Imagine a vibrant waterfront, bathed in warm sunlight, where laughter mingles with the gentle breeze off the Adriatic. Wide, tree-lined sidewalks and paths meander along the promenade, inviting leisurely strolls and spontaneous encounters. Cyclists glide effortlessly on dedicated paths, woven through lush greenery. Native plants and wildflowers attract butterflies and birds, creating a natural symphony amidst the urban hum. Soaring walkways and viewing platforms offer breathtaking panoramas of the sea and the horizon. Here, visitors enjoy the vastness of the landscape, capturing unforgettable photos with the majestic backdrop. Children’s play areas burst with energy, offering laughter and adventure for young minds and active bodies. Spacious outdoor sports areas invite locals and visitors to engage in friendly competition. Interactive art installations and sculptures spark the curiosity of people of all ages while the new urban plaza and open-air amphitheater become a vibrant stage for cultural events and community gatherings.

This is the vision for Lignano’s transformed waterfront. It transcends a mere public space. It becomes a living symbol of Lignano’s identity. It attracts visitors, fosters a thriving community, and embodies a commitment to innovation and sustainability. This is the future of Lignano’s waterfront, a space where life unfolds in harmony with nature, inspiring a brighter future for generations to come.

The proposed design envisions a seamless blend of natural environment and urban amenities and experiences, transforming the Lungomare Riccardo Riva

into a vibrant, sustainable, and interactive waterfront community. After carefully considering the site’s unique characteristics the existing wild landscape is carefully preserved, while new pedestrian paths and cycling lanes are woven through the greenery, providing safe and enjoyable access to the public spaces. The existing green paths are renovated and highlighted with unique pavilions at the intersection points with the main boulevard, creating a network of interconnected green spaces that encourage exploration and community interaction. This plays an important role in the rehabilitation of local ecosystems and the conservation of the environment, promoting greater interaction and engagement of the community with nature.

The design goes beyond aesthetics. It aims to boost social interaction and community engagement by providing new community spaces and public sports areas; promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices by carefully preserving existing nature, incorporating educational signage, and use of green energy at new buildings (solar panels); stimulate economic activity and tourism by creating new points of interest with diverse activities. The proposed design transforms the undeveloped coastal area of Lignanointo into a thriving hub for both residents and seasonal visitors, enhancing the quality of life and promoting a vibrant and resilient community.

The proposed design is a call to action, inviting to create a future where nature and community thrive and blossom as effortlessly as a wildflower along the shore.

“A thoughtful and articulate proposal is presented, showing a keen awareness of local conditions. It offers a detailed analysis of the bridge’s role in connecting communities, emphasizing practicality, community engagement, and environmental sustainability. The plan demonstrates a systematic approach to integrating ecological considerations while preserving the site’s existing characteristics. It is supported by clear and detailed graphics, ensuring clarity in its presentation.”

The project proposes a bold revitalization of the seaside promenade, incorporating innovative and sustainable elements.One of the most distinctive features is the curved entrance portal, inspired by the sea’s waves, creating a striking entrance. This reflects the city’s maritime identity, providing a visually impactful experience for visitors.Additionally, a vegetation dike replaces traditional flood walls, varying in height from two to three meters, offering flood protection while integrating shops, restaurants, and leisure areas into the natural landscape.

Due to its elevated nature, all access is provided via ramps, connecting the street, city, and beach seamlessly.The project celebrates natural shapes and patterns, inspired by coastal landscapes, and emphasizes harmonious integration with the environment.The project has been carefully divided into three distinct zones: the beach, the square, and the river, all interconnected by a cycle path and pedestrian pathways that traverse the wooded areas. Each of these regions has been designed to have its own identity and offer a unique experience to visitors.

The river area boasts an iconic building, serving as a beacon for local tourism. Its remarkable design and welcoming ambiance promise to make it a city landmark, drawing tourists and boosting the region’s economy.

The building offers various activities to enhance visitor experiences, including river tours and passenger transport to nearby cities, providing a unique way to explore the area. Additionally, it serves as a marina and docking area for boats and kayaks, promoting water access and encouraging water sports.

Outdoor spaces feature gardens and leisure areas, with benches strategically placed to overlook the floating stage. Visitors can relax and enjoy movies at the itinerant cinema, surrounded by the breathtaking river landscape.

The square has been carefully designed with a variety of colorful installations, integrated into the natural setting of lush forests and tall pine trees surrounding it.

This space invites visitors to relax and appreciate the beauty of nature while enjoying vibrant artistic elements. The project preserves existing trees and incorporates additional vegetation around the central boardwalk, which serves as a guide to the beach.

Alongside this boardwalk, lightweight wooden structures offer versatile spaces for community gatherings, shops, and cafes, adaptable and integrated into the landscape.

The large gate at the end of the path symbolizes the entrance to the beach, inviting visitors to explore the coastline and enjoy the sea view.

“A visionary approach to redefining the seaside promenade. The entrance portal inspired by the sea’s waves, creates a visual entry point and embodies the city’s maritime identity. The integration of a vegetation dike for flood protection, which simultaneously incorporates different uses, blends functionality and ecological sensitivity.”

