Experiencing the highlands of Lugano

EXPERIENCING THE HIGH LANDS OF LUGANO. REVITALIZING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MOUNT SAN SALVATORE AND THE CITY.

STUDENT : TANJA MIMICA ANELLI ,936539 / PROFESSOR : PAOLO BOZZUTO THESIS MSC LANDSCAPE AND HERITAGE ARCHITECTURE 2020 - 2021

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“But a landscape is so much more than that – it encapsulates society, politics and our own existence on a planet where we’re bound by natural forces. It’s how we give form to our land and cities. Ultimately it’s how we identify with places.”

James Corner

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Table of Contents Contents

00.

ABSTRACT

01.

INTRODUCTION

7 8

ANALISIS OF THE TERRITORY: LUGANO'S MOUNTAIN RANGE 07.

SWITZERLAND

08.

CANTON TICINO

09.

LUGANO

12 14 16

ANALISIS OF THE LOCAL SCALE

4

07.

MOUNT SAN SALVATORE

08.

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

09.

FUNICULAR'S HISTORY

10.

FLORA OF THE AREA

20

26

11.

FAUNA

28

12.

BIRDS

30

22 24

Contents PROJECT PROPOSAL : EXPERIENCING THE HIGHLANDS 01.

SITE ANALISIS

02.

MASTERPLAN

36

03.

ZOOMS

40

04.

THE ENTRANCE

42

05

OPEN FARM

46

06

FOREST TRAILS

50

07

UPPER PART

56

REFERENCES

34-

72

5

6

00

ABSTRACT

Thesis Landscape Architecture

2021

Abstract Experiencing the Highlands, Revitalizing the connection of Mount San Salvatore and the city.

The present thesis work is the result of research and design experimentation in a response to the current situations affecting our planet and cities: climate change and the pandemic of Covid-19. Nowadays, escaping the city from time to time seems impossible due to the lack of free time and efficient connections with the city surroundings. Therefore, this project aims to use the immediate surroundings as a possibility to reach another perspective and connection with the nature. The area of investigation concerns the city of Lugano (Switzerland) and in particular the role of the mount San Salvatore as a key element for local citizens and visitors.

The goals of the design proposal can be grouped as: 1) Restoring and revitalizing the existing connections to San Salvatore, the funicular system, and the walking trail to the upper part, 2) Putting in value the San Salvatore as a unique outstanding place, and 3) Informing about the natural heritage and promoting the outdoor life.

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Highland CitieScape

00 ——

INTRODUCTION The importance of the territory

INTRODUCTION For the entire history, mankind showed the innate need for going up hills and climbing mountains. The reason behind it can be attributed to a strategy purpose against enemies since higher places offer bigger perspective of the territory, which leads to a better defense in case of attacks and sufficient time to be prepared. Together with this, there might be the idea of safety, being up means distance from catastrophic events like floods.

But there is something even beyond the merely strategical, there is since very ancient times a certain spiritual need to go up. In classical times, in Greece's first settlements, we see the Parthenon standing out on the highest hill of Athens. The place for the cult of the gods is not located there by chance, there is a strong intention behind this. We cannot say for sure why this happened, but we see that temples, in different parts of the globe, in different cultures show the same principle.

We all know that going up on hills requires a journey, but in reality it is necessary a double journey: physically and mentally. The former consists of strength, attention, reaction, and creates certain awareness of the ground. Th latter involves our personality, our motivations, and a pure desire to reach a goal which lead to a different meaning behind this simple act.

This phenomenon evolved within the passing of the years. In 1818, the German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich painted the famous" Wanderer in the fog ". This becomes the most recognized painting of the artist becoming one of the masterpieces of Romanticism. The picture shows a man standing upon a cliff with his back to the viewer. The wanderer stares a landscape covered in a thick sea of fog with ridges and forests emerging from it.

This few elements created a sort of fashion between the upper classes of the century, creating a new man icon representing a change in the culture: escaping from the mundane and getting involved by the nature were an expression of wealth and audacity, along with the rewarding sense of achievement from the top.

Robert Macfarlane commented how mountain climbing has been viewed in the Western world since the Romantic era, defining the picture as the "archetypical image of the mountain-climbing visionary". He stated also that the idea of admiration for standing on a mountain top barely existed in earlier centuries [1].

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Nowadays, withing the chaos of the pandemic and the consequent the long hours spent at home, seems like nature in the cities has become extremely appreciated among communities.

Green urban areas are widely recognized as important for health and wellness, reducing anxiety, depression, and stress but the attention for these aspects highly increased during the health emergency. For this reason parks and public lands reached their highest usage in modern times and more importantly they are proving to be a way to recover from the emotional and physical crisis caused by the pandemic.

