Cantiere Scandurra Podcast Explores Urban Void as Design Opportunity

The second season of Cantiere Scandurra, a podcast by Scandurra Studio in collaboration with Collater.al, concludes with an episode on the role of empty spaces in cities. Architect Alessandro Scandurra examines how voids—such as squares, residual lots, and abandoned areas—can be transformed into active urban infrastructure. The episode discusses how empty spaces are shaped by surrounding buildings, porticoes, and pedestrian flows, and how they can become sites for skateparks, rooftop bars, community gardens, creative hubs, and student housing. Scandurra argues that reading the void reveals urban tensions, memories, and desires, which can be translated into concrete forms that foster relationships and centrality. The narrative dimension is illustrated through references to Edward Hopper's paintings and Haruki Murakami's novels. Practical examples include linear parks connecting universities and cultural centers, student housing with communal areas, and intergenerational neighborhoods with shared spaces. The episode concludes with Scandurra's statement: 'It is there that the city decides who it wants to be tomorrow.'