The project aims to establish a new balance between humans and nature, exploring intimate dynamics and relationships between the human and non-human. Creating spaces where nature can expand and consolidate over time, inviting humans to respect these dynamics, while carefully incorporating low impact man-made elements. The project defines connections and boundaries, seeking to protect and preserve the dominant nature of this place, especially due to the presence of endemic species.

Nature manifests itself in the street where humans, cars, and asphalt once prevailed. While maintaining functionality, the hierarchy between cars and pedestrians is reversed, making room for nature again. By simply breaking the existing asphalt, nature will occupy the space between the remaining chunks. This also allows for the collection of rainwater and improves the microclimate around the road and the pedestrian path.

A unified project takes different forms in the nodes: interaction spaces between the urban system and the beach, where pedestrians reclaim old road intersections. The climax is reached in the ‘in-between’ zone, a space that will re-naturalize over time in the absence of human pressure. A system of nets and walkways allows humans to cross it. The nets invite entry, movement, offer views, protect, and preserve nature. The human-guest occupies the granted space, allowing nature to restore its rhythm, dynamics, and follow its course. Pockets against the wall concentrate leisure spaces, while they serve as accesses to the beach that were previously uncontrolled.

The Unicef Park represents the true point of contact between humans and nature. The left side is dedicated to the contemplation of nature, while going over the bridge, the area collects functions in service to the community. The program aims to lead humans towards a new awareness of nature; revealing all its facets in the botanical pavilion, a new attraction for the region. Moreover a cafe, event spaces, and a hostel will attract visitors all year round.

The head of the waterfront is occupied by the docking facilities, the endpoint of this new system and the hub for slow mobility exchange. The mouth of a river is by nature a dynamic element, and therefore the project must reflect that flexibility. A space capable of changing over time according to different needs. The project focuses on the un-planted portion, today, organized with a functional program for the docking and cycle tourism activities, simultaneously allowing for the development of a new forest in Riviera.

The project demonstrates that it is not necessary to take grand actions, but small changes to make space, and allow evolution. A change of mentality, a “sogno” for Riviera.

“A carefully planned and cohesive collection of spatial elements caters to a variety of activities and needs within the existing context. The graphical representation is calm and structures, demonstrating a respectful approach to ecology while encouraging visitors to enjoy the space in different ways, considering various scenarios.”

Nestled along the golden shores of Lignano, Italy, our project presents a groundbreaking concept that marries innovation with the gentle touch of nature. At the heart of Sticker’s philosophy is the desire to interact respectfully with the land. Unlike conventional interventions that impose on the landscape, our approach is one of subtlety and sensitivity. We believe in the power of a light touch—a principle that guides our every decision, ensuring that our presence enhances rather than detracts from the natural splendor of Lignano’s waterfront.

This plan meticulously integrates a harmonious blend of historical cues and modern infrastructure, divided into three distinctive parts, each contributing to the rich tapestry of experiences offered by the project.

Masterplan：

The overall planning of our project gleans inspiration from the natural fabric of history, weaving together four horizontal pathways that delineate a landscape layer stretching from the pine forests to the seafront. These include a suspended cable car system repurposed from a coastal flood wall, themed pedestrian streets, community-themed shared greenways, and peripheral vehicular roads. Each route is enriched with diverse thematic segments that create a series of vivid experiences. Extended ecological corridors and shared streets link these thematic segments, forming an interconnected network. At their intersections, activity hubs are created to energize the space. This strategy prioritizes maximizing the natural base, offering a catalog of streets that are both phased and selectable, enhancing the natural and community fabric of Lignano.

Seafront：

In the seafront area, we continue the striped natural base of the area, strengthening the connection with the surrounding communities. A variety of ground manipulations give rise to an open park accessible from multiple points. This park not only fills the recreational void in the existing community but also introduces an activity center and a hotel. The hotel, conceptualized as a “folded village,” seamlessly integrates into the surrounding community, offering a familial experience. This integration fosters a strong link between the natural landscape and the urban fabric, enhancing the overall cohesion of the area.

Passo Barco Area:

Preserving the character of a natural park, the Passo Barco area interlaces the surrounding flow lines with natural patches and sports fields, creating a symbiotic relationship with the Marina Uno Darsena’s pedestrian and bicycle flows, which generates a linear Dock, a dynamic space where the fluidity of movement and the tranquility of natural settings converge.

The Stickers is a vision for the future. It represents a toolkit brimming with rich and flexible solutions designed to meet the diverse needs of our community. From landmark architecture that captivates and draws visitors throughout the year to urban facilities that cater to the residents’ every need regardless of the season, Sticker promises a unique blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal.

“An engaging and dynamic proposal featuring a well-crafted arrangement of spaces, objects, and pathways reminiscent of artistic masterpieces. Diverse interventions in three-dimensional space, ranging in scale, contribute to a vibrant interaction between people, buildings, urban features, and the surrounding landscape. The plan is both captivating and invigorating, sparking the imagination and inviting joyful exploration.  Graphically, the presentation is cohesive and visually compelling.”

In continuity with the past.

In continuity with the context.

In continuity with the future visions.

