La Valle Paesaggistica di Sant'Anna

TERRAVIVA competition - Winner

Year : 2026

Territory : Municipality of Gorizia, Italy

Team : Agence TELLU 

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Gorizia: A Cultural and Ecological Crossroads

Located at the northeastern tip of Italy, on the border with Slovenia, Gorizia serves as a bridge between the Latin and Slavic worlds. Together with Nova Gorica, it has been named European Capital of Culture 2025, recognizing its unique role as a hub for intercultural dialogue. The city lies at the confluence of several ecoregions—Dinaric mixed forests, the Po Basin, and Illyrian deciduous forests—shaped by an exceptional geography: the influence of the Adriatic Sea, the Veneto-Friuli plains, the Alps, and the Dinaric massif. These contrasting landscapes, combined with abundant rainfall (1,300 mm/year), make Gorizia a cultural, ecological, and climatic ecotone, providing the foundation for a sustainable and harmonious landscape project.

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An Inspiring Agricultural Heritage

For centuries, local farming practices have adapted to these natural constraints. Agricultural plots, traditionally oriented from southeast to northwest, resist dominant winds and follow the topography. The park’s design draws inspiration from this ancestral logic: it adopts the same orientation to blend seamlessly into the slope of the Isonzo River’s alluvial plain.

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A Radiant Urban Project

The project revolves around three main axes, radiating from the central Piazza Sant’Anna, the heart of the district. This square, where pedestrian and cycling paths intersect, is a hub for amenities, including a riverside café, sports facilities (football, basketball, volleyball, table tennis), and a large meadow for free activities. Its strategic location—near bus stops G7125 and G7144, as well as car and bike parking—makes it an ideal spot for social gatherings.

To the south, a straight stone quay guides visitors toward Giuseppe Marvin Park and Fabiani Park. This quay divides two distinct worlds:

• To the west: A densely planned area dedicated to games, sports, and picnics;

• To the east: A series of organic, meandering islets and basins winding through the trees, evoking a tamed nature.

This duality pays homage to Gorizia’s traditional agricultural parceling, balancing the regularity of the land with the irregularity of the Isonzo River. The quay becomes a contemplative belvedere, overlooking this "third nature."

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Rethinking Mobility

Traffic reorganization has improved quality of life: Via Max Fabiani is now one-way (from Via G. B. Garzarolli to Via del Faiti), with speed bumps near schools and intersections. The 189 parking spaces and bus circulation remain intact, with the G7154 stop relocated for easier maneuvering. Dedicated bike lanes separate pedestrian and cycling traffic, ensuring safety. Bike parking and GO2GO bike-sharing stations round out the sustainable mobility offerings.

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Regeneration Through Landscape

Thus, the Sant’Anna district becomes, in its own right, a cultural and ecological crossroads for the broader Gorizia area, proving that urban regeneration begins with a focus on public spaces.