Governments are changing their opinion on public spaces, especially focusing on the fact that the access to outdoors should not be a privilege but it should be a right. Along with this, huge investments have been set on green public areas so that in the landscape market in London has been doubled in only one year.

On the other hand, the private sector of landscape is growing since people want a private park right close to their home. This remarks the need for something that is not only a place for mental peace and physical restore, but also a place for cult included in every day’s life. This aspect recalls the use of highlands as places for cult, taking the human existence to another level, physically and spiritually.

The best example can be represented by the Acropolis (deriving from the Greek akron indicating the "highest point, extremity" and polis, meaning "city") commonly spread across Greece in the archaic era. The Acropolis is shaped in two hierarchical levels: 1.

Sacred level, is the highest point, creating an analogy with the natural environment (earth, horizon, and sky).

2.

Human level, for the mundane activities, with additional buildings from access road to these temple complexes.

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This work tries to combine the two levels in the city of Lugano revitalizing its connection with the natural surroundings where it is possible to find Mount San Salvatore. The mount is currently connected to the city by means of a funicular system and a walking trail.

Nevertheless, the site can be improved by allowing more possibilities to relate with nature and enhancing the already existing ones. The aim of this project is creating a sort of middle ground, an “in between” to have a pause and relate with the wilderness.

It is important to create a sense of belonging with this outstanding place, so it can be recognized by giving the right value to the natural heritage of Lugano.

The idea of connecting the spirit with nature and in particular with highlands is very important to a country like Switzerland since the territory is full of mountains but the 70% population live in urban areas.

For what concerns the climate change, it is well known that in the last 50 years the increasing temperature has accelerated rapidly because of human influence. The glacial ice and snow cover have reduced, precipitations shifted from snow to rain, rainstorm have become more extreme, and desert areas have expanded increasing the risk of wildfires [2]. So from one point of view Landscape is making big efforts for preserving the natural areas and improving as much as possible the urban conditions in terms of green areas, air, and stable temperature. On the other hand, landscape should create awareness regarding this high priority global problem by informing about the natural heritage close to us and promoting outdoor activities.

Summing up, landscape architecture needs for more usable, efficient, and attractive outdoor spaces reconnecting people with nature in a challenging way.

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01

Switzerland

Lugano A city in between borders.

ABOUT Switzerland is located in the center-west of the European continent, across the north and south side of the Alps. Due to its location there are many north-south communication routes.

Switzerland comprises a great diversity of landscapes and climates on a limited area of 41 285 km2. The average population density in the last years was around 215 inhabitants per km2.

There are three main topographical areas: the Swiss Alps to the south, the Swiss Plateau or Central Plateau, and the Jura mountains on the west part. The Alps are high mountains running across the central and south of the country, representing around 60% of the country's total area while most people live in the Swiss Plateau.

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Glaciers and the over 1500 lakes cover about 6% of the national territory and represent 6% of Europe's stock of freshwater.

Switzerland also covers part of the Rhine (North Sea), Rhone (Mediterranean Sea), Po/Adige (Adriatic Sea) and Danube (Black Sea) basins.

Swiss Plateau is the most populous northern part of the country, constituting about 30% of the country's total area. The Plateau is mostly hilly with forests and open pastures usually with herds or fields for growing vegetables and fruit [3].

In Switzerland a mild climate prevails with moderate hot and cold temperatures and low air humidity. The seasons are clearly distinguished from each other. In autumn the fruits ripen and the leaves of the deciduous trees change color. While winters used to be generally cold and snowy, today sub-zero temperatures and snowfall are no longer guaranteed, especially in the lowlands.

In spring the trees blossom and the meadows turn green. It can happen that in April it is briefly back to winter or that in May summer already breaks out. In summer the temperature rises to 25 - 30 °C; in hot summers temperatures can even exceed 30 °C.

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02

Cantone Ticino Lugano A city in between borders.

limiti_comuni_2021_MN95 admin_level limiti_cantone_2012_MN95

LUGANO

Canton Ticino is the only canton of the Swiss Confederation located almost entirely south of the Alps, with the exception of the upper Reuss valley and the Cadlimo valley. It has an area of 2 812,46 km², equal to 6,8% of the entire Swiss surface. The cantonal territory is largely delimited by the border with Italy with the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in Piedmont, Varese, and Como in Lombardy. About three-quarters of its area is considered unproductive land. Forests cover about a third of the area of the Canton, but Lake Maggiore and Lake Ceresio also make up a considerable part of the territory.