Lignano Riviera has an incredibly strong essence, characterized mostly by the almost untouched natural landscape, the organic shapes that form the urban fabric, and the relation with the sea. This was the starting point for the design proposal. The past was delved into, the present context was resonated with, and the city’s future visions were projected forward.

The broader municipal aspirations provided the canvas for a concept transcending the mere neighborhood scale. The aim was to be coherent with the city’s envisioned identity while preserving a distinctive character. However, one challenge stood out – Lignano Riviera felt somewhat disconnected, a hidden gem waiting to be discovered.

Our analysis unveiled the tools necessary for this transformative project, built around three pivotal concepts evolving into finely detailed strategies. These strategies operate at various scales, weaving a coherent and continuous narrative from urban to architectural levels.

Examining the context, we discovered untapped potential in neglected infrastructural elements, like a long dividing wall, and architectural treasures, such as an amphitheater and a lost pool in a gated park. The re-functionalization of these elements became the first key strategy – breathing new life into spaces for year-round community use.

Connecting these revitalized spaces, we crafted thematic pathways, enticing users and intertwining with Piccinato’s trails to bring people closer to nature. Punctuating the entire design are seemingly isolated interventions, from ephemeral circular structures evoking piazzas, to adaptable wooden frameworks serving various purposes. An Archètype emerges, influencing the entire urban fabric and enriching the coherence of the narrative.

The entire project is distinguished by the extensive use of local vegetation, creating a landscape reminiscent of a wild oasis. Materials such as wood, linen, recycled concrete agglomerates, gravel, and sand were meticulously employed, not just as construction elements but as a testament to the commitment to sustainability and a harmonious integration with the natural surroundings.

Now, Lignano Riviera boasts a reimagined waterfront – designed for the people, seamlessly integrated into the city, yet still wrapped in the enchanting aura of a once-hidden paradise.

The lost paradise is reclaimed by Lignano, as a whole, a testament to the commitment to harmonize history, context, and vision in every revitalizing touch.

“A thoughtful idea that finds balance between ecology and restoration and the insertion of bold architectural moves.  The graphical restraint that resulted in a beautiful composition of boards were highly appreciated.”

Link-In Riviera is a visionary project aimed at revitalizing and transforming “Lungomare Riccardo Riva” into a vibrant and sustainable urban hub. Situated in the picturesque town of Lignano, Italy, this waterfront promenade holds immense potential for regeneration and renewal. By prioritizing pedestrian and bicycle traffic, integrating green spaces, and fostering community engagement, Link-In Riviera seeks to redefine the character of the neighborhood and create a model for sustainable urban development.

At the heart of Link-In Riviera is a holistic approach to urban design, encompassing strategic interventions, innovative features, and community involvement. The project begins with the development of a comprehensive tour route designed to encourage exploration on foot and by bicycle. Central to the initiative are the redesign of Unicef Park and the integration of Passo Barca, both of which will serve as focal points for social interaction and recreation. By incorporating sustainable materials and thoughtful design principles, Link-In Riviera aims to create a seamless connection between the waterfront and surrounding areas, promoting environmental consciousness and enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Key design features include the revitalization of Unicef Park, introducing innovative elements such as a conceptual bridge, raised wooden walkway, and relaxation spa. These additions will not only enhance the park’s usability throughout the year but also promote interaction with the natural environment. Passo Barca will undergo a transformation to become a vibrant hub for social activity and commerce, with a new harbor pier, market area, and integration with Kopeck Park and the public beach.

In the in-between space, a raised wooden walkway was constructed to preserve the existing greenery, with integrated seating for visitors’ comfort. The park was transformed into a controlled walking route, with dedicated areas for bicycles and electric bicycles on the west side. A unique seating/art installation, inspired by waves, serves as a contrast to the anti-flood wall, providing a space for relaxation and social interaction.

Throughout the project, sustainable materials such as corten steel and reclaimed wood will be utilized to minimize environmental impact and create a cohesive aesthetic. By prioritizing eco-friendly practices and materials, Link-In Riviera will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the neighborhood and surrounding ecosystem.

The successful implementation of Link-In Riviera will require collaboration between local stakeholders, designers, and community members. Through strategic interventions and innovative design features, the project has the potential to transform “Lungomare Riccardo Riva” into a dynamic and resilient urban destination. Link-In Riviera will not only enhance the physical environment but also strengthen social connections and promote a culture of sustainability within the community.

By reimagining public spaces, prioritizing sustainable mobility, and fostering community engagement, Link-In Riviera aims to create a vibrant and inclusive urban hub that celebrates the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region. As a catalyst for positive change, Link-In Riviera will inspire residents, visitors, and future generations to embrace the principles of sustainability and create a more resilient and vibrant urban environment.

“A well-crafted strategy for the public domain, coupled with a planned mobility approach, and compelling graphics and presentations, intelligent interventions within the area.”

Main idea

The masterplan was designed as a whole unity, the spiral designed by Marcelo D’Olivo unfolds into Riccardo Riva’s boulevard, linking the two concepts of Pinewood and Luigi Piccinato’s Riviera. Riccardo Riva’s boulevard is the design axis of the masterplan – the link between the two concepts. The concept is a link between public vibrant spaces along a riviera boulevard. It is a patchwork of different forms of space with a unique character each and many activities to bring the space to life. The spaces are shaped in a way that protects nature, with a calming of activity as it approaches the coast.

