In Harmony with the Landscape: The Foliage Road

Val Vigezzo state road, Re/Ribellasca Section (VCO)

The project – developed together with Pro Iter, Erre.Vi.A., and Sinergo – aims to achieve the safety improvement and functional redevelopment of a section of approximately 5 km of the state road SS 337 of Val Vigezzo, which connects the municipality of Re with Ribellasca and runs closely alongside the Vigezzina-Centovalli railway for a long stretch.

A complex and challenging infrastructure project, in which DVA was involved for the environmental, landscape, and architectural aspects of the infrastructure, bringing its aesthetic sensitivity and paying particular attention to the natural and cultural heritage that characterises the area. Thanks to a perceptual analysis and a preliminary survey of all the works and bridges along the route, it was possible to identify the most valuable elements to preserve and the most scenic views of the valley to highlight. The final section of the route, approximately 1.5 km long, has been transformed into a cycle path to ensure safe transit and immersion in nature. Four rest areas have been created at the current lay-bys on the roadway, which have been greened and equipped. The furnishings consist of three essential elements: a corten landmark to signal points of interest, an information point, and a minimal and raw stone seat, derived from the excavation works of the tunnel. Throughout the project, close coordination with Anas ensured the development of an infrastructure that would not alter the natural morphology of the landscape, favouring the use of local materials such as stone for cladding and colours in harmony with the surroundings. The goal is to limit movements and maximise the reuse of excavated materials within the construction site, reducing the environmental impact of the project and ensuring that the existing road remains in operation throughout the duration of the works, with closures limited to short periods.

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Group companies

DVA

5

IMPROVEMENT

[km]

100

VALUE OF DESIGNED WORKS

[M €]

502

BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS

[m]

1.118

TUNNELS

[m]

State Road, Val Vigezzo. Aerial view of a road segment immersed in a mountainous forest landscape, with two cars traveling on an elevated viaduct and a new road below following the natural contours of the terrain, near a railway line visible in the lower left corner.

“DVA’s contribution to this project was essential in defining an architectural approach and managing environmental and landscape impacts, with the aim of highlighting not only the new infrastructure, but also the entire valley and its morphology, through the choice of materials, the route, and the proposed mitigation measures.”

Michele Contardi
Surveyor | Associate Partner DVA | Head of Tender Department

Interventi per la Strada Statale Val Vigezzo

“The construction of a road is often seen as a disfigurement of the landscape and a disturbance to the surrounding environment, especially in a setting like the Val Vigezzo, which is largely unspoiled and characterized by remarkable views and vistas. Designing infrastructures that are sustainable and, at the same time, serve as elements of connection rather than fragmentation, mitigating their physical impact so that they become gentle marks on the land, interacting with existing features, users, and the surrounding nature, is one of the challenges we approach with great interest.”

Renato Simoni
Architect | Co-Founder DVArea