The Ticino is the main river in the canton. Its catchment area covers most of the territory, flowing from the northwest through the Bedretto Valley and the Leventina Valley, to enter Lake Maggiore at the "Bolle di Magadino". The latter is a marshy area, not far from Locarno, where there is a nature reserve of national importance, consisting of the mouths of the rivers Ticino and Verzasca. The Reuss, a river belonging to the Rhine basin, has its source in the Canton, not far from the St. Gotthard Pass [4].

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limiti_comuni_2021_ admin_level landuse classifc basin cemetery commercial construction farmland farmyard forest limiti_comuni_2021_MN95 admin_level landuse classifc basin cemetery commercial construction farmland farmyard forest garages grass greenfield industrial meadow orchard plant_nursery railway recreation_ground residential retail village_green vineyard

garages grass greenfield industrial meadow orchard plant_nursery railway recreation_ground residential retail village_green vineyard

limiti_cantone_2012

limiti_cantone_2012_MN95

The Canton is traditionally divided into two large regions separated by Monte Ceneri, called Sopraceneri and Sottoceneri. This division has a certain relevance from the socio-economic point of view. In fact, Sottoceneri is affected by its proximity to Italy and the Milanese financial center, which has led to a strong development of the banking and insurance sector in the city of Lugano.

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03

Lugano

Lugano A city in between borders.

Lugano is a Swiss municipality of 67 082 inhabitants in the canton of Ticino. It is the ninth largest city in Switzerland by population, the main urban center of the canton and the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland with 151,522 inhabitants. Its hinterland is on about 75.8 km ² area at an altitude ranging from 272 m above sea level on the shore of Lake Lugano, to 2116 m of the upper Val Colla. A popular tourist destination, Lugano has also established itself worldwide as a leading international banking center, ranking third in Switzerland after Zurich and Geneva.

Overlooking the lake and framed by mountains, the city is surrounded by an extraordinary concentration of scenic and architectural beauty, cultural and gastronomic attractions, sports, and relaxing activities. With a rich and varied reality, the city is capable of attracting occasional and tourists with always something new to discover.

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GE

01

LUGANO

Student : Tanja Mimica Anelli / Professor : Paolo Bozzuto / Msc Landscape and Heritage 2020 - 2021 Thesis : Experiencing the High Lands of Lugano . Revitalizing the connection between Mount San Salvatore and the city.

LUGANO

City Center

Welcome to SAN SALVATORE

THE PARADISO EXISTING HIKING TRAIL

HIGH + LANDS

The existing walking trail allows more than great views , its contains the real natural heritage of Lugano.There are many ecosytems withing this 1.30 mins journey that very important to preserve.

965 mts

Axonometric of the lake Ceresio

Hi tra

New experiencies Dense forest

Hicking trails

PARADISO’S SURROUNDINGS Boat parking

The San Salvatore, with a summit of 912 m above sea level, is an isolated mountain that dominates and characterizes the Gulf of Lugano.

On the eastern side, the limestone rock, mostly with no vegetation, forms a wall almost vertical on the lake and highlights the prominence of the mountain. The other slopes, less steep and covered by a thick forest vegetation, contribute to determine the natural character of the mountain. The resulting mosaic of landscape, formed by vast forests of broadleaf trees, steep limestone walls and complex rocky environments, defines a landscape particularly varied with a rich biological value [6].

Paradiso Boat Station

THE PARADISO BOAT STATION

San Salvatore’s VEGETATION

Funicular

Hotel

Vineyard

Changing Funicular Stop

Existing Hicking Trail

Via Ferrata

Since the inclination starts to more dramatic from this point there is a change on the carriage

DENSE FOREST

THE PARADISO BOAT STATION

LEGEND Green Areas Dense Forest Vineyards

Section of Lugano PAradiso Distance : 3km Elevation Gain/ loss 340 m, -650 m

PARADISO’S SECTION 900

Sports Residential Hotels / tourism Bus stops

Max slope : 92.3 % Average Slope “6,1 %

Paradiso’s Urbanized Area

MOUNT SAN SALVATORE Highest point San Salvatore Church

825

Buildings Historic buildings

It is characterized by the proximity to the city and a vast panorama which offer tourists a recreational value, accentuated by the historical rack and pinion funicu- lar that characterizes its northern side.

The slopes of Mount San Salvatore present dense broad-leaved woods along with carbonate rocks.

These forests consist of Fraxino orni-Ostryetum, big xerophilous ostrieti with ash, downy oak, and oak, mainly Quercion pubescenti-petraeae.

750

This area is characterized by a mixed land use of between residential combined with different schools and sports centers.

