Carlo Ratti Associati has revealed the design transformation of Turin’s historic waterfront in Italy. The project’s main aim is to address the current climate crisis and leverage architectural solutions to create spaces that can withstand the recurring floods of the Po River. Throughout the scheme, many architectural elements are kinetic, allowing them to rise above the water. “Floating Above the Floods” creates new solutions for urban climate adaptations and provides insights into universal strategies for urban waterways.
The design aims to revitalize the arches along the Po River, a culturally vibrant area of the city, by converting it into a new hub for education and community activities. At the heart of the scheme is restoring a 450sqm space with seven former underground warehouses connected through a single large tunnel. The project introduces a system of floating floors capable of rising when water levels surge, keeping interior spaces safe. Above these dynamic platforms, the River Center will be established for the public, serving as the core community hub, complete with a café and a coworking space.
Adaptive architecture can enhance the resilience of cities in the face of climate change challenges, including more severe floods and rising water levels. The floating platforms in Turin exemplify how urban centers can foster more harmonious relationships with their waterfronts. –Carlo Ratti
Turin's "Murazzi del Po," or Po Embankments, have a significant cultural impact. Since the 1980s, the riverbank neighborhood that fishermen formerly used to store their boats has transformed into the city's vibrant nightlife and cultural center. In the last ten years, co-working spaces, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and sustainable navigation services have all been built along the riverbank. These programs have lately been incorporated into a larger strategy that is funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), an EU effort to revitalize the riverbank.
The Carlo Ratti Associati design also includes four new docks for riverboat services in addition to the river center. In fact, these platforms serve as "riverfront squares" with views of the water, and they are used for boarding and disembarking. The scheme is scheduled for early 2025, with building and construction planned to start in early 2024.
Carlo Ratti Associati has done ample work regarding the climate crisis and rethinking resources. At the UIA World Congress of Architects 2023, the Science Track and its international Scientific Committee analyzed how architecture responds to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Carlo Ratti led the conversation in one of the panels, design for Rethinking Resources, and ArchDaily had a chance to interview him about the built environment’s resources. Last year, the design studio unveiled the master plan for Rome’s bid to host the World Expo in 2030. The project proposes a collaborative solar farm to power the exhibition site and decarbonize the surrounding neighborhoods. Finally, in last year's Milan Design Week, DAAily platforms had the chance to talk with Carlo Ratti as part of the DAAily Bar. The conversation circled around his unique multidisciplinary approach and his views on energy usage in the built environment.
