Connecting the Disconnect through Circularity, Community and History

Throughout the history of Castelfranco Veneto, it has been seen many reigns, from being erected by the Romans against the Paduans, to being reigned under the Napoleonic French rule, Austrian rule and finally the Italian rule before its liberation in 1945. It has become a palimpsest which is evident in its infrastructure and historical urban fabric. The ‘palimpsest of layers’ is a recurring theme in how the plan of the town is laid out, as well as its historical and contextual analysis. The aim of the project was to regenerate the town of Castelfranco Veneto through a contemporary intervention that i) follows the principles of circular economy, ii) resonates and aligns with the history and context, iii) bridges the gap that currently separates the historical town and the outer city and iv) provides a space to maximize community engagement.

Throughout the design process, the concept of ‘palimpsest’ and bridging of the separating layers was given consideration by trying to permeate them through the contemporary intervention, making sure that the intervention did not overshadow or overpower the historical elements of the town. In this particular project, it was a conscious choice to use the greenbelt as the site for intervention because it was ideally located where there were opportunities of maximum pedestrian traffic, encouraging engagement of communities from within and outside the historical walled town. The form of the intervention emulates the organic form of the context and contours, focusing on the relationship between the ‘inside’ and the ‘outside’, occasionally blurring the boundary between the two, such that the roof of the intervention forms the top most terrace of the existing contours.

The form of the building follows the form of the site, rising and descending with the greenbelt contours. The function of the intervention itself was to weave the social connections through a multi-function Fab-lab / Product hub that supported the existing industries in CastelFranco through the addition of the ‘thrifting’ industry that functioned on the principles of Circular economy. It was designed as a space where local craftsmen could lend their expertise, reducing the need for virgin materials by restoring and regenerating textiles, bikes, electronics and devices in the community. In addition, workshops could be given to local residents including adults and children, where they could learn to extend the lifecycles of materials and learn new skills by supporting industry professionals. The Fab-lab would also be supported by public engagement spaces like a café overlooking the river, and a retail store where the restored materials would be sent to for selling, re-selling and re-purchasing.

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