525 Beginning Trail

Paradiso Train Station

Commertial Area

Residential Area Funicular Station

270 0 mts

0.25 km

0.5 km

0.75 km

1 km

1.25 km

1.5 km

1.75 km

2 km

2.25 km

90 2.5 km

2.75 km

3 km

82

75

52

17

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3.1 ——

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Lugano's Surroundings The importance of the territory

Among the most scenic excursions are those of Monte Brè and San Salvatore: the first offers a breathtaking view that on clear days allows you to admire even Monte Rosa; the second, due to its shape reminiscent of the famous Pão de Açúcar, gives the town the nickname of "Little Rio". The Eno gastronomic culture reveals aspects linked to the territory and its traditions. The geographical conformation of Ticino offers the ideal conditions to give life to wines appreciated all over the world such as Merlot, authentic symbol of the region [5].

There are more than 830 kilometers of trails that run through Lugano area considered a real paradise for hikers. The trips can be simple but also challenging in different landscapes.

The peculiarity of all the natural paths is the 360° wonderful panorama surrounding the visitor.

The city also offers remarkable ideas to art lovers with the LAC - Lugano Arte e Cultura, a new cultural center that every season hosts exhibitions of unquestionable value and interest, attracting visitors from all over Europe.

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04

MOUNT SAN SALVATORE Important Landmark for the city of Lugano.

View from Waterfront Lugano.

The San Salvatore, with a summit of 912 m above sea level, is an isolated mountain that dominates and characterizes the Gulf of Lugano.

On the eastern side, the limestone rock, mostly with no vegetation, forms a wall almost vertical on the lake and highlights the prominence of the mountain. The other slopes, less steep and covered by a thick forest vegetation, contribute to determine the natural character of the mountain. The resulting mosaic of landscape, formed by vast forests of broadleaf trees, steep limestone walls and complex rocky environments, defines a landscape particularly varied with a rich biological value [6].

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It is characterized by the proximity to the city and a vast panorama which offer tourists a recreational value, accentuated by the historical rack and pinion funicular that characterizes its northern side.

The panoramic points on the summit are numerous and well-marked. Among all the most exceptional is the one at 360 degrees on the roof of the church. In the surrounding area there is a renewed panoramic space, which thanks also to the installation of didactic panels with reproductions of satellite maps, acts as a meeting point and a way for communicate with the tourists.

The origin of Monte San Salvatore goes back to the Middle Triassic period, in which the rocks were formed following the transition from a continental environment with strong volcanic activity to a mainly marine environment by sedimentary phenomena.

These reddish sediments, eroded by the Permian volcanites of the continent, accumulated at the margins of the Tethys.

The constant rise of sea level created large areas covered by shallow water that favored the colonization of algae and sponges. Then, the accumulation of their calcareous skeletons formed a thick stack of sediments extending from east to west. The massive presence of algae and microfossils confirms that the platform must have been in many respects analogous to those of modern tropical seas.

These reddish sediments, eroded by the Permian volcanites of the continent, accumulated at the margins of the Tethys.

The constant rise of sea level created large areas covered by shallow water that favored the colonization of algae and sponges. Then, the accumulation of their calcareous skeletons formed a thick stack of sediments extending from east to west. The massive presence of algae and microfossils confirms that the platform must have been in many respects analogous to those of modern tropical seas.

ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv, Ans_05638, http://doi. org/10.3932/ethz-a-000222678

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4.1 ——

CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

The importance of the territory

Monte San Salvatore retains a predominantly natural character and the few cultural elements are isolated and often hidden by the thick wooded mantle.

At the southern edge of the mountain, on a partially reforested terrace, there is the important settlement of Ciona, a small and isolated hamlet. In the past, this element was surrounded by vegetable gardens, terraced fields, vineyards, and forests. This rural landscape has over time been partially abandoned and covered by woods eventhough there are still residential and tourist buildings dating back to the second half of the twentieth century.

In the northern foothills, in the locality of Morchino, there are a manor house, the Villa Antonietti and a decorated grotto well preserved, both inserted in what remains of their context rural which is still one of the largest open areas and still not built on the northern slopes of San Salvatore. In Calprino, the unmistakable Florentine medieval style building of the Cattaneo Castle stands out above the surrounding buildings and represents an emblematic relic of early twentieth century tourism.

On the top of the mountain, a small church already attested in the thirteenth century and rebuilt at the beginning of the eighteenth century, dominates the entire gulf with its ubication. Furnished with a roof terrace accessible from the outside that serves as a panoramic tower, the structure takes on a real recreational value. The panoramic hotel-restaurant and the arrival station of the cog railway were built in 1890 to exploit the tourist potential of the mountain [7].