Composition

The main axis around which the composition is formed is Riccardo Riva’s Boulevard, which intersects with the perpendicular main axis of Unicef Park. This axis is ended by a dominant height in the form of a viewing cabin which clearly marking the main entrance to the beaches and the city’s connection to the waterfront. The unicef park’s main axis, which begins the new central building, runs over the organically shaped park. The park greenery is shaped in an organic way that imitates the pinewood, recalling the privileging of the existing natural landscape.

Mobility

The main idea is to create a transfer hub where you can leave your car at a central point and change to a bicycle or bus that serves the beaches. The plot includes 3 types of streets, with different intensities or partially zero car traffic. The reduction and partial removal of car traffic is proposed in the part of Riccardo Riva’s where the paths from the city – the main unicef park path and the Piccinato streets intersect with the boulevard. The section with the elimination of car traffic (except emergencies) is the section where the park transitions into the boulevard and then enters the coast. A fully pedestrianised zone.

Unicef Park

The new building’s form follows the shape of the neighbouring residential buildings. The architecture follows Luigi Piccinato’s approach – a rectangular, simple grid – while the landscaping takes an organic, free-form shape, using existing paths to preserve existing vegetation. The existing elevated walkway is kept, ending with a picturesque view of the sea. Beginning at the new development with car parking – transfer hub, shops and a café, the pathway offers a variety of activities along the way – a wellness centre, recreational park, outdoor stage, space for art exhibitions – passing through a boulevard and wild park, ending with a high viewing cabin. This layout serves as the main axis connecting the city to the beach, transitioning from a vibrant urban space to a calming coastal environment.

Passo Barca

Welcoming community hub, recreational park with integrated support structures, The park greenery is shaped in an organic way, creating spaces for tourists and a local community. Include programmes for cyclists, pedestrians, recreational and additional facilities.

“This project represents a blend of thoughtful urban planning and environmental sensitivity. The incorporation of diverse activities and facilities, together with the organic landscaping that respects existing vegetation, balances urban vitality with natural settings.”

A project thought as an exploration between land and water, urbanity, and nature. Given its prime location and history, THE LINES will turn Lignano Sabbiadoro into a new innovation, leisure and ecological hub, whose functions and urban interventions enhance the existing valuable characteristics of the site inviting locals and visitors all year round.

The volumetric exploration of all the project’s components faithfully adheres to the concept of linearity, manifesting in volumes marked by distinct horizontal or vertical orientations. These volumes exhibit a remarkable capacity to interconnect the various elements along their paths, seamlessly uniting them into a cohesive and singular system.

The project also considers the urban scale, where several tactical urbanism proposals, as well as major interventions, take place. The most significant of these interventions is the redesign of a section of Lungomare Riccardo Riva, prioritizing pedestrians by incorporating slow mobility and introducing collective public transportation systems to replace car traffic. Additionally, the Wall Park, where the anti-flood wall becomes an opportunity to create a landscape platform that overlooks the sea and utilizes the filled area for leisure activities such as sports venues and multipurpose pavilions.

Two main areas to work within:

Seafront

A new spine for the UNICEF Park taking the original feature of the elevated bridge, extending and repurposing it as the central axis connecting the existing park, the new ecological Wall Park in the east, and the Wild Life conservation area in the west.

Passo Barca

The Boardwalk, a new interpretation of the Hemingway passageway aligned with the river and as an extension of the existing port, creating a pavilion that will house recreational activities and will also work as a new connection and transportation centre linking the two sides of the river and eventually the towns of Lignano and Bibione.

Nestled in a pristine environment where the golden sands meet lush pine forests and the edge of a national ecological protection area, the Golden Sand Waterfront is poised for a transformative journey. Our vision is to revitalize this unique landscape into an urban theater, where the natural and cultural heritage of the region becomes the stage for a dynamic

interaction between spaces, people, and experiences.

Our proposal envisions a series of interconnected theaters of varying scales and forms designed to foster dramatic encounters with nature and culture. They are connected by a well-planned bike lane system. From intimate parklets to grand amphitheaters, these spaces will serve as venues for performances, exhibitions, and festivals, celebrating the local and the global, the ancient and the contemporary.

At the heart of our design, the new ‘UNICEF” park features a loop of light and flexible structures that support a myriad of activities, from music festivals to art exhibitions. Elevated bike trails atop these structures offer panoramic ocean views, inviting the community and visitors to experience the seamless transition from urban fabric to the natural waterfront.

The new “PASSO BARCA” offers an intimate and isolated connection between land and river. Embracing the local seasonal paddling culture, a unique tidal theater allows audiences to engage with performances from the water. The edge between land and river is regraded into terraces in different depths, inviting people to walk down to see different ecosystems flourishing in the water. It seeks to create an intimate dialogue between land, water, and people.

Along the salt marshes and sparse pine forests (the in-between space), a network of elevated pathways unfolds as a theater of biodiversity, allowing for immersive experiences in bird watching, meditation, and ecological education, all while preserving the delicate balance of the natural habitat on the ground.

