Bologna, Italy. From a parking lot to a pedestrian green space
Bologna is home to the oldest university in Europe, nestled in the heart of the historic centre. The university area has long been considered a hybrid place made of disconnected open spaces where little to no interaction, even conflicts, happened between students, residents and passersby, rich in hidden and often unknown cultural heritage treasures. Together with the University and its Urban Centre, Bologna transformed the university area into a living laboratory to co-design actions combining conservation of cultural heritage, innovation and environmental protection. The idea of redesigning Piazza Rossini was born during the participatory laboratory ‘U-Lab’ implemented in the university area.