Bologna
The New Park of Justice in Bologna is conceived as a major urban regeneration strategy, redefining the former Ex-STA.VE.CO site and returning a significant piece of the city to the edge of the historic centre. The project goes beyond the creation of a new judicial hub, envisioning the transformation of a former military enclave into a sustainable, resilient and inclusive urban district, where historical identity and future-oriented design coexist. At the core of the proposal lies the idea of a New Portico for Bologna: a contemporary reinterpretation of one of the city’s most iconic urban elements. More than a building, the portico acts as an urban infrastructure — a continuous spatial system that organises functions, movements and public life, while establishing a strong relationship with both the natural and built landscape. Park and portico operate as a single integrated system. Together, they form an ecological and social framework in which greenery, water management and renewable energy become structural components of the project, on the same level as architecture and public spaces. While the Portico functions as the backbone of the new judicial district, the Park emerges as a large-scale environmental and landscape infrastructure, reconnecting fragmented urban systems — from the historic centre to the hills, from the Margherita Gardens to Rizzoli Hospital. This holistic approach addresses climate change and environmental impact while oƯering Bologna a vibrant, accessible and contemporary public space.
To become an exceptional place, a shortcut, a bypass, a true intermodal HUB for a looking-forward city as Bologna, increasingly committed to active and light mobility, efficient, and contemporary. This paradigm shift can only be achieved through the creation of appropriate infrastructures that make tangible the priority given to pedestrian and cycling flows connecting the historic centre with the hills, alongside a light tangential circulation capable of linking key points of interest along the ring roads.
Sustainability is the driving force of the project and informs every design decision. Rather than a constraint, it is understood as an opportunity for environmental, social and cultural regeneration. Reducing life-cycle impacts, simplifying maintenance and opening the site to the city are the principles shaping the New Park of Justice. Water and landscape become full-fledged infrastructures. Hydraulic balance is ensured through water-sensitive urban design strategies capable of managing extreme weather events by means of green trenches, water plazas and distributed retention systems. These solutions mitigate climate-related risks while enhancing the quality and identity of public space. The park itself is conceived as a landscape matrix integrating soft mobility, biodiversity, ecological connections and microclimatic comfort, with widespread greenery permeating the buildings and establishing a continuous dialogue between nature, architecture and the city.
The adaptive reuse of the former military buildings establishes a regeneration model aimed at climate neutrality. Respecting their historical value, the structures are reinterpreted according to Zero Emission Building (ZEB) principles. High-performance envelopes, bioclimatic strategies for daylight and comfort, efficient HVAC systems and renewable energy sources converge in an energy community capable of producing, storing and sharing clean energy with the city.
Natural light plays a central role in interior spaces, reducing energy demand and enhancing user well-being by supporting circadian rhythms. Biophilia completes this approach: the integration of vegetation, internal courtyards and visual connections to the park and surrounding landscape creates healthy, welcoming environments that improve quality of life and productivity.
The project aligns with the European mission “Smart Cities and Climate-Neutral Cities”, embraced by the city of Bologna. In addition to meeting national and local regulations, the design engages with international certification systems such as LEED BD+C and GBC HB, ensuring high standards of environmental, energy and social performance. In this vision, Ex-STA.VE.CO becomes more than the New Park of Justice: it stands as a forward-looking model of urban regeneration, capable of addressing future climate challenges while delivering a resilient, living infrastructure deeply rooted in Bologna’s history.
Location: Bologna
Year: 2023
Project Type:
Urban Regeneration
Client: Agenzia del Demanio
Status: on going
Lead Architect and Architectural Design:
Carlo Terpolilli
Architectural Design: ipostudio architetti + Eutropia Architettura
Architectural Design Collaboration and Sustainability Design: Weber Architects
Landscape Design: Inland
Urban Planning: Epsus + Area Proxima
Structural Engineering: aei progetti + Studio Sazzini
Engineering and Transport Infrastructure: Aicom
Geology: Rocco Carbonella
Archeology: Giano
Conservation and Restoration Consultant: Enrico Toniato
Communication Consultan: Pressentosa Hub
Render: Slim Studio
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