Promenade Tiburtina, outdoor living on an urban scale

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Promenade Tiburtina, an urban redevelopment project in Rome - 1

Designed by FAD Fucine Architecture Design in association with Borzelli & Berta Architetti, this innovative urban pedestrian pathway formed part of the project for the redevelopment of the outdoor area of an office complex in eastern Rome.

In 2019 the project received an honourable mention in the “Institutional” category of the “La Ceramica e il Progetto 2020” (Ceramic Tiles and Architecture) competition.

The aim, agreed with the property’s owners, was to create a well structured, complex, multiform space outside the buildings’ main entrance, featuring new pathways, areas with seating and a system of trees and gardens, also completely new. The glazed main facade of one of the complex’s three buildings overlooks Via Tiburtina, one of Rome’s main highways, which carries heavy traffic. The outdoor area next to this facade provides a filter between the building and the busy road. The project thus set out to create a green “promenade” comprising two gardens either side of the building’s main entrance. The larger garden is conceived as a spacious relaxation area, including a pedestrian pathway and islands planted with trees.

One of the project’s distinctive features is the lighting: the system of Corten steel portals emphasises the pathway, especially in the evening, placing the focus on the main pedestrian route, lined with seats with curvy contemporary design. This main pathway intersects with secondary cross-paths which create and delimit the planted areas. Particular care was taken over the sustainability of the technologies and materials selected for the project. All light fittings are energy-saving type and large portions of draining paving were installed, while many different varieties of trees and shrubs were planted to double the existing area of vegetation.

The tiles used for paving part of the surface of the Promenade – alternating with sections of pathways in architectural concrete – were intended to withstand both pedestrian and vehicle traffic, to enable safe access by emergency vehicles.

The architects chose Marazzi porcelain stoneware tiles from the Mystone Silverstone20 collection inspired by six different types of natural stone, here in Beige shade and in 30x30 cm and 30x60 cm sizes – made to measure for this project – in the ultra-strong 20 mm thickness.

Available in a large number of sizes for an infinity of installation patterns, the collection is completed by mesh-backed mosaics. The different surface structures and extra-thick tiles also allow seamless installation across both indoor and outdoor areas.