Parking becomes an urban oasis: new furniture, tree-lined flowerbeds, and redesigned light mobility paths reshape a commercial area, making it greener, more welcoming, and safer.
Mini Mega Spazio goes to Alpignano
Social Design
Within the commercial area on Via Cavour in Alpignano, Mini Mega Spazio has transformed a space once dedicated solely to car parking into an urban oasis — multifunctional, accessible, regenerating, and welcoming for the community. The project, made possible through support from the Regional Call for Urban Areas, was curated by Quattrolinee, Graphic Days, and Neò Natura su Misura.
Benefits for the environment and the community
Urban furnishings to encourage people to stop and rest, tree-lined flowerbeds to provide shade and environmental quality, and new pedestrian and cycling paths to ensure safe access on foot and by bicycle.
The creation of 385 square meters of flowerbeds — featuring 22 tall trees, 693 shrubs, and 351 herbaceous plants — has led to a significant reduction in paved surface and a 72% increase in permeable area. This new green infrastructure and the resulting decrease in asphalt surface help improve air quality, manage rainwater, enhance biodiversity, and reduce the effects of heat waves.
By combining greenery and sustainable mobility services, the project enhances public space and contributes to a more livable, resilient, and healthy city.
Activities with schools and social design
Tallone Middle School was actively involved in a participatory exploration and mapping process, collecting ideas for lots still awaiting redevelopment and reflecting on the future use of those already being transformed.
After an outdoor activity focused on observation and documentation, students rebuilt a map of the area in the classroom, analyzing the potential benefits of the interventions. The workshop concluded with a creative brainstorming session, where they proposed functions, elements, and names for the area — contributing to the development of the space with creativity and civic awareness.
Communication
Clear, accessible, and multi-channel communication supported the project, with the aim of actively involving the community in the transformation process. Before and during the construction, residents were kept informed with simple content, featuring a consistent and codified visual identity, shared through the social media channels of the Municipality of Alpignano and in collaboration with Graphic DaysⓇ.
Printed materials, such as informational postcards distributed in the neighborhood and on-site graphic panels, complemented online activities by directly and immediately illustrating what was changing.
Special attention was paid to the area’s future, with a focus on upcoming transformations and building a more sustainable and inclusive city.
Altri progetti
