The construction of the beautiful historic center of Lecce left huge gaps on its southern flank: the pietra leccese quarries, the source of easy-to-work honey-colored stone that facilitated the city’s Baroque forms. The quarrying  methods gave rise to open- air caves, geometric shapes with sharps angles which , over time have been softened by erosion.

The construction of the railway line and station separated the city from the caves, turning the area to something like a backyards hidden behind a wall, a place where we throw everything we don’t want to have  or see in our house, That is the recent history of the Marco Vito Caves.

The competition brief envisaged the transformation of two caves- separated by Via del Ninfeo- into a city park, the creation of infrastructure for their enjoyment the renovation of an old masseria and the construction of an auditorium. The proposal that we presented focuses on the interpretation ad use of the existing spaces and the relationship between the two caves, replacing Via del Ninfeo with a bridge that establishes a clear, comfortable link between them.

Our visit to study the components of the competition as a part of our fieldwork revealed a different reality, which forced us to undertake earth movement, reformulate facilities, redesign circulations, negotiate with neighbouring projects, undo and redo. The usual process, always different. In this case particularly full of surprises. Some good- not may-, but always inspiring.

West of the park, the future of the Café is its location on one of the few platforms on high ground, and the volume holding the lift that connects the café to the park on a lower level. It will include a restaurant area and service facilities for the general public.

Detailed knowledge about the history and the conditions of this area, especially the beautiful local stone, permitted and indeed demanded the redesign of the bridge to reduce its span  and improve its integration with the land and the project. Partially “floating” above the rock, the deck rests on a triangular box from which it cantilevers out above a 60 meters wide void-or absence of rock-.

Although vegetation grows spontaneously and quite lush here thanks to huge amounts of humus deposited over many decades, the previously commenced plantation will only become truly “lush” at some time in the future. Like most gardens, the work being done now will only be fully enjoyed by future generations. The paths, slopes and stairs have been adapted to make the most obvious natural apertures.

The Masseria  “Le Tagliatelle” is an old fortified country house, designated in the competition proposal for a restaurant and an interpretation center focused on masserias in the Apulia landscape.

The volume of the Music Hall, suspended on the hillside, is planned to be accessed from the base level of the park. Its construction will revitalize Lecce and ensure the establishment of a necessary and desired urban zone for the whole area that spreads beyond the competition precinct. This competition sought to make use of the abandoned caves but also, more importantly, to “turn” the city toward this overlooked and underused area.This stage of the project should be regarded as a mere experimental approach to the place. It must be concluded.

Architects:

Álvaro Siza with Carlos Castanheira and Luigi Gallo

Office in Portugal:

CC&CB, Architects, Lda.

Project Coordinator:

Pedro Carvalho

Francesca Tiri

Project Team:

Paolo Piseddu

Antioco Trogum

Eleonora Manca

Rita Ferreira

Landascape Architect:

Atelier da Bela Vista – Luís Guedes de Carvalho

Colaboration:

Nuno Costa

Local Management & Supervision:

Luigi Gallo

Collaboration:

Domenico Frigelli

Consultant:

GPIC – Alexandre Martins (Electricity)

Engineering:

Studio ellealfa (Electricty and Hydraulic)

Photography:

CC&CB, Architects, Lda.

Site Area: 77.654,63m2