artisan crossing

Urbanization, perhaps as one of the most manifest facets of the post-renaissance era, has affected the entire world. The urban design addresses how people perceive and use their environment. People care about the look, feel, and livability of their communities and urban design tools are a planner's most effective tools to address this need. Urban Spaces include different elements shaping the city one of them is bridges which can play a vital role in each society. In this project, in Italy, a bridge is designed that not only connects the Sant'Antonio and Santa Maria neighborhoods of Pisa but also acts as a public space with the aim of improving social activities and preserving culture. This project tries to make a connection between designing on an urban scale and architectural design with expanding the role of a bridge to a public space occupied by artists, artisans, and visitors from all walks of life.

Art is an essential part of each culture because it allows us to have a deeper understanding of our emotions, increases our self-awareness, and also allows us to be open to new ideas and experiences. In Italy, most families are artisans and are involved with art. Artisans are masters of their craft and create products such as clothes, toys, tools, or furnishings. These artisanal techniques are learned through decades of tribal knowledge and passed down within families and communities. Many artisans depend on resources from their nearby surroundings to create these items. However, these days people pay less attention to art and artists. Designing this bridge by locating workshops related to arts so that pedestrians, cyclists, and even tourists not only can cross the way but also can take a look and engage with the art culture. This way, culture and art as a touchstone for each community would be maintained where they can be seen, informed, and even taught.

As far as culture is concerned, for designing this bridge we use archetypal concepts to expand the idea with symbol method architecture. According to Etienne-Louis Boullée, the most essential aspect of buildings is that ‘the images they offer our senses should arouse sentiments analogous to the use which these buildings are dedicated’. This way, we are inspired by the Roman Arches which have been really effective in the formation of the culture of Italy. For instance, in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore and Leaning Tower of Pisa, we witness various Romance Curves. So, the concept starts by using Roman curves. As a result, this bridge could be an iconic monument preserving the identity of Florence, Italy for decades due to various circulations and Arches where art and visitors could make a deep relationship.  

Our main goal for this bridge is to design a space that enriches the existing typology of a bridge. So, some platforms are provided for artisans and artists which can contribute to the encouragement of direct learning, seeing, and buying engagement with the existing tourists and pedestrians. This way people crossing the bridge would support local businesses and then increase cultural involvement and engagement.

Several techniques have been used in order to achieve project goals. because of the bridge curvature and geometry that connects all parts including art workshops, plazas, and coffee shop, people can walk around and get involved easily with artisans’ workshops. This is an organized system of various types of movements stimulated by specific architectural elements in the bridge called a fluid space. In addition, by designing public spaces around the form especially the one near the Arno River considered as a viewpoint, visitors and tourists can improve their social activities and share their ideas where there is a performance stage. The most important key of the performance stage is that all people and tourists can make a contribution and perform that has numerous benefits not only for improving the tourism industry but also for artisans. Artisans can teach their special form of art to others. This way culture and art will be preserved and community engagement will be improved.

In short, we hope that with architecture and the use of art far beyond the requirements, we will witness a future in which culture as a touchstone for each community will be maintained.