Orto Town
Saie Spring, Bologna 13-15 March 2008.
The project “Città degli Orti” (Vegetable gardens city) – presented at “Saie Spring 2008, Fiera di Bologna, 13 to 15 March 2008 – is an innovative proposal for settlement in the countryside, offering numerous opportunities for interaction with nature and with the seasons. In an exhibition area of 800 square meters it is planned the construction of two units, three “curtains” for a living “alternative,” a pile “think tank”, a greenhouse, two gardens for growing fruit and vegetables, spaces recreation and games for adults and children.
A reality whose time is marked by the rhythms of nature.
The project faces the issue of sustainable village: materials, products, consumption, and to allow nature lovers – families or individuals – to live close to the seasons rythms and their fruits, regaining possession of biological natural time. The concept provides for a settlement within a green area of 900 square meters. Designed as a social center and living: a place to live but also where you can share work and leisure.
The first unit, intended for a family with children, provides a large area where you can share an “al fresco” lunch and where to play in freedom. All windows opening toward the green underline the link with nature and become privileged points of view even for children.
The “Canadian think tank”, intended for a single or a young couple without children, consists of a single room where to ensure complete privacy.
The three tent camping offer a solution of refined economy and ecology.
The greenhouse was designed as a place where you can find the time and space for activities.
The gardens allow you to live close to the seasons and their fruits, thus allowing a “recovery-action” of the natural biological time.
Great attention was paid to materials and technologically advanced gies and low environmental impact such as photovoltaic panels, radiant ceiling panels, roof coverage with a “green”.
Orto Town is part of a series of 1:1 scale research installation on new sustainable housing designed and built by Cibicworkshop in the last years:
2004 – A simple life
2005 – A perfect weekend
2007 – View with a room
2008 – Orto Town
2009 – More with less
2012 – Cultivating a house
Credits
Design team:
Aldo Cibic, Tommaso Corà and Chuck Felton with Susana Chae, Dario Freguia, Angela Rui, Francesca Sinicato, Elena Xausa, Vittorio Celia, Serena Confalonieri, Hannah Pascher, Nicola Isetta
Landscape design:
Emanuela Borio
Photographer:
Lorenzo Vitturi
Photos from our Flickr channel:
Pressbook from our Issuu channel (only italian):
They talk about us: Acciao Arte Architettura, ATCasa, La Repubblica “Il ritorno degli orti urbani”, La Repubblica “Un bosco verticale per la metropoli che verrà”.
