The Context
The Ancient Roman archaeological site - with its Capitolium and Roman Theatre - and the complex of Santa Giulia are UNESCO’s world heritage sites.
The magnificence of these places, which are a testimony to a past of inestimable value, is amplified by their position in relation to the urban mesh.
The monument area is in fact located within the town and directly connected to the main streets of the historical centre of Brescia.
The 'UNESCO Corridor' project aims to make the site accessible and enhance its symbolic significance by rehabilitating city routes, while also preserving the unique characteristics of the place.
The Project
The intervention follows the existing paths that lead from the Capitolium to the Park of the Viridarium of Santa Giulia, via the cloisters of the Monastery of San Salvatore and the Oratory of Santa Maria in Solario.
These walkways are dominated by a pavement in cobblestone - of different shapes and sizes - which does not allow everyone to enjoy the existing historical legacy.
The idea of the project is simple as well as effective: to create a "stone ribbon" that allows access to this important part of the city while enhancing the value of the place.
By conducting accurate historical analysis, it has been possible to determine where and how to intervene, with a preference for a punctual and rigorous method.
In front of the Capitolium's entrance, a new coating made of Adamello diorite slabs - in large size, sealed joints and horizontally laid towards direction of travel - creates a surface now suitable for mobility.
The addition of a metal plate, non-slip and superposed to the floor, directs the visitor towards the UNESCO Corridor.
The itinerary continues on to two streets with an average slope of 7% - Vicolo Fontanone and Via dei Musei: Here a 150 cm wide walkway - made of stone slabs laid in a pattern with aligned joints - is integrated into the cobbled surface all the way up to the entrance to the San Salvatore Cloister.
This space is also redesigned with the placing of a "carpet" of stone and new sidewalks, which connect the public area with the private area of the cloister.
In order to maintain barrier-free paths throughout the courtyard, a 6% ramp made of Bedonia slabs replaces the previous stairs. From here onwards, the nearby Cloister of Santa Maria in Solario is easily attainable.
Along the perimeter of this second courtyard, in order to respect everywhere the minimum width of passage imposed by current building regulations, the walkway has been expanded on the three sides of the cloister (width min. 90 cm and max 160 cm).
The project also includes the planting of a Silver linden tree (tribute to Adelchi, Alessandro Manzoni's tragedy that takes place here) and the realization of a seating area, reachable thanks to a short passage in stone (width. 140 cm).
Participation of end users
Since the primary goal of the intervention is to obtain accessible areas, an expert was involved during every stage of the project development, namely the Professor of Technical Architecture and Delegate of the Dean responsible for Disability at the University of Brescia.
By including this specialist figure who also represented the end users, the project was able to steer towards the best solution in terms of accessibility.
General design guidelines (Swiss technical regulations)
According to SIA 500 and SN 640 852
-Ramps: maximum slope of 6% and a min. width of 120 cm. At the beginning and end of the ramps, as well as in front of doors and passages, position landings without slopes ( length: min. 140 cm in case of change of direction of travel of more than 45°: sup. min. 140x140 cm).
- Coatings: suitability depends on the circulation with wheelchair walkers and similar (low rolling resistance); the ability to maneuver (no obstacles); the anti-slip safety (in contrast to the risk of slipping).
- Tactile information with visual function: it must ensure a height of the relief at least 1 mm preferably with cuneiform shape; font size min. 15 mm.
- Tactile information without visual function: they should preferably have a height of at least 1 mm and a cuneiform shape; font size 15-18 mm, spaced; no special characters; possibility of tactile reading in an ergonomic position.
Text by Caterina Cavo
