Previous state
The former Vicenza airport, occupying approximately 65 hectares next to a military base, was a completely flat area with no public function. Closed to the city for decades and marked by its military past and transport infrastructure, the site had been abandoned and cut off from its surroundings. The great challenge was to open up this space to the public and turn it into a new green lung integrated into the city.
Aim of the intervention
The plan was to transform the old airfield into a green and social space designed on the basis of natural solutions. The project revived traditional water channelling techniques and adapted them to contemporary design to prevent flooding and improve the general environment. A further aim was to create a place where protecting nature could coexist with cultural and educational activities, and the daily leisure interests of local residents.
Description
In order to relieve the monotony of the totally flat land, more than 240,000 cubic metres of ground was dug up and used to create a system of canals, lakes, and wetlands fed by groundwater. This network now functions as a large 100,000 cubic metre retention basin that is able to prevent flooding. Throughout the area, 12.5 hectares of riparian woodland and 62,000 aquatic plants have been planted, combining this replanting with the natural growth of local species. The old airport buildings have also been renovated to house cultural and educational activities, while an eight-kilometre network of paths allows visitors to walk around in the park while also connecting zones of activity with quiet areas for nature observation.
Assessment
The project demonstrates how hydraulic engineering and landscape design can join forces in solving urban problems like climate change and biodiversity loss. The intervention has been able to use the legacy of the old airport to turn an inaccessible site into a vibrant park where improving the environment is combined with the social activity and community life of the residents of Vicenza.
[Last update: 09/09/2026]