Central to our proposal is the enhancement of sustainable mobility and accessibility branching off from Lungomare Riccardo Riva. A comprehensive system of bike and hiking trails, elevated bridges, and panoramic outlooks ensures that every journey through the Golden Sand region is part of the theatrical experience, fostering a deep connection between the urban and the natural, the individual and the collective.

And the “PICCINATO” pedestrian (bike) paths not only serve as ecological corridors but also as stages for encounters, with plazas and rest areas spaced strategically to cater to diverse audiences, including seniors and children, ensuring inclusivity and comfort.

In conclusion, this proposal is a reimagining of the urban and natural landscape as a continuous and exciting theater of experiences. By enhancing connectivity, promoting sustainable practices, and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultural and natural heritage, we aim to transform the Golden Sand region into a beacon of cultural and ecological enlightenment, a place where every visit is an act of discovery, and every space tells a story. This is our vision for a revitalized Golden Sand: a network of theaters where life in all its forms is the star of the show.

The proposal “To the Sea” addresses site challenges of Lignano Sabbiadoro waterfront in a holistic approach. It aims at several goals in parallel: the re-establishment of a unique site identity; the re-creating of various connections between towns and urban areas and the waterfront with supportive programs; and lastly, the re-thinking of the relationship between nature and human settlement and activities. Design interventions at different scales embody multifold ambitions of the proposal and re-emphasize the predominant theme and spirit of the site: “To the Sea”.

Iconic Image

New landmark structures are proposed at critical nodes of the site to form new images and impressions of the town and waterfront. A new focal point for Lignano Riviera is pinned by the stand-alone observation tower inspired by multiple lighthouses along the coast of the Gulf of Trieste area. Raised pedestrian walkways in the “in-between” zone meander through the nature landscape and intersect with the radically extended pedestrian bridge that spans across Lungomare Riccardo Riva towards the beach, providing views beyond the mural art-covered anti-flood wall and creating new angles and destinations of views, sceneries and spectacles at the sandy waterfront.

Well-Connected Facilities

The renovated Unicef Park and the activated Passo Barca pier zone are programmed with essential support. The pier zone will become a new terminal for both tourists and residents arrivals that connects external traffic with site-exclusive transportation including pedestrian, bicycles and shuttle buses. The Park serves as a central amenity and activity public area where visitor center, lodging and event plazas are located. Lungomare Riccardo Riva street is redesigned with pedestrian-friendly features and partially integrated into the Park’s public spaces for temporary active uses such as local market or festivities. The program-heavy pier zone and Unicef Park along with the new street connections with multi-modal transportations between them provide a solid base for human activities from the town to the sea.

Preserved Nature Landscape

The proposal limits intense re-development in critical areas with the intention to minimize impacts on natural landscape and ecology features. To tackle the conflict between human activities and landscape preservation, the new pedestrian bridge system in the “in-between” zone raises walkways up to approximately 2 to 5 meters to remove paths on the ground and hence to allow better sustaining and regenerating of vegetation underneath. Waterside platforms at the redesigned pier zone also ensure harmonious intimacy between human activities and nature landscape. By creating such co-existence of dense public structures and zones of nature preservations, the proposal aims at fostering a symbiotic relationship and eliminating the mutual physical disturbance between human activities and nature near the waterfront.

The proposal “To the Sea” with all its interconnected components – the pier, the connecting street, pedestrian bridges and trails, visitor center, lodging, traffic systems and public spaces – creates an integrated preliminary response to the challenges of the site. It provides a framework that balances necessary programming, functionalities and images of tourism development, local community, townscape and nature preservation, and will hence serve as a strong foundation for re-defining the future of Lignano Sabbiadoro waterfront.

The spiral of Lignano Sabbiadoro represents one of those immediately recognizable and easily readable forms. A territorial sign whose intriguing development, capable of generating a multitude of horizons, has stood the test of time and challenged the more common modernist idea of grid settlement and perspective axes. Following this important contemporary history, the proposed project aims to align itself with the legacy of a place that persists in collective culture, aspiring to integrate not as an emulation of past projects but by aligning itself with the idea of abstraction, a sense of wonder, and the familiarity that the context still manages to generate today. In this sense, the design hypothesis incorporates elements and objects related to everyday forms and instant understanding within the competition areas.

The UNICEF Park features the placement of a hotel with a reception, a restaurant, an infopoint, and the covering of the existing outdoor theater along the boardwalk leading to the sea. These are accompanied by the construction of a dance hall, two bars, and public toilets. The elements evoke shapes with elementary and iconic geometries: from the U-shaped layout of the hotel to the reception whose features resemble an overturned “bucket,” as well as the umbrella-shaped roof of the theater. All these objects aim to create an unconventional scenery within the pine forest. The described path leads to the approach area to the sea, for which the addition of flora and the creation of various portals – also in the stylized form of an overturned “U” – have been proposed to access the beach.

Within the project, the Passo Barca area is identified as a polarity capable of aligning with the functions present within the UNICEF Park. This area is connected to the park through a pedestrian path, the development of which is marked by the presence of immediately recognizable elements. The path extends for approximately 1.2 kilometers, overlooking the vegetation of residential areas that separate the road from the beach area. The current route to reach Passo Barca is enriched with various urban furniture elements, including public fountains, trash bins, street lamps, benches, bike racks, and tubular structures with drapes to protect passersby from the warm summer days.

