Artistic Park of Bologna

The redevelopment project of the old railway track that crosses the historic Bolognina district has become an opportunity for the construction of a linear artistic park that develops for about 6,000 square meters. The ancient route, already converted in the past years into a cycle path, is a backbone of the gentle mobility of Bologna. The intervention defines an open-air museum made of a succession of small squares, ceramic-covered furniture-sculptures and wooden platforms to host places of regeneration and recreation. The project has expanded the pedestrian part of the route to include and give a new identity to the surrounding gardens and green spaces. The artistic park is enriched with artistic installations and hosts cultural events. The project represents a way of action of synergy between landscape project and social and work inclusion. The works are performed from a group of children aged 18-25 years in condition of marginality that through the method of yard school learn the craft of gardening and construction in a cycle of laboratory lessons, construction site and internships at companies in the sector. The laboratory is the place of experimentation, prototypes are built, semi-finished products and coatings that will be installed on site. The construction site, organized as a real working context, is the place of construction. From the manual activity the children draw a new awareness of themselves and their potential, their inclusion in a public arena makes them protagonists of change and enhancement of a place, so as to be perceived as a resource, recognized as an active value within a community, the first step towards a real integration. The landscape becomes an opportunity for urban regeneration and social inclusion.