Assessment cases
ROCK Project Piazza Rossini
Lighthouse: Urban
Localization in Bologna

NBS short description

The Piazza Rossini project is one of the actions of the ROCK 
project. ROCK was an initiative co-financed by the Horizon2020 
program. The project aimed to promote the effective regeneration and adaptive reuse in historic city centers by implementing a repertoire of successful heritage-led regeneration initiatives. The project had lead several experiments in the historic center of Bologna, such as Piazza Rossini. Piazza Rossini was transformed from a parking lot to a pedestrian public space by a tactical urbanism action. The action was co-design with students of the Department of Architecture of the University of Bologna.

Governance of the case

The main tool of the ROCK project was the U-Lab Bologna. 
The U-lab was founded by the Bologna Municipality, the 
Foundation fro Urban Innovation and the Fondazione 
Rusconi.The Piazza Rossini project was based on participatory workshops and transformative actions conceived and 
carried out in laboratory mode by the students of the 
Department of Architecture of the University of Bologna.

Challenges raised during the preparatory meetings

1. To map the stakeholders involved in the ROCK project;
2. To better understand how the project activate the 
participatory process;
3. To analyze and assess the project impacts.

Geographic area

Bologna, located in the Northern East area of Italy, with 
400,000 inhabitants and 150 different nationalities. The oldest university in the Western world, was established in AD 1088. One of the most polluted cities of Italy and Europe. Bologna is also an important agricultural, industrial, financial and transport hub, where many large mechanical, electronic and food companies have their headquarters.

Local governance profile

Piazza Rossini is a public space own by the Municipality of 
Bologna.

Who owns the land?

Piazza Scaravilli, a parking lot reserved to the University staff 
transformed in a pedestrian space for students.

Relevance for the lighthouse

The basic idea for the renovation of the Piazza Rossini 
area is the transformation of a parking area into a green area. 
A grey/brown field into a green field for youth and local 
inhabitants. The temporary Rossini Square project is part of the general trend to provide open spaces, first to test, then to revise, correct and test again solutions for cities that are constantly changing and evolving. 

Related projects with synergies

Tactical urbanism action able to redesign the public space in a more sustainable way. Increase in sports facilities and accessibility for children, spaces to rest and study in the open air.

Local partners, associations, initiatives and champions engaged

Bologna Municipality, Urban Center, Department 
of Architecture – Universitá degli Studi di Bologna, 
Fondazione Rusconi.