Sharing Ground: Prato & the Bisenzio River

The textile and cement industry in Prato valley is closely linked to the Bisenzio River's presence, which flows through Prato and eventually joins the Arno River. Since 2016, the Città del Prato has been reimagining its relationship with the river, transitioning from an industrial facilitator to a River Park in the Reversibility project. In response to increased flooding in northern Italian cities, they plan to reshape the city's landscape by merging urban design with natural river systems.

This studio will consist of two phases: five weeks in Melbourne for research and an intensive lecture series, followed by five weeks in Prato for design workshops and local engagement.

The first two weeks in Prato, the focus will be purely on the Sharing Ground Theme, the following three weeks, students will have the opportunity to stay on in Prato and participate in a MADA cross-faculty research elective, "Critical Ecologies,"  and work on undesigning a building or urban area while creating a masterplan focused on the ground plane.

Studio Leaders: Louise Wright