Upon reaching the end of the path, the area features a paved walkway that connects three commercial structures (bike rental, a bar, and a ticket office for boat tours), an open-air cinema, and an observatory. The cinema consists of a circular area where films are projected onto a series of curtains along its perimeter. Instead of conventional seating, spectators can find a place by lying on the artificial reliefs that have been proposed. The observatory, on the other hand, aims to rise in height, assuming the character of a landmark: an element adjacent to the urban environment with a strong formal characterization capable of allowing observation from above of the surrounding territory.

The Golden Sand Waterfront has a fantastic location, positioned between both sea and river. However, it has not met its full potential; our design seeks to achieve this.

The concrete sea wall is in good condition and provides a crucial defence against flooding. We felt that it would not be sustainable or necessary to re-build it. However, there is an opportunity for this to be more than just a wall, which currently acts as a barrier between the town and the beach.

The Riccardo Riva road is another barrier to the beach. Pedestrians struggle to walk safely along the road due to parked cars lining the edges and many stretches left without pavement. However, any attempt to widen the pavement zone would sacrifice edges of the valuable green ‘In-Between space’.

These two areas provided the key inspiration for our proposal: could the flood wall become a new pedestrian spine and create a safe, scenic North/South route along the coast? We have designed an elevated walkway that bridges over the floodwall to connect the beach to the urban space. The walkway is more than a simple route, with many amenities integrated into its edges, including changing room pods, public toilets, bicycle racks and cafes as well as sight-seeing cabins atop the entrance/ticketing points.

At ground level, new dedicated pathways and deck areas for picnicking touch the ground lightly and ensure that the local vegetation can flourish, undamaged. This decking extends into the Piccinato pedestrian paths to upgrade their surfaces and to unify the architectural language of the locale.

As the site spans a large area, we have designed the spine to be constructed as a modular ‘kit of parts’, made from the abundant local pinewood – a ‘Pine Spine’.

2m x 2m panels form the base component of the architectural interventions. These panels could be prefabricated and efficiently stacked in a 7-ton truck (typically 2.4m wide) to reduced transport during construction.

The existing elevated walkway in the Unicef park currently ends near the road.
We propose to extend this walkway over the road and connect it to the elevated Pine Spine. Whilst the ground level of the park remains free and open, the upper elevated level features raised hotel chalets – part of a new Wellness Hotel complex that also includes yoga spaces and spa facilities. This north side of the site has a quieter, tranquil character, which transforms into a bustling, sports zone at the south Passo Barca riverside.

The Passo Barca is connected by the Pine Spine, first winding through a forest populated with food kiosks and public facilities that build on the exiting provision. The south end of the Spine terminates in the Riverside Activity Hub; an open space with sports pitches, tennis and volleyball courts and thermal baths for both athletes and the public to enjoy all year round. Anchoring the space is a hotel building with sports equipment hire, staff facilities and stepped terraces to spectate on the activity below.

Currently, the maritime context is disconnected from the neighborhoods and their common livelihood beyond the summer season. Anthropic activities in the existing ecosystems have created defined edges between city and coast such as antiflooding concrete walls, inaccessible planted forests and roads that place cars above other sustainable ways of transportation. Contrary to that, In the past the natural landscape had dunes which characterized the Lignano Sabbiadoro natural landscape but they have now been mostly removed.

Under this situation we propose 3 strategies: protect from flooding recovering preexisting ecosystems, integrate city and coast with a new system of paths and provide programs for locals and visitors. First, to protect the seafront from flooding risks, natural based solutions are used to recover gradually the vegetation of primary and secondary dunes in order to connect them to the existing a forest with proposed new native species. In this way ecotones are recovered and utilized as a natural durable infrastructure for prevention of risks and as scenery for a livelier public space all year long.

Second, the proposal integrates a system of pedestrian and bicycle paths that allows a new experience of a continuous transition of landscapes from the residential area with a green corridor of native trees along Ricardo Riva’s Boulevard that connects public spaces of seafront and river delta, to the existing forest, to the dunes, to the beach and to the ocean creating an in between that is no longer a hard edge but a series of stepping stones through landscapes. This is achieved through actions such as the renovation of the existing walkway that connects with commercial uses with a new walkway in the ocean along a new port in Passo Barca to promote maritime sports and a unique approach of leisure that characterizes Lignano Sabbiadoro and attracts diverse visitors.

Lastly, its planned to apply renovated programs for the community and visitors through an adaptable module. This design based on local pine wood allows a series of articulated uses for children, elders, visitors and neighbors promoting socialization, active life and cultural activities surrounded by various incredible landscapes.

The project capitalizes on urban density, proximity between residents, and services. In response to the impacts of climate change, the project’s strategy determines a new approach to urban mobility, emphasizing gentle modes of transportation as well as public transportation. Another key element promoting the resilience of the area is the significant introduction of revegetation into the urban fabric.

