The redevelopment of Via Roma in Laterza (TA) represents one of the most significant urban regeneration projects carried out in the Apulia region in recent years. The project was conceived with a clear vision – to improve mobility and the usability of urban space – and has gradually evolved over time, adapting to the city’s real dynamics and the needs of the local community.
The intervention is part of the Patto per la Puglia – FSC 2014/2020 programme, dedicated to tourism, culture and the enhancement of local resources, and was selected as the 3rd-ranked project for its strategic relevance.
A strategic urban axis in the heart of Laterza
Via Roma is one of the historic urban penetration axes of Laterza: it connects the consolidated urban fabric with the historic core and intersects the route of the Regio Tratturo Bernalda–Ginosa–Laterza, now absorbed into the urban road system.
The area of intervention extends for approximately 360 linear metres, covering a total surface of 2,910 sqm, within a context characterised by slopes, historical stratifications and a strong presence of commercial activities.
The redevelopment of Via Roma was therefore not conceived as a simple road resurfacing project, but as an opportunity to redefine the relationship between infrastructure, public space and urban life.
The original project: a temporary ZTL and an urban “slow itinerary”
The executive project, developed by architect Loredana Modugno, was conceived with the aim of transforming Via Roma into a flexible urban infrastructure, capable of:
- promoting sustainable mobility
- improving accessibility and the pedestrian experience
- enhancing urban and tourist heritage
- creating a slow itinerary inspired by the local tradition of artistic ceramics
A key element of the proposal was the introduction of a temporary urban Limited Traffic Zone (ZTL), conceived as an experimental tool to test new uses of public space and gradually reduce vehicular traffic pressure.
The project’s evolution: from experimentation to urban reality
Over the months, the project has confronted the complexity of real urban conditions, as well as the needs of residents and businesses located along the axis.
The original vision has not been compromised, but rather adapted, while maintaining several fundamental principles:
- elimination of level differences between roadway and sidewalks
- creation of a flush, accessible and inclusive street section
- reduction of the carriageway in favour of pedestrian space
- introduction of flexible parking and resting areas (parklets)
These elements now allow Via Roma to function as a “continuous square”: a unified and recognisable place, capable of accommodating different uses over time, including movement, rest, social interaction, commercial activities and tourist enjoyment.
Street furniture and paving: the quality of public space
The introduction of parklets represents one of the most interesting aspects of the intervention. Conceived as tools of tactical urbanism, these hybrid spaces make it possible to:
- relieve vehicular traffic congestion
- encourage pedestrian and bicycle mobility
- create new places for meeting and staying
Within this framework, paving systems, materials and construction details play a central role: not merely technical elements, but true design tools capable of defining identity, durability and the perceptual quality of urban space.
It is within this context that the research carried out by Favaro1 is positioned. For years, the company has been developing solutions for public spaces that combine technical performance, sustainability and urban value, applied to urban regeneration and redevelopment projects. For this project, the Mega paving system was used.
An infrastructure that becomes a place
The redevelopment of Via Roma demonstrates how a street can evolve from a simple traffic axis into a social infrastructure, capable of generating value for the community.
Today, Via Roma is no longer just a place of passage, but an open, flexible and identity-defining urban space that conveys a new idea of the city: more accessible, slower-paced, and more attentive to the quality of public space and to people’s lives.