Piazza Visconti is located in Rho, a satellite town in the suburbs of Milan. Our project transforms the square into a vast community space and strikes a bold balance between planted and built environments—the historical duality at the core of the town’s urban system. Rejuvenated in conversation with this duality, the square harmonizes with the rest of the town and places pedestrians front and center. At the southern end of the square, a vast sweep of lawn is planted under the existing majestic cedar, hackberry, linden, and magnolia trees. Throughout the square, these trees create an alternating pattern of covered and open spaces, and provide welcome shade. New groves of pines (pinus pinaster) accentuate and enhance the landscaped lawn. The lawn stretches along a slight incline; in response, mounds of 4 m in diameter are planted around the existing tree beds. These additions create a new layer of greenery consisting of groundcover plants, ferns, and bulbs. A concourse paved in uniform natural stone (porphyry and granite) traces a boundary along the northern end of the square, while better integrating the space with its surroundings. Running from east to west, this broad hardscape feature revives the physical connection with the historic town center. The concourse recreates a unified, coherent, and open space. The paved canal, a linear fountain, flows between the landscaped lawn and the hardscape concourse. Clad entirely in natural stone, this commemorative feature retraces the former path of the Roggia Riale, an irrigation canal characteristic of Lombardy. The shallow fountain (15 cm deep) is playful and enhances the allure of the square.
Municipality of Rho
MDP Michel Desvigne paysagiste
11.485 m2