Carlo Ratti Associati creates vision for newly joined-up Lugano waterfront
by Stu Robarts | 17 Jan 2020
– Carlo Ratti
Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) and Mobility in Chain (MIC) have unveiled a new vision for the waterfront of Lugano, Switzerland, aimed at better linking the city to its glacial lake with a system of innovative public spaces.
The plan addresses a current disconnection between the city and Lake Lugano by partly pedestrianising the congested waterfront and creating a dynamic road system that can be configured to have zero, one or two lanes for traffic as required.
A system of smart signage, responsive street furniture, infrastructure that produces clean energy from heat absorption, and a series of mobility hubs providing access to different modes of shared transport will be developed, while provisions for electric autonomous vehicles and micro-mobility solutions will also be made.
New public spaces will include a floating garden island connected by a new water navigation system and a number of new green areas.
Carlo Ratti, founding partner at CRA and director of the Senseable City Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said: “Lugano’s distinctive waterfront, nestled between the Swiss Alps and the glacial lake, is an opportunity to create a responsive edge for the city, experimenting with novel ways of blending nature and urban space."
Carlo Ratti Associati Mobility in Chain Lugano waterfront Switzerland public spaces
The plan addresses a current disconnection between the city and the lake by partly pedestrianising the waterfront Credit: Carlo Ratti Associati
A system of innovative public spaces will be created Credit: Carlo Ratti Associati
Lugano's waterfront is situated between the Swiss Alps and Lake Lugano Credit: Carlo Ratti Associati
Carlo Ratti Associati (CRA) and Mobility in Chain (MIC) have unveiled a new vision for the waterfront of Lugano, Switzerland, aimed at better linking the city to its glacial lake with a system of innovative public spaces. The plan addresses a current disconnection between the city and Lake Lugano by partly pedestrianising the congested waterfront and creating a dynamic road system that can be configured to have zero, one or
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