The firm Settanta7 signs the new District of Mutualism and Social Innovation in Bologna — an urban regeneration project that transforms the former Scalo Ravone into a large, accessible, and sustainable public park. Commissioned by the Municipality of Bologna, the intervention is part of the City of Knowledge program and aims to return a strategic area — until now fragmented and dominated by heavy traffic — to the community.
The project, developed by an international team including Settanta7, West8, Rizoma Architecture, Studio Perillo, La Stanza C, Vibes, Studio Valle Progettazione, and Sidel Ingegneria, is based on an integrated approach that combines environmental sustainability, technological innovation, and social inclusion.
At the heart of the intervention is the conversion of the former railway yard into a car-free urban park, crossed by a green promenade and equipped with pedestrian and cycling paths. The ecological regeneration plan includes the creation of a true urban forest with over 1,000 new trees, reversing the ratio between permeable and impermeable surfaces (80% versus the current 20%). Outdoor spaces will be organized into thematic areas: from the Agorà, a large green clearing forming the heart of the district, to the Hidden Garden, the Sports Square, and the Woodland Garden leading into the Urban Forest.
Seven main buildings will be repurposed with new functions consistent with the principles of mutualism and social innovation: spaces for events and cultural activities, temporary residences, workshops, bistros, coworking areas, conference rooms, and sports facilities. Lightweight architectural solutions, innovative claddings, and photovoltaic systems will interact with the restoration of historic structures, ensuring a balanced dialogue between memory and contemporaneity.
The project stands as a virtuous example of urban regeneration, capable of integrating architecture, ecology, and community into an inclusive, forward-looking vision — transforming a former industrial site into a new green, cultural, and social hub for the city.
For more information, visit www.settanta7.com
CREDITS
Project: New District of Mutualism and Social Innovation
Architecture Firm: Settanta7
Location: Bologna, Italy
Year: 2025 – ongoing
