The project, in which we have been key players in an urban and architectural process initiated in the late 1990s, is still ongoing with the development and completion of several residential lots and part of the related urban infrastructure. From 1997 to 2005, our main objective was to manage the implementation of a privately initiated Executive Agreement Plan (PECLI) for residential development, which would ultimately house around 1,700 residents in this area, through the gradual construction of each lot defined within the plan.
At the same time, in an era when legislation was beginning to address sustainable design and energy certification of buildings, we conceived the Arpini masterplan as a sustainable residential district, proposing to the Municipality and stakeholders an urban model where design strategies would focus on environmental respect and enhanced indoor comfort for its users, with building content of high formal, technical and technological quality.
For the Arpini area, we also developed a guideline for the programmatic drafting of bioclimatic and bio-building criteria to be applied in the project, with the support of iiSBE Italia (a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of sustainable built environments). This document outlined, for each predefined objective, the design strategies to be adopted and the critical issues to be addressed for every element of the plan.

The 2008 financial crisis unfortunately impacted the full implementation of the program, leading to the downsizing of some general aspects—for example, a cogeneration plant, which would have provided the area with energy self-sufficiency, was never built. Nevertheless, the residential component benefited from the opportunity to participate in the Piedmont Region’s call for proposals ‘10,000 Homes by 2012,’ which allowed the buildings under construction to comply with the provisions of the Itaca Protocol and achieve a higher-level energy certification.
From an environmental perspective, the most distinctive feature of the entire area is its proximity to the Sangone River Park. This natural boundary not only defined the buildable limits but also encouraged us to adopt a strongly protective approach towards the existing environmental heritage. For this reason, the project’s main axes were conceived as pedestrian pathways around which a block scheme was developed: starting from a central square with taller buildings (3–4 stories above ground), the urban fabric gradually loosens and fragments toward the countryside, mitigating the impact of dense development within a still largely preserved rural landscape.
One of the most relevant elements of the project is the intention to highlight the positive effects of greenery, not only from a recreational, aesthetic, and social standpoint but also from a climatic and environmental perspective. The design provides for tree-lined paths and gardens that extend to and surround all buildings, creating a sustainable and livable urban environment.

The proposed building types rise three to four stories above ground, oriented east–west with an 18° rotation towards the south to ensure optimal exposure and solar gain. The system of pedestrian and cycling paths has been designed to guarantee safe and convenient mobility, especially for the most vulnerable users such as the elderly and children, while avoiding any overlap with vehicular traffic routes.
From an architectural and construction standpoint, the development is primarily residential—both public and private—with ground-floor neighborhood commercial spaces located around the central square. These amenities are not only essential to daily life for residents but also fundamental in creating the connective tissue required for the growth of a new residential hub, fostering its identity not merely as a district but as a true ‘village.’
The design approach emphasizes clean, compact forms and the use of traditional materials such as plaster and brick. Terraces and loggias, primarily oriented to the south, extend the living spaces outward, enhancing comfort and offering a direct relationship between indoor life and the surrounding environment