Refurbishment of Piazza Ungheria | NOS Design

The project is located in the main square of Torvaianica and is part of a series of interventions promoted by the City Council aimed at the redevelopment of the city and the redefinition of a new image of the “Pometino” coast. The town has a strong history. It is believed that centuries ago exactly on these shores, by the banks of the river Numicus, landed Enea. In the 1960’s, it was one of the most famous seaside resorts of Rome. Nevertheless, it has slowly undergone a gradual decline due to excessive urbanization and the lack of conservation of the beautiful adjacent beach. Despite this decline, Piazza Ungheria has been the principal meeting place for the inhabitants and the only recognizable aggregation point for the community.
Three strategic zones have been renovated: Piazza Ungheria and Piazza del Belvedere (under construction), the square in front of the Church of Immaculate Virgin and the square next to Piazza Ungheria.

The first design operation has been to define the edges of the squares to give a sense of centrality and protection and to freely use the internal spaces. This was achieved by the careful selection of a furniture model: a sitting with an integrated LED lighting system that generates a backdrop light. This would define the space devoted to interaction in a sosphisticated way. The glow of the furniture, almost grazing the ground, contrasts the existing lighting system and enhances the existing spaces.
The square in front of the Church of Immaculate Virgin has become a true “island for social interaction”. It is now characterized by an assorted furniture system with varying morphologies that in a sort of “crescendo” composition goes from clear and defined shapes (illuminated benches along the margins) to curvilinear and soft shapes (shaped stone benches and flower pots placed in the middle).
The new design on Piazza Ungheria focuses along the margins of the square. This layout emphasizes the central perspective axis towards Piazza Belvedere Square and the sea horizon. The LED backdrop lights coming from the new seating system together with the new paved concrete strips contribute to the definition of the square.
The design intention for the third square in front of Piazza Ungheria was also to arrange the seating system along the edges to define an internal intimate space that would communicate with the proximate commercial activities inviting the users to have a rest and enjoy the landscape. The only vertical signs to the “theatrical” setting are the oval-shaped rounded prisms arranged between the seating area which are actually the new litterbins.