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N AT U R E

sports

SUB-URBAN

ts nt ts of

panorama

c a

tourism

URBAN

d

h he p

culture education

s n he

H E R I TA G E

Oria

Lugano

ng

Villa Fogoza

San Mamete

Gandria C o n fi n e

Cassarate

In Porlezza the situation is d located in a flat area so it relationship with the lake at so without any landscape design

Porlezza

Cima

Gandria

n

f l s

From Grotto to Cima we can find a steep slope that leaves the buildings on the coast in total contact with the lake.

In lugano there is a visual relationship with the lake but not physical, along the entire front lake there is a fence.

Grotto

Lugano Paradiso

No existing conection Museo Dogane Caprino S. Rocco

Campione d’Italia Melide

Osteno

Cantina di Gandria

Street Conection C O M O L A K E

In this part of the lake exist the same situation as in Gandria, the steep slope don’t allow the conection between cities so people arrive by boat

Boglia Mountain

Bre Mountain Lugano Train Station LAC Lugano Art Museum

Wilhelm Schmid Museum

La Madona Church

Casa Pagani Museum

San Mamete Church

Loggio Church San Rocco Church S. Vittore Church Oratory Maschil

Lugano Church Sculptures Park

Storic Nature Museum

San Mamete’s Park

San Vigilio Church

San Lorenzo Cathedral International Camping

Spirito Santo Church

Zoll Museum San Salvatore Caprino Mountain

San Zenone Church Santuario di S. Maria dei Ghril Church

San Rocco Church

Santa Giulia Church Rescia Caves

Intelvese of fossils Museum

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Panorama View “Balcone D’Italia”

Santo Stefano Church

Oak

Ash

Aspen

4.2 ——

FUNICULAR

THE EVOLUTION OVER TIME

San Salvatore its a Landsmark of the territory of Lugano that in early years (1200) caught the attention of the devoted people. They believed that hiking to the top was part of a spiritual journey, like the Son of God, in the ascent to heaven. This fact and the undeneable beauty of the panorama and the unbeliBut above all, it was the drew visitors since early times.

IMPORTANT DATES/FACTS: 1870 San Salvatore becomes a popular destination, but the only way of access is by mule 1890 An Italian businessman from Florence , invest in the project and the official inaguration ftook place on 26 March 1890, in the presence of a small crowd.

1938 The is modificiations in the machinery of the funicular , allowing it to go faster (1.8 m per second to 2.5 m per second ) reducing travel time to 14 minutes.

2011 The funicular celebrates 121 years since the opening , reaching the number of 17 million visitors, and the nunmber keep increasing by the years.

2015 On Sunday 29 March 2015, the Monte San Salvatore funicular celebrated its 125th birthday; it is the oldest touristic funicular in Ticino.

2018 San Salvatore appears on the pretigious Michelin’s Green Guide, a prestigious touristic guide that highlights a region’s natural and cultural heritage. San Salvatore appeared meaning that an establishment is undoubtedly beautiful and a must to see destination .

In conclusion, the beauty and recognition of this outstanding place is starting to grow with time, making more evident that a planification for the San salvatore area is needed. The popularity its an oportunity , we want to preserve the natural heritage and we want to informe people about it , so a sense of belonging can be created from the communtiry towards this place .

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Pictire from the Funicular 1890

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4.3 —— Cantone Location Surface

FLORA

The importance for the territory

Ticino Lugano, Melide, Paradiso 215 ha

Ticino is the region with the richest vegetation in Switzerland with a Mediterranean flora consisting of camellias, magnolias, and azaleas, but also palms, mimosas, oranges, and lemons. There are plenty of vineyards, especially fine varieties of Merlot grapes, chestnut, hazelnut, and walnut reign in the valleys, up to the conifers of the Alpine region, with beech, oak, and pine forests.

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The slopes of Mount San Salvatore present dense broad-leaved woods along with carbonate rocks. These forests consist of Fraxino orni-Ostryetum, big xerophilous ostrieti with ash, downy oak, and oak, mainly Quercion pubescenti-petraeae. They have a discontinuous tree layer exclusive to dry calcareous environments. There are also thermophilic mixed forests on detrital soil in lime like Tilion and insubric beech forests on limestone such as Cardamino-Fagetum insubricum which usually occupy deeper and less alkaline soils.

Nonetheless the major naturalistic peculiarities with steep and rocks are concentrated on the eastern side and are inaccessible to human. This environment presents dry meadows and pastures which reached national importance through history due to the arid and semi-arid Middle-European grasslands with Forasacco (Xero- and Mesobromion).

