requirements and solving the parking problem, which has nowadays became a serious threat for the garden city daily life. The new Giustinano Imperatore neighbourhood introduces a new typological complexity, based on a central neighbourhood strip park, defined on its borders directly from the buildings, which have direct pedestrian access to the green. The plan devotes therefore a great deal of attention to the physical and visual links between the individual dwellings and this public green space. Along the large central avenue with the tram line the buildings are up to eight storeys high and are hosting shops and neighbourhood facilities at the ground floor with extra ceiling height. The block is then rapidly stepping to four floors towards the park. The other side of the green is defined by a  lower typology, which in Roma is called Palazzina. All private cars are hosted in semi underground parking under the buildings. The higher block along the avenue is also equipped with private gardens for the ground floor apartments on top of the parking, and with green roof terraces on top. The Palazzina has small private gardens along the perimeter of the building.

Images and text © D. Waltritsch. Use only by permission.