FIRST TREES FIRST. The Subasio Park gateway project in Assisi

Abstract

The project to transform the former ‘Olive trees’ sports centre in Assisi into a gateway to the Subasio Park (a protected natural area involving the municipalities of Assisi, Spello, Valtopina and Nocera Umbra) is characterized by an organic de-sign that, in order to validate its sustainable vocation, avoids any replication of the accommodation typologies proper to religious tourism, where the volume is concentrated in a single large building. Most importantly, to ensure the psycho-physical and social well-being of users ‒ even before they enjoy the benefits guaranteed by the park’s forest habitat ‒ the project safeguards the existing trees (olive trees and tall oaks) by the integration, if necessary, with undergrowth plants. So, the project confirms the void of the former stadium as a topographical memory and distributes the new buildings (designed according to the principles of bio-architecture) in compromised areas as well as in residual spaces of the olive grove. The result is a truly soft-tech hamlet in the midst of nature in which the former bleachers, suitably re-shaped, become as many suspended pedestrian paths that branch off into and link up with the park’s nature trails. In addition, they provide a widespread supply of places to rest and socialize allowing both sports practices (such as trekking and mountain biking) and the reaching of Subasio summit prairies as well as the location of natural take-off points for paragliding and hang-gliding.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.33.2024.4