Italy

Drivers of construction

Prato has a rich water management heritage dating back to Roman times, notably developing the medieval Gorone canal system. This consists on 50 km artificial water channel network. These watercourses frequently experience torrential flows, causing recurrent flooding in adjacent neighbourhoods. A notable example occurred in November 2023, when 180 mm of rainfall in just three hours led to severe flooding, particularly in the Santa Lucia district (from Bisenzio River overflow) and Figline area (from Bardena Stream). This event damaged thousands of homes, closed major transportation routes, and affected critical infrastructure including the Santo Stefano Hospital.

Unurbanized areas in the area have the potential to be developed as water retention spaces. We chose a green area at Ciliani and a parking area/new market square next to the Bisenzio watercourse to be retrofitted into a floodable park.