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The architectural project for the redevelopment of the building is driven by the need to respect its primary function as a market. As such, conservative interventions are planned to maintain the existing shops along the perimeter without altering the architectural layout. The design strategy focuses on people and the quality of urban life, aiming to create a wide range of opportunities to enhance the livability and workability of the space through sustainable design. The key elements of the urban regeneration process include the creation of a vibrant, multifunctional public space that improves both urban and environmental quality
The building is the Santo Stefano Covered Market, located in Ferrara and facing Via Boccacanale Santo Stefano. The market is situated within the city center and the historic walls, near the Castello Estense. The building is included among those of historical, cultural, and testimonial value and falls within an area subject to the second level of seismic analysis. Currently, the building is partly used as a food market due to the presence of commercial activities along the perimeter of the ground floor and as a flea market in the heart of the building. The first floor, on the other hand, is occupied by offices.
The project aims to highlight the building's role as a focal point in the city by transforming it into a modern, multipurpose market while preserving its original architectural layout. The exterior maintains a conservative appearance, suggesting contemporary spatiality, while retaining shops around the perimeter. Inside, there is a stark contrast with the exterior, influenced by several factors. Firstly, the materials differ; the brick facade contrasts with bold internal steel framework beams that highlight their structural and formal coherence. Secondly, the scale of the space expands noticeably, not apparent in the intricate medieval layout, creating a relationship akin to that between a street and a square. The concept of the market resembles that of a covered square, emphasizing flexibility akin to urban spaces. This adaptability allows for easy adjustments to meet evolving demands over time, ensuring the sales space remains responsive to future needs.
The modernization of the market will create a new public space for the entire city that is socially, energetically, and economically sustainable. The building's all-day opening will also facilitate the recovery of unsold goods through integrated dining functions. Therefore, the redevelopment of the Santo Stefano market represents an effort to impact a piece of Ferrara's history while looking towards its future.
T-studio is a working and research group that draws inspiration from constant confrontation on shared themes. Founded by Guendalina Salimei, it is now enriched by a multidisciplinary and research team; the group finds a specific field of investigation and activity in the complex relationships established between design methodologies and modes of intervention in the built and natural environment, often in conditions of urban decay and social discomfort, combining innovation and tradition with a sensitive awareness of the local habitus. Their research and projects, which have won awards in Italy and abroad, been exhibited on numerous occasions, and have been presented in national and international scientific journals and publications, are characterised by a holistic approach that brings together the study of form, knowledge of materials, and reinterpretation of urban and natural contexts in integrated systems that are attentive to aesthetic, social, historical and ecological urgencies.
