The funicular tower is also included in the new walkway, elevating it and turning it into a vantage point and lighthouse at night. The pier is conceived as a continuation of the funicular, as a walkway in the water, organizing all the uses of the program in a single volume of transparent and permeable glass placed parallel to the lake.
Finally, the pier and its promenade are connected to Plaza Luini by a series of walkways that dissolve the gap between the two and turn it into a point of visual attraction.
Redevelopment of Belvedere garden, new landing stage, stairway section and Angioli funicular, Tassino park by Vaillo + Irigaray Architects. Rendering by Maria Victoria Porro, Vaillo + Irigaray.
Project description by Vaillo + Irigaray Architects
The proposal proposes an overall strategy, with the intention of formally, visually and functionally linking the three areas of the competition: reinforcing the axis initiated by the funicular to connect the mountain with the lake, introducing new elements at the ends, giving it greater programmatic density.
Shaft strength as a suturing exercise
Given the historical and formal importance of the direction of the Funicular, reinforcing the line helps to understand the new city that has been emerging: urbanly the axis of the funicular determines the end of the historic center of Lugano, marked by the Church of Santa Maria, and acts as an authentic “connection” with the new performance of the LAC, offering a “crack” between the mountain, the city and the lake. The strategy consists, therefore, of reinforcing this “rift” by providing it with greater programmatic and functional density at its ends, enhancing the communication of the city itself. The crack becomes the backbone.
Therefore, the axis - a straight line - is emphasized as a “sewing” exercise, to promote a suture line capable of sewing various urban fabrics, unevenness and areas. The evidence of the suture helps to understand the cohesion of the gesture.
Redevelopment of Belvedere garden, new landing stage, stairway section and Angioli funicular, Tassino park by Vaillo + Irigaray Architects. Rendering by Maria Victoria Porro, Vaillo + Irigaray.
The visual power of the axis reaches its fullness due to its ability to “suture” between different functions, areas, spaces and buildings. As a consequence, it offers a great panoramic diversity that it generates, especially when crossed from the new walkway, offering diverse views and different perceptions from each point of the route: passage through a forest of trees; gently perching in the sports area or on the Tasino balcony; panoramic viewpoint from the tower, facing the new pier and with magnificent views of the lake…
Our investigation of the place leads us to the following reflection: it is a significant effort to make a connecting walkway, - but it cannot reach the top of the Tasino - Enderlin turret -, it must remain in “no man's land”, in the middle of the slope. Given the complex topography and the demands of the railway, the connection of the tasin with the “caravan” area is complex and difficult. The proposal presented here aims to solve three problems with a single gesture: union with Tasino Park; organize the base of Tasino Park as the beginning of the new gardens; and directly connect the new “caravan” sports area. In this way, with the Y gesture of the walkway, the new sports area is included within Tasino Park, forming a single area.
At first glance, a catwalk of that size may seem exaggerated. However, if the conditions to connect the new sports complex with the Tasino are carefully studied - remember the existing road between large retaining walls, without sidewalks, or space for pedestrians, etc. - the necessary development is 3 times more than the length of the proposed walkway. Therefore, we can confirm that the “Y” gateway is the most direct and economical solution for that connection. Especially when it connects directly to the Funicular Tower, the true nerve center of the connection.
Model. Redevelopment of Belvedere garden, new landing stage, stairway section and Angioli funicular, Tassino park by Vaillo + Irigaray Architects.
The “Y” walkway maintains a horizontal line between the funicular tower and the arrival at Parque Tasino. From the fork, the walkway takes a gentle downward line to end up landing on the sports area.
The Funicular Tower: viewpoint and lighthouse
The solution was chosen to take advantage of the existing tower and raise it, combining the connection between the funicular and the walkway. The new gesture aims to solve three problems: economy of means: taking advantage of the existing tower; take advantage of the arrival of the funicular, and connect with the new walkway; introduce a new use taking advantage of historical tradition, organizing a funicular museum.
The construction strategy is to organize a new “openwork” body, light and metallic, which contains the staircase and elevator connecting with the new walkway. Always revealing the empty interior volume, with the funicular machinery, offering an exciting vertical journey. Upon arrival at the top, it becomes a viewpoint towards the lake and the city and towards the Tasino and the forest.
At night, the tower lights up, and acts as a great lighthouse over Lugano…
Model. Redevelopment of Belvedere garden, new landing stage, stairway section and Angioli funicular, Tassino park by Vaillo + Irigaray Architects.
Pier
The pier is understood as an extension of the funicular, like a walkway over the water of the lake. With a simple and clean geometry, the supports are hidden to simulate the effect of a floating element.
The cafeteria and the rest of the uses required in the competition program are organized in a single longitudinal volume, parallel to the pier, reinforcing the direction of the axis over the water. The cover, made of the same material as the walkway, proposes to reinforce the unit of action, while its geometry pointed towards the water and rounded towards the city, configures a silhouette that recalls ancient naval structures, closer to the maritime construction typical of a lake. In order to allow maximum views both from the promenade and from the interior, under the cover the entire program is housed within a transparent and permeable glass box.
Dock - Plaza Luini – LAC
The action in this area proposes a triple strategy: firstly, the continuity of the promenade – CAI: recovery of a tree-lined promenade on the edge of the lake, a true constant throughout the city of Lugano; Secondly, organize a plaza with an urban scale - similar to those existing in the city facing the lake -, organizing a tree-lined green filter with a central fountain. With this gesture, the large scale of the current plaza is mitigated, and a greater adaptation to a more human scale is sought.
The square overlooks the lake through platforms that allow the existing unevenness to be resolved, geometrizing the shore and connecting with the pier through a viewing platform over the lake, adorned with various fountains of a markedly recreational nature - also on the lake itself -, such as visual attraction point.
