Renovation of the Piazza Ghiaia, Parma 2007 - 12

Parma looking Westwith the Piazza Duomo atlower left.

Over the course of time the TORRENTE PARMA was diverted in 1177 as a reslt of material that accumulated in the curve. The space that was left started to adopt the name of its basic material; gravel.It became a market for grapes, livestock and meat; a «forum boarium». The Duchess of Parma in 1838 asked te court architect Nicola Bettoli to build a row of Neo Classical ice producing warehouses of 50 columns . In 1928 these were demolished to make way for the road that runs beside the river. In 1944 there was damage to this area in WWII.The phrase «to go to the gravel» became the local term meaning to go to market. Now it is a twice weekly event.

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia

BRIEFFrancesco Asti: renovation of Piazza Ghiaia in Parma. Project together with architect Andrea Mambriani. Consists of the renovation of buildings and market spaces in the historic Via Mariotti and creation of a new market square covered by a lightweight steel and glass structure entrusted to the architect Paolo Mancini.

Creation of 3 underground floors of mixed use: indoor market, food stores and 210 garages.Size: 6,000 square metres, 1,200 m² shop area under ViaMariotti, 3,500 square metres each basement level on 3 levels.Total amount: € 30 million. 2007/2012.

Francesco Asti website

Parma; Piazza Ghiaiaaerial view of completed project (CAD view)

Parma Piazza Ghiaia; project board

Parma;

Francesco Asti atelier

Piazza Ghiaia

Parma;

Piazza GhiaiaPaolo Mancinii

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia; panoramic view from street level North of

the Piazza

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia

Piazza Ghiaia shops (previous slide view circled)

Parma; Piazza Ghiaiasolar panels

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia view of the Roman + Medieval bridge as originally projected. Currently incomplete.

The Roman Bridge

Parma; Piazza Ghiaia; bridge heritage conservation, closed to the public at 1.1.15

Post script: Mario Botta and Parma

Piazza della Pace 1989

Mario Botta and Parma; Piazza della Pace