The project is structured around four distinct landscape entities. The first, the stable dune, evokes the proximity of the coastline and provides a flourishing natural habitat. Today, this “in-between” space is a sandbank exposed to the assaults of tourists and trampling. Our ambition is to reinterpret this intermediate space by recreating an authentic dune landscape. This dune garden will serve as a link between the beach and the city, thus reducing the visual impact of the wall from the city. A vast landscaped promenade on a wooden platform will allow exploring these reconstructed dunes. Occasionally, visitors can access the beach through footpaths that traverse the dunes, guided by the breeze and vegetation towards the coastline. These pedestrian paths constitute the only means of exploring this garden. We will ensure the preservation and delimitation of the dune garden to create a biodiversity reserve. The dune garden thus becomes a bridge between two distinct ecosystems: the city and the beach.

Forest avenue : pivotal axes of the urban framework, providing a refreshing and depolluting influence on the dense city. These avenues play a role in facilitating sustainable mobility, catering to pedestrians and cyclists, with a one-way vehicle flow and expansive, secure spaces for bike strolls. Public transportation will be extensively integrated into this network. The port and the “Cours des Nations” square serve as the gateways to this new territory that prioritizes the development of a “car-free” zone.

Pedestrian pathways are narrative routes through open spaces, serving as a backdrop for attractive programming, such as inter-district meeting areas and sports courses. Currently, these existing pedestrian trails are not fully utilized in the landscape. By carefully selecting the tree network, we highlight this pedestrian structure and emphasize its intertwining through a scenographic design of entry points and intersections. The goal is to enable pedestrians to navigate easily and save time during their travels along these paths.

The urban park: At the heart of the seaside resort, the development of the urban park is a significant challenge to provide the urban density and its population with a refreshing oasis. This urban space is organized around a majestic perspective from North to South, between the city center and the beach. This axis will be punctuated by built elements serving the city, including a third place (open market, dining area, and rooftop), a true hinge between the dense city and the vast landscape, a multimodal exchange hub, and commercial and hotel spaces to mark the entrance of the park.

Inter-Grow between Land and Sea

Our proposal aims to preserve the city’s heritage while achieving a deeper integration of the landscape and urban environment through enhancements in transportation, ecology, and functionality, fostering mutual growth.

TRANSPORTATION

Seasonal mobility Strategy

We advocate for promoting soft mobility along Riccardo Riva, which entails robust development of pedestrian pathways and bike lanes while integrating the road with the surrounding natural landscapes of the ‘in-between space’.

For motor vehicles, our strategy includes implementing seasonal travel restrictions. During peak tourist seasons, private vehicles will be entirely prohibited from accessing the Avenue. Instead, a public transport service will be provided between various urban polarities, operating at fifteen-minute intervals and utilizing designated bike lanes for bi-directional travel.

During off-peak tourist seasons, Riccardo Riva Avenue will function as a single-direction lane from southwest to northeast, with the public transport service permitted to operate.

Vertical Development of Green Ribbons for Pedestrians

We aim to develop green ribbon pedestrian pathways vertically, integrating the characteristics of surrounding neighborhoods to create functional landscape nodes. This approach activates urban vitality from point to line.

ECOLOGY

Ecological Continuity

Ecological continuity between the in-between space and pine forests is established through green ribbon pedestrian pathways, forming green corridors. The neighborhood green spaces and parks extending from the greenway serve as point-like ecological spaces along the linear axis, providing rich ecological benefits such as microclimate regulation, air purification, and humidity improvement, benefiting the entire neighborhood area.

Protection Strategy for In-Between Space

The ecological strategy for in-between space involves seasonal restrictions on access and the protection of existing vegetation and ecological environments to enhance biodiversity. The integration of fragmented spaces such as sports fields, pathways, and beaches is achieved by elevated walkways linking the city and the beach, ensuring accessibility while also serving to protect the ecological areas

Additionally, as an ecological demonstration area, limited time opening for visits and educational purposes is also part of its protection strategy.

Establishment of Bicycle Networks

Encouraging green transportation, bicycle lanes will be implemented on all roads, along with the establishment of shared bicycle stations to enhance the convenience of bicycle travel.

FUNCTIONNALITY

We advocate for enhancing urban neighborhood vitality by creating focal landscape features and linking them via a network of linear green spaces, revitalizing the entire cityscape. Key focal points include the revitalization of UNICEF Park and Paso Barca Pier. Through spatial reconfiguration, green area restoration, and the addition of activity spaces, our goal is to establish these sites as new urban hubs. Concurrently, dormant green spaces within neighborhoods will be repurposed for various amenities such as playgrounds, markets, gardens, and rest areas. These interconnected green spaces will be facilitated by transformed streets, extending from the city center to the beaches. Additionally, the anti-flood wall will undergo renovation to incorporate self-supporting walkways, serving as a functional link between the city and the coast—a boardwalk. To shorten the distance between the city and the beaches.

Lignano is a coin with three faces. Hung to the mainland from north-west, Lignano presents three diverse ecosystems on the three sides it sinks into water. The long linear stretch of golden beach looking towards the southern sun; to the north the Marano lagoon-front, surrounded by the geometries of agricultural fields; to the south-west the dynamic waters of the Tagliamento river. Today Lignano is fully projected towards the sea and its economy of marine tourism. Our proposal aims to empower the diversity of all three natures to allow alternative narratives of Lignano and more sustainable and heterogeneous framework of places and activities.

