1st Prize for UCBM Masterplan International Design Competition

The urban design UCBM Masterplan for the Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome is a 90 ha project with urban design, landscape, and architectural relevance, which was developed by the architects and landscape architects of Topotek 1 in a joint venture with Labics.

Considering the Town Planning Scheme’s goal to transform the monocentric arrangement of Rome into a polycentric structure, the design serves as a model for the creation of future urban centralities. In this sense, the planning of the new bio-medical center therefore seeks to address connectivity, openness, and accessibility, while at the same time acknowledging and integrating elements from the surrounding context.

Following the concept of porosity, the surrounding landscape becomes an essential component of the masterplan, forming the backbone of the campus, creating a place to encourage dialogue within the community. Furthermore, the masterplan embeds the new urban fabric into the existing spatial structures, allowing for the development of a coherent sequence of built units and open spaces. The new facilities are concentrated close to the main entrance towards Trigoria. The sport facilities and residential areas located in the North of the campus further open the site towards the adjacent area.

Central to the design is the creation of a functional public space through the concordant intertwining of built and natural elements, resulting in a continuous interrelation of landscape and urbanity. Using the grid’s units to seek formal regularity, the inner and outer spaces define dynamic zones for diverse program and activity to unfold both inside and outside.   Light building structures give space to research and simultaneously foster social encounter on their inner spaces, corridors and terraces.

The outside areas are characterized by width and spaciousness. Lush vegetation such as lavender bushes and evergreen cedars reference southern-European landscapes and typologically connect the new site to the existing landscapes around Rome.

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