Among the most characteristic plants of these xerothermophilous areas, there are the Creeping Widow (Lomelosia graminifolia) and the Eliantemo of Apennini (Helianthemum apenninum), two rare and exclusive species of the Sottoceneri. The alternation of natural environments open and wooded also gives the mountain the possibility to host a rich fauna, especially reptiles.

Concerning the rocky environments, mainly characterized by low-altitude limestone plateaus with coverage plant (Alysso-Sedion), they provide a diversification of the mountain slope and provide a suitable habitat for malacofauna, represented by a large number of rare species such as the terrestrial rock mollusk Chondrina megacheilos, in danger of extinction.

On the natural shores of the lake, there is a wide colonization of aquatic vegetation with the most popular plant of Potamion [9].

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4.4 —— Cantone Location Surface

FAUNA Ticino Lugano, Melide, Paradiso 215 ha

A few kilometers from the center of Lugano, it is possible to observe wild boars, roe deer, deer, badgers, squirrels, owls, foxes, hares and other wild animals. Of great interest is the presence of the resident golden eagle in the area of Camoghè and Tamaro, which regularly nests. The ptarmigan, the francolin and the black grouse are also worth mentioning. Small mammals such as voles, shrews, field mice, and squirrels are also present.

Bats represent an important faunal group, since one third of all native wild mammal species belong to this group. Five species of bats are known to occur in the region: Leisler's Noctule, Eurasian Oyster, Dwarf Bat, Common Serotine, and Greater Vespertian.

Among the reptiles there are saurians such as the lizard, the orbettino and the lizards and snakes such as the natrix, the smooth coluber, the Aesculapian coluber, the whip snake and the common viper.

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The presence of invertebrates is instead little studied. It is possible to report the presence of two species of scorpions: the Italian scorpion and the German scorpion.

Among the rodents there are marmots only at high altitude in the period from spring to autumn. Among the family of rodents there are squirrels, which spend most of their time in the trees looking for food. Predators include badgers, whose burrows are sometimes used by foxes, beech martens and martens. During your walks you can also see some specimens of weasels and bats.

During the summer season it is possible to meet, going up or down from Monte Generoso, the "horses of Bisbino", so called after that in the harsh winter of 2008-2009 two groups of Haflinger horses, the group of the Mula and the group of the Blonde, survived in freedom challenging all kinds of difficulties [10].

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4.5 —— Cantone Location Surface

BIRDS Ticino Lugano, Melide, Paradiso 215 ha

In the territory of Lugano area there are 246 different species of birds. Among these, the most numerous are the water birds, such as the little egret, the red heron and the grey heron, the little egret, and the night heron.

Other species that frequent the ponds are the kingfisher, the bee-eater, the moorhen, the grebe, and the coot. In the wooded areas there are numerous tits, woodpeckers, including the lesser spotted woodpecker, present only in a few sites on the Lombard territory. There are also many wrens, blackbirds, robins, together with jays, cuckoos, chaffinches, nightingales, and starlings.

There are also numerous predators, diurnal and nocturnal, such as the hobby, buzzard, sparrowhawk, kestrel, peregrine falcon, and osprey [11].

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PROJECT

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05

MASTER PLAN HIGHLANDS PARK The Observatory of the Pre Alps

From the analisis we can see that there is two levels in the city of Lugano. Mount San Salvatore is currently connected to the city by means of a funicular system and a walking trail.

The existing situation shows that there is a disconnection between the mountain and the surroundings. Starting from a macro scale, we see that there is a division of the city created by the rails of the train and the waterfront.The paradiso area has a mixed land use ; between residential and commercial buildings, in contrast of the natural greatness of Mount San Salvatore.

The Paradiso area strongly divided by the train lines and shaped the waterfront. Leaving the mount a bit isolated within the city context.

The connection to the mountain is currently by foot or the funicular. This located in the middle of Paradiso's building environment.

The entrance is blocked by parking lot, front of the building of the funicular, creating a strange entrance and not providing the beauty of the highlands.

On the other hand, there is no information about the walking trail besides one signalization on the feet of the mountain. The problem is that they are different options to go up. There is the trail that goes around the mountain, the most popular one. Also, there is the hardest one, the one that is more direct next to the funicular path but harder because the steep inclination involves rock climbing. This is an issue because the hikers tend to get a bit confused due to the lack of information. It is important to strengthen this connection, with enhancements of the natural paths, since it is an incredible and unique experience. There are great views of the lake towards the top, which makes you understand more the territory and the natural environment.

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The land use of this area is mainly : forest related to san salvatore's area, an importnt lung for the city . and the other hald commerce and storic buildings

We can see that the is a concentration on the building enviroment towards the waterfront.

