‘apennine revitalization plan’by alessandro corradini of mdu architetti, san marino, italy all images courtesy of mdu architetti

alessandro corradini of prato-based mdu architetti has developed ‘apennine revitalization plan’ a master proposal for the chippers’ community in san marino, italy. during the last century the territory of the italian ridge (1200km long) has experienced a progressive economic and demographic decline caused by the low revenue activities linked to the area. 

until the 1930s, the apennine communities, were deriving their revenue from forest treatments linked to the production of wood carbon. the economic system, social relations and cultural identity did not survive due to the urban migration to city centers and the increased industrialization of the country. the revitalization plan looks into the current condition and reassess the use of plant resources with a focus on renewable energy sources.

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 2 placement of new industries

the apennine territory is ideal for wood-based biomass production while technology offers the opportunity to locally convert such resource in energy, directly through co-generation plants by using wooden material pyrolyse procedure, through which a compound gas is produced. these type of plants have a remarkable efficiency in converting primary chemical energy in electricity. the apennine forests can be divided in basins of wood-based biomass supply according to ground and arboreous species characteristics; the transportation systems towards the co-generators consist in funicular railways and electric means. the power stations consist in structures aiming to redefine the relation between human beings and territory and expression of pride of the renewed chippers’ civilization.

boroughs revive; the settlements’ structure is modified in order to reply to the newly developing dynamics; in the apennine valleys emerge new, light towers safeguarding the cultivation and treatment of the forests. the entirety of the plants spread along the apennine axis designs an ‘energetic spine’, a new economic, social, political and cultural structure inspired from cohesion and cooperation.

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 3 new identity for the community

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 4

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 5

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 6 history of chippers’ civilization

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 7 plotting of plants that produce energy

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 8 analysis of ridge

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 9 power distribution

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 10 new industry in green energy

  alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 11 community members with a representation of new green industries      

alessandro corradini: apennine revitalization plan - 12

  designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions’  feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here