Redevelopment of Green Area and Multipurpose Building in Val di Croda
"Croda" in the Venetian dialect means "rock," a word that aptly gives its name to this valley. Starting from the Artugna stream that flows through it, the Val di Croda appears as a vast expanse of stones, interrupted only by the large forest that stretches from the foothills to the mountain peaks. The town of Dardago was built using these stones, as were the system of mills along the Artugna stream within the valley, all masterfully constructed with stones taken from the local "crode" (rock formations).
Leaving Dardago and heading into the valley along Via S. Tomè, after just over a kilometer, one encounters Ciampore Park, a large clearing equipped with playgrounds and seating areas that has become a popular spot for picnics and excursions. However, the area needed redevelopment to enhance the quality of services offered. This was achieved through a comprehensive redesign and the construction of a multipurpose building, which would serve as a hub for sports and nature tourism—an increasingly popular activity in the valley.
A key inspiration for the park's layout was the "moltrin," a traditional circular stone enclosure built by local shepherds to gather their flocks for milking. This simple yet powerful form, made from local stones, was used to bring together and protect.
The park is organized around this concept: low circular stone walls of various sizes are arranged around fire pits. These dry-stone walls are designed at seating height, enclosing a flat central area where picnic tables are placed. On the outer side, the walls follow the natural slopes of the terrain, gradually disappearing into the landscape. The result is a collection of small islands formed by stone walls, tables, and fire pits —all based on the circular shape—which interact with one another. This arrangement allows people to sit facing both inward and outward, encouraging interaction, openness, and sharing—whether while cooking or eating together.
These are not abstract concepts; this is exactly what happens every weekend, when the area fills with visitors.
A main pathway winds through the park, made of stone stepping paths embedded in the ground, connecting the two parking areas located at the east and west entrances. Midway along the path, visitors come across a washbasin, carved from a single massive dark porphyry block, carefully squared in a quarry. This gigantic stone—deliberately distinct in color and size from the smaller, lighter local stones—becomes another gathering point where people stop to wash or drink.
Continuing along the path through the trees, visitors reach the multipurpose building, which houses all the required functions.
The design is very simple: a large rectangular canopy shelters three wood-clad volumes, which accommodate the bar, a teaching room, restrooms/showers, and a bicycle repair area. These volumes are arranged to create a dynamic composition of views and passageways, leading to a large covered porch that opens onto the entire park. From the park, the building appears like a shaded stage where things happen; from within the structure, the view is reversed—the sunlit park becomes the scene to be observed.
The large canopy is designed as a small activity hub, simple in composition yet flexible and adaptable in use. People converge under it from both the parking areas and the park itself. The bar extends its seating area here, and the teaching room can be opened up, doubling its surface area and merging with the park.
The canopy is an expansive, inclined wooden rectangle, stopping just short of the rafters. When it rains, water collects on the roof and drips rhythmically onto the grass below, creating a cadenced sound that blends with the rain itself. This detail brings a meditative quality to the space, reminiscent of the covered walkways of traditional Japanese houses, enhancing the connection between the building and its forest surroundings.
