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The site has a rugged orography, with consistent elevation differences and irregular geometry. The different layouts of the project volumes and their relationships allowed for open spaces of different nature and character, which are articulated to connect the elevations of the terrain and streets on the contour.
The center of the system is the trapezoidal plaza originated by the relationship between the Region’s headquarters, a complex building, itself composed of distinct volumes organized around a basement with an almost triangular plan, and the park, configured as a roof garden, regular in shape, raised from the surrounding land elevation. A second gently sloping stepped plaza converges theatrically on the main one, establishing the relationship between the Region’s headquarters, the new park and the garden of the De Capoa municipal villa, across Piazza Savoia. The Region’s headquarters is an articulated building, with a wealth of interior spaces, intended to represent the institution as a second, modern castle that dialogues with the Monforte Castle, and which becomes, with its towers, a landmark for the city and the territory. The triangular plinth assumes the perimeter of the building area, redefining the limits of the block through two closed, stone-clad walls, orthogonal to each other, analogous to two bastions protecting the interior of the building; the third side opens onto the central square, the heart of the settlement, through a deep public loggia. The two towers, of different size and geometry, are oriented toward the heart of the Murattian city, like the long, deep loggia that borders the square. They house the offices of the Region, the councillors, the council chamber and the presidential offices. The smaller tower contains all the lifts, facilities, technical spaces, storage and services. This allows the larger, square-plan tower to have vacant floors to be organized as needed. Communicating with the offices, the triangular basement space is intended to house, on the second floor, the hemicycle-shaped boardroom and attached services. The hall can also be accessed from the square, through the double-height loggia and the service building, with bars, restaurants and services to the council chamber. The council chamber is a precious place, visible from the square and the loggia that lets it shine through, a warning and metaphor for “good governance,” in the zenithal light that descends from the large skylight. The hexagonal tower, which functionally houses the access ramp to the parking spaces, built of stone, placed on the apex of the triangle, reinforces and anchors the basement, creating a narrowing that allows the two communicating squares to be distinguished. Its central plan marks an important point in the system since it forms the hinge around which the axis of the Region Square revolves, continuing into that of the cordonade and the garden of the municipal villa. On the second floor of the keep is the reception hall, overlooking the roof-garden of the basement, a green terrace over the city, connected directly with the Region office tower. Beyond the central plaza, the park is configured as a roof garden, a precious and planted garden, crossed by two orthogonal avenues that at the center reach the level of the lawn and then gently descend again and gain the elevation of the streets around.