Punto di Vista

Brief description of the intervention:

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CONTEXT AND STATUS:

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The project stems from an assignment by a private party that is part of a competition for the concession of an open space for bar use announced by the municipality of Perugia in June 2023. The panoramic terrace that is the subject of the competition, set in the larger context of the ancient stone walls of the Rocca Paolina, is one of Perugia's most popular scenic spots and offers the public a characteristic panoramic view of the Assisi Valley and the Church of San Domenico.

 

DESIGN and ARTISTIC DIRECTION:

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The new furniture proposal, which comes in the wake of complete reversibility, envisages a soft and discreet line in terms of colors and materials to be used aiming to be a gesture of minimal synthesis and rearrangement of the space in order to enhance the existing context.

 

The path of descent from the stairs beyond the wrought-iron gate, opens at the bottom of these, with an "invitation" on the floor consisting of a platform that houses 4/5 seats, forming part of the cor-ten bar counter that, tracing the position of the existing one, houses all the technical elements necessary for the staff, illuminated frontally by a backlit panel that reproposes an abstract artistic motif. The architectural object of the counter is intended to be a pivotal and innovative element that attracts the public's attention even from the street, but at the same time indirectly illuminates the terracotta top of the terrace. On the back of the balcony are a series of shelves made of glass and thin profiles that allow a glimpse of the brick wall behind. The composition is closed at the top by two C-shaped metal profiles that provide support for the countertop lighting and light beige curtain.

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Surrounding this focal point is the set of tables and seating distinct in height, shape, and mode of interaction with the surrounding space and landscape.

 

The furniture composition winds around three custom-designed cor-ten vases containing different tree species, which allow the bar's products to be consumed on a wooden ring top, resonating with the table tops, while allowing for a decorative effect centered on the presence of greenery. Their position is intended to give order and scanning to the space of the tables, enhancing and framing the main panoramic views, such as the one from the bar looking toward San Domenico.

 

The project, with a view to dialogue with the surrounding hilly landscape, introduces precisely from these elements the element of greenery not present on the terrace to date. This is not intended to fulfill a simple decorative will, but also has a shading and cooling function, especially in relation to the specific choice of essences that will take place in relation to native species.

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Shelter from the weather and the sun is provided by three 3.00 m-sided screening elements having a light beige color, in dialogue with both the seating and the custom counter cover. None of the proposed furniture elements exceeds the height of the impost height of the stone balustrade of the avenue above.

 

For the tables and stools, light shades and soft natural shapes were chosen, contrasting with the strongly geometric context characterized by bricks and stones.

 

The project seeks to establish a new dialogue with the mighty one-meter-deep border wall by exploiting additional custom furniture elements. These consist of movable tops of size 40x60 cm that can be organized in different compositions, formed by a simple welded cor-ten profile embedded by gravity to the existing parapet. These, offering the user an experience unlike any other, allow direct contact with the view, further enhancing the beautiful landscape enjoyed from the terrace.

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The total number of seats has been reduced and contained to give more breathing space to the context, and diversified in type to create different dining experiences on the terrace.

 

The lighting design is intended to aim for an intimate and elegant atmosphere; the night lighting is subdued, punctually enhancing both contextual and design elements. To the spotlights that gently illuminate the wall behind the bar, the stairs, and the stone wall beside them, are added a series of light points both inside the vases containing the tree species and on the tables. The whole restores an intimate atmosphere to the place especially in the evening hours, leaving the gaze free from overly pronounced sources of light pollution, and giving breath to the panorama.

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The project was carried out in collaboration with:

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Arch. Flavia Maria Fagugli

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