The Requalification project extends over all of the area historically known as the Balôn, on via Borgo Dora from via Andreis to the start of the Principessa Clotilde bridge, the gardens and the whole of Piazza Borgo Dora.
The main objective of the project is that of valorising the typological features of the Borgo, contributing to a recovery of the urban fabric which was lacerated during the 60s-70s. The intention is to highlight the development of the old via Borgo Dora with a one-way route in the middle of the road, giving priority to pedestrians and with greater opportunity for commercial display for the workshops that look out on to the road.
The piazza must recover its social interaction role through various elements: the use of the gardens both for strolls and relaxing pauses and for possible small open air performances.
In addition it is essential to recover some areas of public space which at the moment are undefined and therefore liable to decay and disturbance.
Hence the use of end walls for tromp l'oeil murals focusing on the history of the Borgo Dora mills and with areas equipped with specific service functions for citizens, such as public telephones, dehors areas, kiosks for commercial activities or information points. In addition, new pubic lighting will be created for the movement of both vehicles and pedestrians as well as parking, in addition to decorative illumination for some buildings or environments.
From the land registry maps of the 1930s it has been possible to identify the presence of the ex-Church dedicated to Saints Simon and Jude.
The project involves the stone paving of the surface corresponding to the plan of the demolished building, as an outline of its shape. The fencing of the gardens on the side of the piazza will be pushed back so as to coincide with the line of the pre-existing facade of the demolished religious building, opening up the view towards Principessa Clotilde bridge, whose reconstruction project is underway. Basin shaped terracing with respect to the raised gardens will serve as an arena for tranquil relaxation and small shows.
Main elements in the intervention:

• Resurfacing of all the public ground in the area covered by the intervention
• Refurbishing of the white drains system
• Restructuring of the public lighting system
• New design for the gardens

Executive project approved 16th October 2001 (per saperne di più)
Works' beginning spring 2002 (foreseen for around a year)
Overall estimated cost of the intervention 2.066.000.000 Euro

Mobility and environment division
Public Spaces Requalification Sector New Works Public Ground Sector
e-mail: paola.giordano@comune.torino.it