vincent callebaut masterplans a self-sufficient city of science in rome

vincent callebaut masterplans a self-sufficient city of science in rome
image © vincent callebaut architectures

french architect vincent callebaut has devised a masterplan to transform rome’s military district into a self-sufficient urban ecosystem. the ‘città della scienza’, or the ‘city of science’, encourages the promotion of sustainable design, low carbon transportation and renewable energies.

an aerial view of the 86,000 square meter site
image © vincent callebaut architectures

through referencing land art, a movement in which landscape and the work of art are inextricably linked, callebaut’s proposal is covered with edible plants that are intelligent, self producing and organic. consequently, roofs and balconies become the new grounds of a green city, while the orchards and food gardens become the primary structures that dominate the site.

proposal is covered with edible plants that are intelligent, self producing and organic
image © vincent callebaut architectures

the 86,000 square meter area is considered crucial in the process of rome’s ongoing regeneration – linking zaha hadid’s MAXXI museum with the auditorium to the north of the city. the masterplan offers contemporary large public spaces and a dynamic social mix, presenting high values in terms of urban connectivity between the district’s different identities and cultural destinations.

roofs and balconies become the new grounds of a green city
image © vincent callebaut architectures

below, vincent callebaut explains the six fundamental principles of the design.

1. correlation with the context and the industrial history: crossing the area, a grid of permeable public spaces grafts all the paths from piazza melozzo da forlì, from piazza mancini, from the via flaminia, and from the MAXXI square. inside, the tree-lined avenues are kept, like fingerprints, the pre-existing industrial buildings envelopes transformed into magnificent lofts. most of the residences and commercial spaces are aligned along the edge of the site to give form and consistency to the great original block.

the masterplan offers a range of dynamic public spaces
image © vincent callebaut architectures

2. articulation of various public spaces, building types and architectural languages: the system of public spaces, despite its variety, forms a unitary structure characterizing strongly the project from the point of view of beauty and quality of life. the variation of building types, scales and architectural languages presents an obvious additional aesthetic quality. the entire site is pedestrian! regarding to the mobility, the private accesses to the underground car parks (on maximum two levels under residential buildings) are systematically located on the edges of the area. public car parks are located under the square facing to viale del vignola and under the building of the città della scienza.

the scheme comprises flexible and multi-functional urban spaces
image © vincent callebaut architectures

3. flexible and multi-functional urban spaces: the functions, as reflected in the master plan, bind the transformations induced by the diagonal pathway: retail stores, ateliers for artists and craftsmen, small art galleries, bars and restaurants, neighborhood services, all the needs of the city’s events and exhibitions of science are thought in order to not disturb the privacy and the intimacy that must characterize the residential spaces.

a social mix of dwellings are provided
image © vincent callebaut architectures

4. cityscape full of trees (‘trees of shadow and harmony’ – l. sciascia): the intensive planting of mature trees is designed not only for their intrinsic beauty, but also for the positive environmental effects (reduction in co2, particulate removal, microclimates in public spaces). all the roofs and balconies of each new buildings become communitarian orchards and/or food and aromatic gardens to design a flourishing and fertile master plan.

three distinct towers provide living accommodation
image © vincent callebaut architectures

5. bio-sustainability of urban plants and buildings: the landscape architecture (land arch)  aims at reaching the following green features : the recovery of rainwater for irrigation of public and private green areas, photovoltaic electricity production, the domestic hot water production by solar tubes, the control of microclimates in public spaces (daylight and shadow), the municipal solid waste recycling on site by biomass, the energy-efficient buildings (treatment of facades with respect to guidance), and finally the lighting appliances with integrated micro-wind turbines.

urban connectivity is ensured between the district’s cultural destinations
image © vincent callebaut architectures

6. social mix of dwelling units: the masterplan proposes a large choice of apartments scales in different building types taking into account the expected diversification of housing demand.

the project has been studied in collaboration with the two following rome-based agencies: COFFICE- studio di architettura e urbanistica and studio d’architettura briguglio morales, under the supervision of prof. ing. paolo colarossi.

perspective view along the promenade and piazza
image © vincent callebaut architectures

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project info:

type: international master planning & architectural competition
international design architect: vincent callebaut architectures, paris
local architects: coffice – studio di architettura e urbanistica + studio d’architettura briguglio morales, roma
supervisor: prof. ing. paolo colarossi, roma capitale
developer: roma capitale, cdp investimenti sgr
program: 35,000 sqm of residences and accommodations, 10,000 sqm commercial,  14,000 sqm public spaces and facilities,  città della scienza 27,000 sqm
total surface area: 86,000 sqm
budget: 270 million euros
status: idea