a grid of oak trees frames porphyry-paved piazza in northern Italy
Ghisellini Architetti has redesigned Public Square Madre Francesca Cabrini as a contemporary Italian piazza framed by architecture and trees. Located in a small town in the lower Lodi area of Italy, the project reinterprets the open clearings of the region’s former lowland forests, creating a defined public space enclosed by three planted edges and the existing town hall.
Ghisellini Architetti reimagines the square as a tree-lined clearing
A continuous paving surface of Italian porphyry extends from north to south, aligning with the town hall’s facade and volume. Fifty oak trees representing three species are arranged in a 7-by-7 grid, providing shade and forming sheltered green spaces around the square. Paths weave through flowers, lawns, shrubs, and shade-tolerant undergrowth, while wooden benches, drinking fountains, trash bins, and bike racks support public use. The design team at Ghisellini Architetti uses concrete monoliths to separate pedestrian areas from vehicles.
A dual-level lighting system illuminates the square after dark
A two-level lighting system combines multi-projector poles with ground-level fixtures to illuminate the square after dark. The landscape and paving also integrate rainwater management and climate-responsive measures. Permeable surfaces and lawns help replenish groundwater and reduce summer heat, while the porphyry paving directs rainfall to an underground storage system. Collected water is reused to irrigate trees, lawns, and undergrowth, with excess water gradually released into the drainage network during heavy rainfall.
project info:
name: FOREST JUMP | Public Square ‘Madre Francesca Cabrini’
architect: Ghisellini Architetti | @ghisellini_architetti
location: Public Square Madre Francesca Cabrini, Lodi, Italy
photographer: Aldo Amoretti | @aldoamoretti
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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
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