A Covered Square for Buses

The former schoolyard at the intersection of Via Pretorio and Corso Pestalozzi, two of Lugano’s main thoroughfares, is located in the city centre, at the entrance to the old town core. It presents an opportunity to become an intermodal space for the new tram-train, bus, bicycle, and motorcycle infrastructure in relation to the city centre’s pedestrian area. Given its urban and interchange significance, the space deserves generous treatment as a reference point, serving both as an entrance “salon” and as a functional tram-train and bus stop with parking. The project is characterized by a large, maximally extended roof overlooking the facades of adjacent buildings, creating a large covered square with its own autonomy, as free as possible from supporting structures. The square accommodates public traffic needs through a roundabout concept, without compromising its urban strength as a plaza, while maintaining a large covered area for a market as well as a central park. The concept of centrality is expressed through the square itself, the traffic principle defined by the roundabout, and the shape of the roof, which features a central void-a “courtyard”-that becomes a park-garden.