STUDIO
ARRIVI >>> PARTENZE
Arrivals >>> Departures
Moments of arrival and departure are dynamic events in the process of experiencing a new place. Arrivals create lasting impressions, imprint sensory information, and set a baseline for all subsequent experiences. Similar to meeting a person for the first time, initial perceptions of places are powerful and enduring. Departures shape the conclusion of occupying a place and significantly mold lasting memories. As the “experiential bookends” of visiting a place, arrivals and departures set first impressions and affect long-term remembrances. As such, the environmental planning and design of spaces and sensory experiences at entries and exits becomes a primary concern for influencing people’s sense of place. The primary purpose of this course was to provide an understanding of and ability to design meaningful place experiences at points of arrival and departure.
STUDY AREA
Arrival by Car, Bus, or Motor Coach
Built atop an ancient volcanic rock formation and bounded by steep slopes and cliffs, Orvieto has precious few points of access. Our study area is the northeast corner of the Orvieto, where most people arrive and depart the city. Daily work and school commuters, transit buses, and tourist motor coaches all use Strada della Stazione, one of only three streets that connect the elevated city with the valley below. Traffic volume is heavy during peak times, creating unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. La Caserma Piave, an imposing building originally constructed as a military barracks, looms alongside the Strada della Sazione, its broken windows and peeling facade embodying recent neglect of the facist-era structure. Within La Caserma's courtyard, commuters and visitors park their cars alongside transit buses and motor coaches dropping off and picking up passengers. A parking lot circumscribed by a derelict building is many people's first impression of Orvieto. From there, the route to the historic city center is unmarked and requires walking through an obscure building passageway and narrow switchback stairs.
Arrival by Train
For people traveling by train, a funicular (inclined railway), connects the valley train station to Piazza Cahen in Orvieto. Walking between the train station and the lower funicular station requires crossing vehicle traffic and navigating with little wayfinding. Upon disembarking the funicular at Piazza Cahen atop the hill, passengers are immediately confronted with Via Postierla, a high-volume street carrying much of the city's traffic, backgrounded by a parking lot. First-time visitors are given no clues about how to proceed to Corso Cavour, Orvieto's famous main street and pedestrian retail corridor.
8 DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR
IMPROVING ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE EXPERIENCES IN ORVIETO
Click on the images below to view the design proposals
