Two Parks and a Shared Vision for a Greener, More Accessible Future

With the regeneration of Garden Boulevard in Vercelli and Parco del Valentino in Turin, LAND, led by Andreas Kipar, has designed a greener, more accessible future for Italian cities. Both projects interpret ecological transition as an opportunity to restore space to nature and improve the quality of urban life.

Depaving and adding permeable materials, new trees, and shared paths are key elements of a design approach that combines environmental sustainability and community well-being by creating inclusive, resilient public spaces.

Garden Boulevard: Vercelli’s new green identity

Located on Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi in downtown Vercelli, Garden Boulevard is the result of an urban regeneration project intended to transform the main entrance to the city. The project is part of the Giro dei Viali, one of three pilot actions funded under the Italian government’s Qualità dell’Abitare which involves the entire city of Vercelli for a total investment of 41 million euros.

The project interprets Vercelli as a living organism, with depaving seen as an opportunity to breathe life back into the soil. The project is being promoted with the hashtag “#Letsbreakitup!” – a call for less asphalt and more greenery to create cities that are more sustainable and welcoming. Picking up on the idea of a linear park, the new boulevard runs for about 600 m, connecting the train station with the historic center and Piazza P. Paietta Nedo, along a pedestrian and bicycle axis designed to reconnect key places in the city.

Garden Boulevard is a broad green corridor, with paths made of permeable materials that promote the natural irrigation of plants and rainwater absorption. Alongside the centuries-old elms that line the boulevard, 116 new trees (including seven species) have been planted, along with 40 varieties of herbs and plant species intended to enrich biodiversity.

As well as improving the urban landscape, the project focuses on accessibility and inclusion, with pedestrian pathways equipped with ramps to provide easy access for people with disabilities, while also forming connections with the outdoor seating areas of the businesses along the boulevard.

The creation of Garden Boulevard has given Vercelli 8550 m² of new green areas, 5600 m² of permeable paving, 450 m of nature trails, and a 600 m cycle path. This tree-lined, sustainable, and community-friendly avenue is the first step toward a greener, more livable Vercelli, in line with the ecological transition goals set for 2030.

Parco del Valentino: nature and sustainability for urban living

Last December, Turin officially opened the new Parco del Valentino. With the inauguration of the first phase on Viale Mattioli, the new look of the city’s most beloved green space is taking shape, offering a glimpse into the future of a city increasingly committed to sustainability.

The project began with the removal of asphalt to give space back to nature, which increases the ecological productivity of the park while providing residents with a continuous connection to green spaces. The newly opened section connects Castello del Valentino to Promotrice delle Belle Arti, a cultural institution and exhibition space. It represents an important milestone in the ecological, urban, and architectural restoration process.

“Breaking up the asphalt means restoring our relationship with the land, including in historic parks,” says Andres Kipar, CEO & co-founder of LAND. “Permeable pavements and trees embody the ethical need to bring nature back into the city, while also providing an opportunity to experience natural beauty in our daily lives. Turin is on its way to becoming a nature-positive city, and we’re proud to be contributing to this journey.”

An asphalt-free park: greener, more accessible, more sustainable

Once completed, the new Parco del Valentino will cover approximately 20 hectares. This will involve the removal of 65,000 m² of asphalt and replacing it with 36,000 m² of permeable paving and over 20,000 m² of new lawns. In addition, 555 new trees will be planted, strengthening the park’s landscape identity and its capacity to absorb CO₂. The first phase involved the removal of 9000 m² of asphalt and the planting of 122 trees along a 540 m stretch of Viale Mattioli, where over 600 new shrubs will soon be added.

The project included the restoration of the historic Mattioli Fountain and the introduction of a limited-traffic zone in Corso Massimo d’Azeglio. The objective is to give the park back to the people by promoting soft mobility and social interaction. Reducing the width of the main roads – from 16–20 m to 9 m – will also help reduce motor vehicle traffic, thereby creating additional space for pedestrian and cycling paths that harmonize with the landscape.

The new park will also integrate with the planned Torino Esposizioni library and will be connected to the Po River revitalization project, intended to make the river navigable again. This integrated strategy sees the river as natural infrastructure and an engine for urban regeneration.

Entirely financed by the City of Turin with Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds to the tune of €13 million, the project involved Consorzio Stabile A.L.P.I., MTA Associati and AG&P Greenscape in the executive phase. Site management has been entrusted to LAND, in partnership with RECCHI Engineering and GAe Engineering overseeing safety and TRA Architects providing artistic direction, with SCR Piemonte as contracting station.

The phased opening will continue throughout 2025, with completion expected for mid-2026. The project represents a fundamental step toward Turin achieving climate neutral status by 2030.

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