The transformation of the Lanchetta waterfront reimagines a forgotten stretch of the Lugano lakefront, renewing a public park whose previous design dated back to the 1970s. The name “Lanchetta” derives from lanca — a curved riverbank or sheltered lakeshore — recalling the site’s original identity as a pebble beach gently descending into the water. Shaped by the hydraulic forces of the lake and the mouth of a historic stream, this edge once consisted of mineral sediments in constant dialogue with natural processes. Although the stream has long since been diverted underground, the project deliberately restores the memory of this geomorphological landscape, re-establishing continuity between the site’s past and present.
Historically, Lanchetta served as the landing point for barges transporting stone from the Caprino quarries across the lake. These materials helped construct the retaining walls, streets, and buildings that shaped Lugano itself. The new park draws directly from this legacy: gray gravel, stone mulch, and exposed rock surfaces reinterpret the mineral character of the ancient shoreline and the limestone geology of the Lake Lugano basin.
At the heart of the park lies a flexible recreational clearing defined by sand, scattered seating, benches, and parasols. Concealed beneath this open landscape is an underground sewage pumping station serving the surrounding neighborhoods — an infrastructural constraint that prevented the planting of large trees and required discreet access routes for maintenance vehicles. Rather than treating these limitations as obstacles, the design transforms them into opportunities. Deadwood trunks from mature trees are carefully positioned throughout the site to create habitats for insects, birds, and small mammals associated with the lakeside ecosystem, turning the park into an ecological refuge within the city.
Conceived as an urban oasis, the project layers rocks, flowering vegetation, shrubs, wetland zones, and dry wood habitats into a diverse ecological mosaic that encourages biodiversity while reconnecting citizens with nature. The landscape becomes both public space and living environment — a place where ecological processes are made visible and accessible in everyday urban life.
Toward the western edge, adjacent to the harbor, shipyards, and public bathing areas, the park opens into an expanded children’s playground inspired by the lake’s nautical culture. Suspended nets stretched between timber poles evoke nearby piers and moored boats, translating the atmosphere of the waterfront into play. The entire area is surfaced with permeable, impact-absorbing paving made from stabilized wood-chip mulch, ensuring universal accessibility while reinforcing the park’s natural material palette. Bicycle parking, generous seating, and a public drinking fountain complete the space, strengthening Lanchetta’s role as a vibrant social landscape along the shores of Lake Lugano.
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