Riva Reveals Future Lakefront Project to Focus on Public Spaces and Sustainability
After many hypotheses, false news leaks, and rumors, the residents of Riva will finally discover the future face of the lakefront area next Friday. After a full ten months of conclave, in fact, the team of professionals entrusted with the task of rethinking that part of Riva which, south of Viale Rovereto, stretches from the Rocca to Porto San Nicolò, will present the project to the public — hopefully a large audience.
The appointment is set for January 12th, at 3:00 PM, at the assembly hall of the former Incompiuta. But how will this very important part of Riva change? What are the most important innovations? Architect Malfer is somewhat reluctant to provide preview, but he explains that the large square between the former bus station and the Palazzo dei Congressi will become a piazza, which will house a theater and become a true passageway on a new pedestrian axis that will start at Viale delle Magnolie.
New connections and public spaces
The characteristic avenue, in fact, will continue through the structure of the former station, the same Palacongressi, crossing the Lido Hotel park, the former Cattói area, and reaching the Miralago Colony. A third road axis, in short, immersed in greenery, between the lakeside promenade and Viale Rovereto. “The Palazzo dei Congressi,” explains Riva architect, “will no longer be a building just to pass by, but will become a space open to culture.”
Moreover, Miralago will host a wellness center, and the green area will feature courts for the Riva Tennis Club. The innovations are numerous and significant, but to understand and appreciate them, they must be seen as part of a much broader context.
Objectives and philosophy of the project
“It’s practically impossible to explain the redevelopment project in a few words,” affirms architect Mauro Malfer, president of Lido di Riva, who on Friday, during the conference, will sit beside the mayor of Riva, the president of the Provincial Council, architect Alberto Cecchetto, and sociologist Nadio Delai — “without risking providing insufficient details to understand the extensive work carried out to prepare this project and the philosophy underlying some of the choices, none of which are superficial or casual.”
Innovations will be present, in short, but to fully understand them, it’s necessary to go beyond what has been reconstructed in detail on the four models prepared to better illustrate the project. “The two main goals,” he continues, “were economic development and environmental enhancement. Based on these foundations, we set out to maximize the potential of a highly valuable area like the lakefront zone, which promises to become a true jewel, not only in our province but even nationally.”
However, it is important to remember that, throughout this discourse, the fundamental importance of responding to the needs of the people has played a key role: those of tourists, but especially and primarily residents. I am firmly convinced,” concludes Malfer, “that our goals can be achieved by focusing more on quality than on quantity.”
For the former Cattói area, for example, there is a need for large architectural projects that will become flagship features for our town. Therefore, to explain the project and the philosophy guiding our work in all its complexity, I hope many residents will attend the presentation on Friday,” he concludes.