Alghero, Italy
Fostering Urban Growth Through Landscape Design, Architecture, and Identity
As a team member at 5+1AA Studio, I contributed to the project’s architectural vision, urban planning, and landscape strategy. Our approach emphasized the harmonious integration of built structures with the surrounding natural and urban contexts. The architectural design draws from Sardinia’s vernacular forms and materials, uniting them with modern elements to create structures that function as both landmarks and components of the ecological landscape.
Urban planning played a crucial role in reconnecting the fragmented layers of the Maria Pia area. By introducing permeable corridors and reestablishing links between the Calich wetland and the coastline, the design fosters ecological continuity and social interaction. These interventions, coupled with new recreational and hospitality facilities, redefine the area’s relationship with Alghero, enhancing accessibility and revitalization.
Landscape design forms the cornerstone of the project, incorporating dunes, umbrella-pine forests, and native Mediterranean vegetation to create a sustainable and immersive experience. These features shape shaded pathways, recreation zones, and garden spaces, while ensuring ecological self-sufficiency over time.The Calich park serves as a vital interface between the built environment and the natural pond, offering a system of trails, viewpoints, and piers that enrich the user experience.
The project exemplifies a holistic design approach, where architecture elevates the site’s identity, urban planning enhances connectivity, and landscape design preserves ecological integrity. The 5+1AA Studio team orchestrated these elements into a cohesive vision, shaping a space that is dynamically functional and profoundly connected to Sardinia’s rich heritage. (Credit: 5+1AA Studio, 2011).