A comprehensive urban regeneration intervention on a 1.12 ha
The Masterplan project is a comprehensive urban regeneration intervention on a 1.12 ha site located within a dense existing urban fabric. The plot features complex geometry, is bordered by several residential buildings on all sides, and currently consists of fragmented, unstructured development. The core challenge for our studio was to regenerate the surrounding urban tissue, activate pedestrian connectivity across the neighborhood, and significantly improve the quality of life for residents of both the new development and the adjacent existing buildings.
Program: residential, ground floor retail, underground parkings
Total area: 25 640 sq.m (above ground)
Site area: 1.12 ha
Size: 295 apartments
Density: ~ 23 000 sq.m/ha
Status: masterplan, in realization
Design Principles
Our proposal immediately focused on creating active urban frontages along the primary streets while establishing a comfortable, human-scaled pedestrian environment inside the residential block.
The project establishes strong, animated street-facing façades along the main urban arteries and carves out an inviting, walkable interior residential realm. We developed a clear urban code that emphasizes multifunctional ground floors, typological diversity, and respectful integration with the existing context. The design prioritizes a dynamic skyline readable and pleasing from the pedestrian viewpoint, ergonomic spatial organization, and timeless architectural elegance.
Residential Typologies
To respond sensitively to the irregular geometry and orientation of the site, we proposed three radically different residential typologies, each tailored to its specific position:
Northern block: 8-storey slab building with a highly active ground floor hosting commercial, community, and service functions. The top floor features flexible “flex lofts” with high ceilings and potential for customization.
Central volume: A “fat tower” — a compact, generously proportioned residential tower with inhabited ground-floor spaces that blend seamlessly into the surrounding street life.
Southern block: A corner section that terraces inward toward the courtyard, creating a soft transition from the public street edge to the private inner realm and enhancing the sense of intimacy and shelter.
All three typologies share an increased ground-floor height (unified across the project), allowing for a rich mix of unique residential formats, retail, cafés, small offices, or resident-oriented services.
Each building also incorporates three types of outdoor summer spaces: open balconies for everyday use, enclosed loggias for weather protection, and generous roof terraces on the uppermost levels for relaxation and social interaction.
Urban Integration & Skyline
The massing and roofline terminations of all three volumes have been carefully sculpted to produce a coherent and expressive urban silhouette when viewed from street level. Active façades along the perimeter streets animate public space and encourage pedestrian activity, while internal pedestrian routes strengthen connectivity within the block and link it to the wider neighborhood.
Landscape & Public Realm
The landscape strategy combines a crisp, urban character along the site perimeter (street-facing edges) with lush, resident-focused inner courtyards. The internal landscape includes high-quality sports facilities, generous greenery, play areas, and seating zones designed to promote active lifestyles and spontaneous social encounters.
Materials & Colour Palette
The material palette centres on warm, natural tones of ceramic brick, chosen for its durability, tactility, and ability to age gracefully. These earthy hues bring a sense of order, restraint, and understated elegance to the existing heterogeneous surroundings, creating visual harmony and a feeling of timeless quality.
Sustainability & Added Value
The project integrates sustainable design principles: energy-efficient materials, optimised daylighting through terraces and generous openings, and substantial green space to improve local microclimate and biodiversity.
This masterplan aims to become a new focal point of urban life — a place that respectfully completes the existing neighbourhood while offering contemporary living standards, vibrant street presence, and genuine community value.