The commune of Peccioli is located in the province of Pisa, 50 km southwest of Florence. The project, in addition to the park itself, includes interactive sculptural installations, a museum of Etruscan culture, a center for Tuscan wines and gastronomy, an open amphitheater for 800 people and a music center with a museum.
The Asymptote bureau decided to play with the famous landscapes of Tuscany: both the amphitheater and the nearby covered square (piazza) for special events - as if sprouting from the local landscape. However, the head of the workshop, Hani Rashid, has never been engaged in "mimicry" for historical architecture, and this time the appearance of the complex will be far from the standard "tourist" buildings. The white futuristic roof shells of the complex will be surrounded by a hilly landscape of vineyards, fields and olive groves.
The stands of the amphitheater for dramatic and musical performances will be covered with a translucent awning-canopy resembling the back of a reptile, a shell sash, or even a pineapple. This awning, developed with the assistance of Transsolar engineers, is a key part of the project: “smart skin” that can respond to environmental conditions. Rashid describes her as a "permeable, living, moving shell" that gives the impression of magic. The awning will be made of elastic fabric stretched over a metal structure. Ventilation holes are planned in each individual segment of this roof, the geometry of which will change depending on weather conditions. For example, the roof will cover these openings in the rain or redirect air currents with their help in strong winds, as well as protect visitors from the harmful effects of the sun. Photovoltaic cells will be interspersed into each segment to provide the canopy with energy for backlighting.
The stage of the amphitheater will be covered with a separate light structure, reminiscent of a five-petal flower made of white paper, and the adjacent square will be covered with hypersensitive movable awnings. This piazza is conceived as a venue for public events, holiday parties or weddings. It will be covered with petal canopies covered with woven material: they will also be able to adapt to weather conditions, like the roof of an amphitheater.
The amphitheater and square will be complemented by new paths for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as gardens reminiscent of the historic landscapes of Tuscany. The design of the gardens is focused on Renaissance and Baroque parks, and the pavement of roadways and pedestrian areas recalls the drawings and inventions of famous Tuscan scientists and engineers. The project is also inspired by the works of the Renaissance and Mannerist artists Jacopo Pontormo, Paolo Uccello, Fra Angelico and Piero de la Francesca.
