Exhibition “European Prize for Urban Public Space”

In May 2023, City Space Architecture strengthened its ongoing cooperation with the CCCB – Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona with the intention of hosting in Bologna the exhibition of the 2022 edition of the European Prize for Urban Public Space. This biennial competition is organized with the aim of recognizing and showcasing all kinds of works dedicated to creating, recovering, and improving public spaces in European cities. For this purpose, City Space Architecture designed and built wooden structures intended to display panels of the 20 selected projects outdoors at the biodiversity public garden. The exhibition also featured the display of the four finalists and the winner indoors at our headquarters. The 25 projects represented a powerful cross-section of public space initiatives across Europe, encompassing both top-down and bottom-up approaches, as well as public and private efforts.

In addition, the outdoor exhibition was enhanced by a work of art by Michele Liparesi - two hanging monkeys in the centre of the garden, creating a playful and joyful environment.

The new configuration of the green infrastructure, coupled with the exhibitions and events, clearly showed that what has been an abandoned green space had the potential to become a garden, a welcoming and attractive public space. Unexpectedly, just a few days after completion, residents took the initiative to place two cushions (for young people) and a chair (for older people) at the base of one of the trees, demonstrating their interest in appropriating the space. Later, we put up signs at the entrance to the garden explaining the project, its promoters, and its mission, along with codes of conduct.

In early September, a resident from the building facing the garden generously supported the project by installing a light on her balcony that illuminated the public garden at night, creating a safer environment.    

At the beginning of September 2023, the biodiversity public garden hosted two small events:

- A lecture by the Australian artist and educator Fiona Hillary, teaching at the RMIT University in Melbourne, on September 1

- An open dialogue led by Colombian architect Oscar Perilla, teaching at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotà, on September 6