A new design for Piazza IV Novembre

Creating a new design for Piazza IV Novembre has involved not only regenerating an urban area, but also turning one of the most important squares in the centre of Sesto Fiorentino into a more functional space for local inhabitants. Redesigning the square, in fact, is only the last piece in a complex plan developed by the municipal authorities in recent years to restyle the town centre. The project has included removing all architectural barriers with the aim of creating a smooth, continuous access uninterrupted by steps or changes in level.

The new square (34 metres wide and 179 metres long) has no pavements or walls and most of it is pedestrianised and divided into a children's play area with safety matting, a large treeless area for temporary events (like local markets or other happenings), and a recycling area with ground-recessed waste containers. To obtain a uniform light effect Crown pole-top products have been installed (a luminaire awarded the Red Dot “product design” prize in 2012), while recessed Miniwalky luminaires create an even wash on the paving.

This project was developed with the close cooperation of local citizens who were invited to participate with comments. And a significant number of changes and improvements were made to the initial design thanks to this constructive exchange of ideas.