Reimagining and redistributing the focal points of Lignano begins with rethinking its infrastructure and mobility.

The project departs from the D’Olivo masterplan to propose a modification of the viability into one-way traffic (30 kmh) around the Riviera that frees space for generous cycling and pedestrian paths.

The second phase would target specifically the Lungomare, implementing a public transport line to serve the commuting town centres to beach and river waterfronts.

The last phase 2040 foresees no access to cars on the Lungomare, only public transport and slow mobility.

THE BEACH AND ITS DOUBLE

Lignano Sabbiadoro is a common Italian story of speculation, where landscape has been turned into concrete within the 30 years following the first urban plan of Marcello d’Olivo. By accepting that everything which could be built was built, today our role is to consolidate what is there, reimagining the discarded areas and obsolete infrastructure as public equipped areas and protecting the natural habitat. Our intervention in the area of the Riviera can be sum up in a few sentences:

The wall is the container

The beach is free

The beach’s double is where you hang out

The park is the park (and it belongs to the town)

The anti-flood wall is given a minimum thickness to house collective functions and public facilities serving equally the beach and the in-between area, preserving the dunes untouched. This simple gesture will be able to absorb all facilities and services from the beach, leaving it free and public.

Unicef park is the last patch of forest that remains out of the southern compartments of the Lignano Riviera pinewood the perfect town garden all year long. Therefore, no hotel function should eat up the permeable soil and pine forest. Instead, the potential of the existing constructions is challenged. The park results more accessible and permeable by bringing the pedestrian bridge to the ground. Three built functions remain as free standing pavilions in the park: the church, the communal building and a new skate park pavilion from the reuse of the old swimming pool.

Both the in-between park and the Unicef park are transformed through a set of gestures that simply exposes their urban potential. The operation aims to be extended and contaminate larger urban settings of Lignano, allowing its natural and public spaces to get busy all year round.

THE FLUVIAL PARK

Focused on its beach, Lignano completely ignores the potential of the Tagliamento river and the scale that such figure brings locally in terms of flows and type of attraction. Passo Barca brings together two of the natural and human ecologies of Lignano and it is positioned as a strategical hinge between them. On one hand the seafront and the beach and on the other hand the park of the Tagliamento with its 187km long cycling pathway. It is the arrival point of a valuable sport and leisure infrastructure that runs across the whole region, and the link to Veneto by boat. The intervention consists of the minimum gesture to activate the area by working on the edges to frame the plot: a porch that becomes the pier, a café, a set of permeable steps to allow a connection with water that change with the river’s metabolism.

CONCEPT

“Tutto Ombrelloni” is a visionary concept that seeks to seamlessly integrate the sunshade, an iconic symbol of Lignano, into the very fabric of the city’s urban design. Lignano, known for its wide sandy beaches and vibrant atmosphere, is characterized by the presence of colorful beach umbrellas that dot its shores, offering shade and relaxation. In embracing the essence of Lignano’s identity, “Tutto Ombrelloni” proposes a holistic approach to urban planning, where the sunshade transcends its conventional role as a beach accessory to become a central element of the cityscape. Through careful design and strategic placement, these iconic umbrellas would not only provide shelter from the sun but also serve as artistic installations, cultural markers, and functional landmarks. It represents a bold vision for urban living, where art, culture, and functionality converge to create a vibrant and livable city.

PASSO BARCA

Passo Barca is designed to be a thriving public space for arriving guests, as well as for the residents of Riviera. The new pier offers a wide range of opportunities, inviting individuals to take leisurely walks, relax in comfortable seating areas while enjoying the landscape, and take a refreshing swim in the river, thereby making the Tagliamento Delta enjoyable on multiple levels. The visitor center offers space for a café, a large terrace, a bike rental, and a small kiosk to buy groceries.

LUNGOMARE RICCARDO RIVA

The Lungomare Riccardo Riva doesn’t function as a typical street anymore. It’s partly a car-free zone now, prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists for safety. In the car-free zone, the street is transformed into a linear park with multiple seating areas, sports equipment, and playgrounds. Due to certain infrastructure provisions, parts of the Lungomare are designed as one-way streets with separate cycling and footpaths.

UNICEF PARK

The UNICEF Park has been transformed into a unique botanical garden, with its main attraction being the Nature House, a large glass pavilion that provides a high-quality experience for visitors and locals year-round. Additionally, there is a tree pavilion offering shelter from the sun or rain. Throughout the park, you’ll find “vegetation rings” showcasing various themes of vegetation found in Lignano. The church stands as the only remaining building on the property. The primary goal of the redesigned park area is to provide information about the region’s flora and fauna and to effectively protect them.

IN-BETWEEN-SPACE

To ensure the optimal protection of plants and wildlife, the use of the “in-between space” should be completely avoided. To still make the area and its landscape enjoyable while providing a good connection to the shoreline, elevated footpaths traverse the area.

HOTSPOTS

The so-called “hotspots” are the areas that link the Piccinato Paths with the Lungomare Riccardo Riva. They serve as visual landmarks, meeting points, recreational areas, and Kiss-and-Ride zones for daily visitors. They also provide space for pop-up kiosks and ice cream shops.