Prato Central Park Competition Finalists Announced; Aravena, Tagliabue, Blaisse Among 10
Prato has just announced the ten finalists for its international design competition for the Parco Centrale, a 3-hectare urban park situated within the city walls on the site of the former Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce. Among the contenders are Alejandro Aravena’s Elemental, EMBT led by Benedetta Tagliabue, Dogma, and Alvisi Kirimoto with Petra Blaisse. Other participants include Ferdinand Ludwig, Dominique Jakob, Maxwan Architects + Urbanists, Dorell.Ghotmeh.Tane/Architects, and Obr with Michele Desvigne. Notably, several prominent architects like Stefano Boeri and Odile Decq are not in this round. The winner, to be announced on October 1, will receive €40,000 and develop the final project, aiming to enhance the park’s vibrancy and connectivity.
Key facts
- 10 finalists selected from 230 applications for Prato Central Park competition
- Alejandro Aravena's Elemental is among finalists, in joint venture with Emanuele Barili
- Other finalists: Benedetta Tagliabue (EMBT), Dogma, Alvisi Kirimoto with Petra Blaisse, AUS Pasini Ranieri with Turenscape, Ferdinand Ludwig (Baubotanik), Dominique Jakob (Jakob + Macfarlane), Maxwan, Dorell.Ghotmeh.Tane/Architects, Obr with Michele Desvigne and Intertecno
- Excluded: Stefano Boeri, Odile Decq, Mario Cucinella, Paolo Portoghesi, Faustino Fiuza Didier, 5+1AA, 2TP/A
- Winner receives €40,000 and project commission; winner announced October 1
- Park site: former Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce, 3 hectares within city walls
- Two lots: first includes green areas and 500 sqm service volume; second allows up to 3,000 sqm buildings
- Goal: create multifunctional green space supporting historic city and redefining city gateway
Entities
Artists
- Alejandro Aravena
- Emanuele Barili
- Benedetta Tagliabue
- Petra Blaisse
- Ferdinand Ludwig
- Dominique Jakob
- Michele Desvigne
- Stefano Boeri
- Odile Decq
- Mario Cucinella
- Paolo Portoghesi
- Faustino Fiuza Didier
- Bernard Tschumi
- Massimo Nutini
- Michelle Provoost
- Sébastien Marot
- Roberto Zancan
- Valerio Barberis
- Valentina Silvestrini
Institutions
- Elemental
- EMBT
- Dogma
- Alvisi Kirimoto
- Turenscape
- Baubotanik
- Jakob + Macfarlane Architects
- Maxwan Architects + Urbanists
- Dorell.Ghotmeh.Tane/Architects
- Obr
- Intertecno
- 5+1AA
- 2TP/A
- Comune di Prato
- Artribune
- Forte Belvedere
- Piazza della Signoria
- Palazzo Vecchio
Locations
- Prato
- Italy
- Florence
- Venice
- Bruxelles
- Forte Belvedere
- Piazza della Signoria
- Palazzo Vecchio
- ex Ospedale Misericordia e Dolce