Henning Larsen's office designed a housing development in Bolzano

In the midst of the southern Alps lies Bolzano: a city that, in addition to being well known to Polish skiers, bears the marks of construction by Roman and Austro-Hungarian emperors, Bavarian princes and Mussolini. In such a landscape, the architectural firm Henning and Larsen has proposed revitalizing the Ponte Roma area, currently full of post-industrial vacant buildings. Will the project come to fruition? City councilors are divided on the issue.

Bolzano (or Bozen) has historically been under the influence of German-speaking rulers, so Mussolini's fascist government decided to build factories there to create jobs and settle South Tyrol with an Italian-speaking population. The abandoned workers' quarter is now a sore spot for local politicians, who are trying to strike a balance between the growing demand for housing, the town's attractiveness to potential investors and the preservation of nature. Developers SIGNA and Habitat want to provide the city with 1,000 new homes (including affordable housing) and a private dormitory for 500 students, just a few minutes' bike ride from the University of Bolzano.

Henning Larsen comes to the rescue

Henning Larsen's idea for the Ponte Roma development involves a park that will center around and permeate the entire neighborhood. Bolzano's historic charm will be reflected and enhanced with improved pedestrian routes and bicycle infrastructure. By bridging the gap between disconnected neighborhoods, Ponte Roma will re-establish a vital connection to Bolzano's center, preserve industrial heritage and improve biodiversity. The urban design connects to the existing transportation network, building connections to the city and prioritizing accessible transportation within the neighborhood.

Visualization of the Ponte Roma development overlooking the Alps

Vivid Vision | © Henning Larsen

Two sprawling industrial warehouses will be transformed into public spaces with cafes, stores, restaurants, common areas and a climbing gym. Materials reclaimed from nearby buildings, such as bricks and paving stones, will find new life as flooring, while solid beams will be used in the construction of urban agricultural greenhouses. Other materials, including metal, will find use in porches, terraces and decorative accents.

This is what the communal spaces on Ponte Roma are to look like

Vivid Vision | © Henning Larsen

Increased biodiversity is central to the project, enriching the urban landscape with natural spaces that contribute to the well-being of residents and the environment. Green roofs, parks, comfortable microclimates and urban farming initiatives will foster an environment that acts like an urban sponge, effectively collecting and recycling rainwater. 30% of rooftops will be equipped with solar panels designed to meet more than 50% of the neighborhood's needs, introducing greater reliance on renewable energy sources.

A visualization of the greenery at the Ponte Roma development

Vivid Vision | © Henning Larsen

future in question

The project remains a proposal. Some councilors believe that its implementation will result in too much population density in the 6-hectare area, creating potential traffic difficulties. Among local businessmen, voices have begun to be raised about the impossibility of reconciling residential and industrial functions in one district, which they believe should be preserved only for factory buildings and warehouses. They point out that the comfort of living in such a neighborhood will be reduced due to the proximity of manufacturing plants operating nearby. On the other hand, the city's mayor, Renzo Caramaschi, would like to use the existing warehouses for a youth music center, which is probably related to Bolzano becoming a UNESCO City of Music as of 2023.