Public square

To the north of Yucatán, on the Gulf of Mexico coast, lies Chicxulub Puerto, a seaside town closely connected to the city of Progreso. Located at a key point in the village and framed by some of its most important thoroughfares is the site of the Chicxulub Market Plaza. The urban conditions of the site allow for connections with some of the town's most significant facilities, the natural context of the peninsula, and neighboring communities. Dane Alonso Dane Alonso The project for improving the plaza and constructing the market was conceived as a single, cohesive endeavor organized around its program and relationship with open spaces. The plaza serves two primary functions, leading to its division into two zones: the nort... More

The intervention area is located in front of the “Lucia Viano” Kindergarten in the Donatello district of Cuneo. Previously, it was a road section with a space used as a parking lot. Oscar Bernelli The project aims to transform this area into a school square, an open space designed to serve as a meeting and interaction point for the school community and local residents. The goal is to enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of the space, addressing the needs of the residents and creating a more welcoming and safe environment. Oscar Bernelli Key transformations include pedestrianizing the area, eliminating direct vehicular traffic, and introducing new green spaces, which contribute to improving the quality of lif... More

Havana’s contemporary image has been deeply marked by expansion: with little demolition or replacement in its older areas, its constitution has been strongly characterized by a series of valuable layers of different periods and architectural styles overlapped in time. Its urban layout was founded on the Spanish tradition of multiple churches, convents and squares, which defined the city’s polycentric format and delineated its network of narrow and shaded streets. Regarding the architectural realm, courtyard-centred buildings were gradually adopted as the appropriate typology to cope with local climatic conditions. In the 19th Century, Havana was characterized by prosperity and splendour, supported by a stable economic growth whi... More

This project deals with two responses. One Architectural, the other through Urban Design. These are intertwined to form a cohesive union. THE URBAN DESIGN CONTEXTThe project originated from an urban design study conducted by MEYER+VORSTER (now Meyer & Associates Architects & Urban Designers) to highlight the importance of the new Kuyasa Station as part of a future urban node in Khayelitsha. The City of Cape Town commissioned the same set of consultants to design a new transport interchange at this station to facilitate intermodal transfers. This facility was not only considered the focus, but also had to act as catalyst for future intensive urban development around the station. In an area where dire poverty is prevalent and the qu... More

The design choices have addressed the problem of the permeability of Piazza Freguglia with the context of the city of Ivrea. The reduced budget and maintenance of the urban space have influenced the architectural and material choices: use of cor-ten steel, paving in washed concrete and stone cobblestone. The architecture of the metal curtain, which varies and transforms itself in function of the existing trees, is characterized by continuously changing shapes and images. The public space is defined by the cor-ten volumes and by a continuous, natural and uniform surface interspersed with lines drawn on the ground in an architectural continuum between the external limit and the "heart" of the same space. The architectural theme of the floor c... More

1.    PREVIOUS STATEAs the oldest urban core, the Markt of Oudenaarde is a market square situated in the heart of the Belgian city. With its adjacent squares and public space, it occupies 13.000 m² and houses the city hall, a building of the XVI century which is UNESCO World Heritage. It was also the floor to support a splendid stone fountain, donated by Louis XIV to the city of Oudenaarde.PROBLEMDespite its intrinsic historic and social value, the Markt has suffered from the impact of the urban and social transformation. In recent years, the central city square has served as one large traffic node around a parking lot for residents and visitors of the local shopping apparatus. As a result, the city experienced a distort... More

Dror + Gensler, selected among several international shortlisted firms, have won an invited competition for the masterplan of Galataport, a vital site on the Bosphorus in the heart of Istanbul. Situated across from the Old City, the 110,000-square-meter area includes the Karaköy and Salıpazarı Quays and boasts a cluster of historic landmarks and contemporary cultural icons, including the Istanbul Modern. A significant portion of the site hosts an active cruise terminal and is closed off to the public due to security measures. Its 1.2-kilometer-long boardwalk is restricted to maintenance, deliveries, and the five to six thousand passengers that disembark each ship, depriving the city of breathtaking views. Caption Dror + Gensler&r... More