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TSPOON Architects on Urban Regeneration of Small Italian Towns

architecture-design · 2026-04-27

Advocating for the revitalization of small Italian towns to create sustainable urban models, Nina Artioli, Alessandra Glorialanza, and Eliana Saracino from TSPOON, an environmental architecture firm in Rome, serve as liaisons between communities and their environments. Their work spans towns such as Celano, Merano, Putignano, and Cassino, where they employ a versatile methodology to tackle issues like population decline and aging demographics. Their successful proposal for Celano’s historic center prioritizes identity and sustainable growth, highlighting the importance of public spaces and minimizing vehicle use. Additionally, "La Pentana," a temporary installation at Rocca Janula in Cassino, funded by the Creative Living Lab, showcases the idea that "nothing is more permanent than the temporary."

Key facts

  • TSPOON environment architecture is a Rome-based studio led by Nina Artioli, Alessandra Glorialanza, and Eliana Saracino.
  • The studio focuses on urban regeneration in small Italian towns like Celano, Merano, Putignano, and Cassino.
  • They apply a methodological approach of open systems with flexible rules to accommodate change over time.
  • National and European incentives have increased architecture competitions in small municipalities.
  • Common issues in small towns include depopulation, lack of young residents, and aging population.
  • Celano's regeneration project emphasizes the city's defensive morphology and sustainable development.
  • La Pentana is a temporary installation at Rocca Janula in Cassino, designed as a multifunctional urban device.
  • La Pentana was funded by Creative Living Lab – III edition, promoted by the Direzione Generale Creatività Contemporanea del Ministero della Cultura.
  • The installation remains in place longer than intended, demonstrating the permanence of temporary interventions.

Entities

Artists

  • Nina Artioli
  • Alessandra Glorialanza
  • Eliana Saracino

Institutions

  • TSPOON environment architecture
  • Direzione Generale Creatività Contemporanea del Ministero della Cultura
  • Borghi Artistici Impresa Sociale

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Celano
  • L'Aquila
  • Merano
  • Putignano
  • Cassino
  • Rocca Janula

Sources