Villa Costanza

The recovery and expansion of the park of the 19th-century Villa Costanza transforms a historic garden into a contemporary public landscape for the Viganello neighborhood of Lugano. Developed through a participatory process with local residents, the project creates an inclusive park structured around social interaction, biodiversity, and low-maintenance ecological strategies.
Historic traces and mature trees are carefully preserved, while new interventions introduce a coherent material language. Lawn areas are minimized and reserved for collective activities, while most of the park is densely planted with drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, and groundcover species to reduce maintenance and eliminate irrigation. Flower meadows further strengthen urban biodiversity.
Natural wood and pigmented artisanal brick define the architectural identity of the park. All paths are permeable, using pink granite gravel from the Arzo quarries, while rainwater is managed above ground through rain gardens planted with native species adapted to alternating wet and dry conditions. These systems infiltrate and slowly release stormwater while contributing to urban cooling and ecological diversity.
An oval brick fountain with handmade ceramic tiles referencing fossils and prehistoric plants extends into the adjacent Fossil Garden. Community gardens, fountains, and vaporizing sprays reinforce the park’s role as a socially and environmentally resilient civic landscape.