Views + Connectivity

The group project looks at an abandoned 19th-century factory complex located next to Zaha Hadid’s MAXXI Museum in Rome. This site creates the perfect opportunity for a residential adaptive reuse project. The site is located in the Flaminio neighborhood, a rapidly growing area of northern Rome that also includes Renzo Piano’s Music Auditorium, numerous arts and sports centers, and a planned Museum of Science. The historic setting of Rome offers challenges but opportunities as well. Our proposal focused on how climate affects design on the site and the relationship of our project to the historic urban fabric of Rome. The medieval towers of Rome, that once marked the urban turf of powerful families and protected strategic urban nodes, inspired the towers placed at crucial entry points of our site. Sightlines and views are an important element of the design. The structures framing the edge of the site direct one’s views from one exterior space to another. The aim is to strengthen community identity and a sense of ownership through a clear demarcation of the visual boundaries of the site as well as its internal visual connections. The project addressed demographic issues. The area attracts a wide demographic of residents and that influenced our design, which includes a variety of housing types— one to three-bedroom apartments, lofts, townhomes, and multi-generational housing.