5.1

SITE ANALISIS

images of the trail , up the hill

35

AN

2400

meters ffers an e splenh is an

Green Parking

MASTER PLAN

Lake Front PORT OF LUGANO PARADISO

ZOOM 1THE CONNECTION TO THE FUNICULAR

eading nd rein-

s follow minutes FS train

2200

New connection

Boat Parking PARADISO TRAIN STATION

llection ety and ng view

2000

1

Green Corridor

1

2 1800

Green Corridor

1600 3 Simple Path FOREST

4

1400

Resting Areas

1200 6

5 1000

7

Introspec Path

800

Bird Watching

Isochrones 8

600

Games for Kids

400

9

200

36

1600

Star Gentian

PORT OF LUGANO PARADISO

Passing through the woods located in the northern side of the mountain leading to Pazzallo and Paradiso, you can walk surrounded by an untouched and reinvigorating nature.

At the station of Pazzallo, the path comes out from the wood and steps follow the funicolar railway route for about 300 m. The path continues for 20 minutes in the shade of chestnut trees until the cantonal road in the area of the FFS train station Paradiso.

2400

5.2 MASTER PLAN

Butcher’s broom

Between San Salvatore and Monte Arbòstora, San Grato park hosts a collection of azalea, rhododendron and conifer which is the widest in terms of variety and quantity of the Insubric region. From the park you can enjoy an outstanding view of the surrounding areas and of alpine chain peaks.

Simple Path

Boat Parking

FOREST

Green Parking

PARADISO TRAIN STATION

STRATEGIES 1400

ITINER

Axonometries of the interventions

2200

Green Parking

Resting Areas

1200

2200 2000

New connections Green Corridor

1

2

STRATEGIES

New connections

6

STRATEGIES STRATEGIES

2400

1000

Locals Sch

Youth (18-

Adults (30-

Elderly (65 3

MOVEM

Introspective Path 4

2000

Green Corridor Green Corridor

7

800

STRATEGIES STRATEGIES

1800

6

Bird Watching

1800 1600 Green Corridor Simple Path

600

FOREST

5

7

1600 Games

1400

Simple Path

LEGEND

FOREST OUTLINE

MASTER PLAN PROPOSAL

Existing Green

Vineyards

Existing Green

Rail Lines

Funicular Square

6

Introspection Paths

2

Green Parking

7

Bird Watching

3

Entrance Trail

8

Cultural Amphitheater

4

Open Farm

9

HIGHLANDS

5

Middle Point / Funicular

0

Green Corridor

1400

Boat Station

Info Point Trails

Bus Stop

Resting Area

Train /Paradiso Station

Playground

Parking

Recicling point

TRANSPORTATION

OPEN FARM

FOR

Locals Schools ITINERARIES Youth (18- 30)

1200

Adults (30-65) Elderly (65- ) Resting Areas

TRANSPORTATION

Funicular

PARADISO FUNICULAR

Resting Areas

MAIN INTERVENTIONS 1

8

GREEN CORRIDOR

400

PROPOSAL

Main Streets

Existing Houses

TRANSPORTATION

for Kids ITINERARIES

1200 1000

Introspective Path

View Point

Water Point

Middle Point / Funicular

Middle Point / Funicular

Accesibility

1000

Introspective Path

800 Bird

200

GREEN CORRIDOR

PARADISO FUNICULAR

OPEN FARM

IMAGES : 9 1. Map Locating Mount San Salvarore Locals Schools withing the context of the Lake Ceresio.

Youth (18- 30) MOVEMENT POSSIBILITIES

2.. Scheme about Mount San Salvarore, and surroundings , in relation with attracElderly (65- ) tor points .

Adults (30-65)

MOVEMENT POSSIBILITIES

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FO

5.3

STRATEGIES

A. SCHEMES OF THE MASTERPLAN THE MAIN OUTLINE

THE PATHWAY TO THE TOP

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THE MIDDLE POINT

THE GREEN

The masterplan is the sum of the different strategies applied in the territory, from the most urbanized part, through the forest until the highest point of Mount San Salvatore.

MAIN CONNECTIONS

THE ALL TOGETHER

THE AIM OF THE MASTERPLAN Allowing more possibilities to relate with nature and enhancing the already existing ones.

The goal of this project is creating a sort of middle ground, an “in between” to have a pause and relate with the wilderness. It is important to create a sense of belonging with this outstanding place, so it can be recognized by giving the right value to the natural heritage of Lugano.

*PROJECT LIKE THIS This Master plan project applies to the requierents of the existing project called "Lugano al Verde".

This multi-year projects consist in sub- projects of enhaments of the city center of Lugano and the surrounding districtics. Its a plan to reclaim the city, with few resources, creating this common ground that is available for citizens and giving in this way value to the territory.

