ZEMCH 2015 - International Conference Proceedings | Page 158

Figure 4: Boundary conditions and ideogram of the intervention. (Macchia et Al. 2012) The campus area is marked by an external high speed road system (A6 and the railway) and an internal road system that lacks a hierarchy of pedestrian/vehicular and in which more than 21 parking areas contribute to the conflict between drivers and pedestrians. The area is characterised at east, by the presence of dismissed areas, and in the north, by an industrial plant, Innovation Park. This, together with the scarce affluence of the park users, suggests an insecure image of the campus at night hours. The scarce nightlife of this area is also caused by the proximity of the urban centre that acts as a catalyst for the activities. The masterplan proposes to lead the development of the campus over 20 years, with the aim of creating a green campus that would embrace the surroun ding nature represented by Peel Park. Aside from the redevelopment of the green area, in particular the one next to the overflowing river bank, the plan attempts to free the campus from isolation and introversion through the reconfiguration of the internal and external road systems, so to incentivize the pedestrian movement, and the demolition of the numerous obsolete buildings that “turn their back to the park”, to open new squares towards the new linear park. The discouragement of car use is also achieved through a new student residential pole, close to the academic core, and to a nearby private sport centre. This strategy, together with the construction of new public commercial spaces, open to the district, contributes to the restoration of the campus vitality over the 24 hours. Lastly, a further opportunity for growth stems from the Innovation Park for the development of strategic synergies between the academic world and the world of work. 156 ZEMCH 2015 | International Conference | Bari - Lecce, Italy