Parco Paglia

When we envisaged this project, we thought of a Park with a life beyond its borders, a Park at the service of the city of Foggia of such value as to become a supra-regional attraction. A Park that respects the landscape and naturalistic value of the area, enhances its history and becomes a high level magnet, a new and powerful economic engine for the territory. The strategy is to create a Park so beautiful, unique, and important as to become a symbol and a landmark.

Of significant landscape and ecological value, the project proposes the creation of a mosaic of environments, including a wetland area. The flat territory of Foggia, although mainly agricultural, still retains some areas of a strong naturalistic character, such as the Cervaro river, with its precious remnant of lowland forest, and Incoronata Park. Our proposal, therefore, goes beyond the boundaries of Parco Paglia and proposes ecological connections with these residual landscapes of outstanding value and beauty.

Foggia also has an interesting historical centre with examples of rationalist architecture to be linked with the important and rare example of industrial archaeology of the 1920s and 1930s present within Parco Paglia, creating a cultural thematic itinerary of great interest.

The project then leaves the border of the competition area suggesting ecological and cultural connections with the territory.

The park has been structured on the basis of three principles: – clear legibility, – integration and enhancement of the historical signs of the landscape, – technical, environmental and economic sustainability. The main access is on Via del Mare. A central straight axis emphasises the presence of the monumental structure that stands out against the backdrop of a long-range perspective. The existing routes are confirmed by the project and are connecting elements of the different thematic areas of the park. Starting from the entrance, a compact woodland strip of Virgil Oaks is traversed that suddenly gives way to a clearing with an elongated square with pools and water features through which you can enjoy the view of the monumental building. Between the wood and the tower, a network of secondary paths, which end in small squares with shaded seats, surrounded by a “sea of flowers”. The project plays on the alternation of compact arboreal clusters and clearings. A ring of large size trees surrounds the perimeter of the park, forming a thermophilic broad-leaved wood. The northern section of Parco Paglia is dedicated to recreational and sports activities and facilities for emerging sports and a spectacular adventure park in the forest have been proposed.