Hot is cool | Riccardo Russo

PUBLIC SPACE as a meeting place. The paintings of Pieter Bruegel perfectly describe for us what public space should be: a place of encounter, stop, exchange, market fair, play, or, in other words “the place of the relationships and of the events, the scope which reflects a collective structure and the scenery of the simultaneity of urban events (Espuelas)”. In public space people interact through dialogue, actions, movements, relationships. Squares are exemples of places where city life shows itself, representing a free space of opportunities and events. PUBLIC SPACE as a support for urban innovations. The city is as a body-in-transformation: it is able to adapt to changes in time. Its continuous changes are a consequence of politician, economic, environmental frameworks, getting different through time. Public space is the ideal support for urban transformations, an area capable of accepting the practical application of some of great technological innovations, which can improve how to live the city. Public funtains and wells have characterized the centers of the squares of the historical city (XV), street lighting (XXVIII) has made the city a safer place. Also in the evening, public transport (XIX) are just a few examples of such innovations applied to urban systems. The project raises the question of what could be a new innovation today, capable to give new opportunities to live public space. A LOCAL MATTER. In Warsaw winter lasts 93 days. Public space should be lived even in a situation of difficult weather conditions, even more, should adapt itself to cold/hot period and take the most of it, exploiting climate changes to have different spaces, that transform themselves along with seasons. A support with different shapes and spatial conformations, can offer many activities: hot spots, where people can concentrate themselves in winter – little concrete slopes, where to play and sit down – little dells, where to have a rest or play with water.. This square playground hosts both winter and summer activities, it’s like a plaza, warmed from below. It can be a interesting support to improve the neighborhood use of space. Furthermore, it can be lived depending on people daily fluxes, so that in different moments of day and night people will stay on the border or occupy many spots.