The Selection Criteria consist in : - Enhance the territory intended both as nature in the suburbs and as green spaces in the center - Represents and invest for the future of Lugano that evolved over the years.

- Enhance Existing or already planned projects and resources , referring to the ordinary budget and inserting quality elements such as to make them extraordinary.

SCHEME OF NEW POSSIBILITIES

Some of the projects that are already developing are : 1.Garden of Smells: In park Villa Saroli with unusual flower beds 2. The tap water is good is a movement that impulses the Department of Heath og Canton Ticino (DSS), just to name a few.

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5.4 ——

ZOOMS

IN TO THE LOCAL SCALE

The master plan is divided into 4 parts. Each part has a different character but throughout the whole project there is things in common, that will be further specified in the next pages The first zoom starts in the most urbanized area , the entrance of the project that guides from the main attractors to the funicular and the start of the trail.

Second zoom is called the open farm , this creates a middle point between the forest and the city. Putting in value the agriculture and encouraging the surrounding community to engage with this space.

Then we have the trails in the evergreen forest, with different interventions to enjoy and understand better the natural heritage , and finally the high lands, the upper part of the project , with the visitor's square that welcomes you to this outstanding place. the 360' observatory of Lugano.

40

41

5.5

42

THE URBAN ENTRANCE ZOOM 1THE CONNECTION TO THE FUNICULAR

A. SCHEMES

B. AXONOMETRIES

C. ZOOM FUNICULAR SQUARE

43

A. SECTION COMPARISON

44

B. SECTION COMPARISON

45

5.5

OPEN FARM

ZOOM 2 THE IN BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE WILDERNESS

C

C’

46

47

A. AXONOMETRIES OF INTERVENTIONS

48

B. VIEW ENTRANCE AND ALONG THE FUNICULAR TRAIL

49

5.6

FOREST TRAILS

04

ZOOM 3 WALKING ALONG THE DENSE FOREST

Student : Tanja Mimica Anelli / Profess Thesis : Experiencing the High Lands

D

D’

Info Point Trails Resting Area Recycling Area View point Percorso Naturalistico Water point

50

The natural inclination of the mountain allows great views the dense evergreen forest gives home to many bird species

The natural inclination of the mountain allows great views the dense evergreen forest gives home to many bird species

51

A. EXISTING SECTION Path along the ever green forest , is very bio diverse and it gives home to many different kind of birds.

It also frames the landscape , by creating windows of the lake

C. SPECIES OF THE AREA

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B. PROPOSED SECTION The birds watching towers are structures to reach the canopy level of the trees, therefore its possible to observe the birds in their habitat when nesting without disturbing them and putting in value this outstanding place.

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A. VIEW BELVEDERE TOWARD LUGANO

54

B. ALONG THE EVERGREEN FOREST

55

56

HIGH LANDS

57

06

UPPER LANDS

3.4 HIGHLANDS

ZOOM 4 THE OBSERVATORY OF THE PRE ALPS

ZOOM 4

Open Amphitheater

MASTER PLAN

Percorso Naturalistico Walking Trail This area is the highest of the master plan, (800- 900 meters above sea level) Therefore has the most astonishing views from the lake and the surrounding landscape. This becomes a sort of observatory of the pre-alps in all their magnificence.

The main goal of the interventions here is to welcome and orient whoever arrives at this area, either from the walking trail or the funicular. Introducing the natural heritage by working as a sort of compass to the different activities held in the High Lands.

Visitors Square

LEGEND MASTER PLAN PROPOSAL

Playground From kids

Existing Houses

Observatory of the Pre-Alps Above Church

Existing Green

Funicular Playground

Belvere

View point Percorso Naturalistico Info Point Trails Resting Area Scale : !000

SCHEMES The schemes show the main goal to reconnect the area, and emphasize the landscape experience.

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A. SCHEMES

B. BIRD EYE VIEW

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6.1

60

THE VISITOR SQUARE

61

6.2

THE VISITOR SQUARE

AXONOMETRIC

Covering Structure Games and Resting Area

Pavillion for Cultural activities

Autochtonous Bushes hervacious plants and Small trees

New Green

New Suspended platform

Surfaces Visitors Square

New Green Garden

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to go

A.

VIEW OF THE VISITORS SQUARE

63

6.2 A.

64

SENSORIAL GARDEN

VIEW OF THE VISITORS SQUARE

DETAILS CONSTRUCTIVE SOLUTIONS FOR PUTTING GREEN ON TRUCTIVE

65 2. ABOVE THE CHURCH

SOLUTIONS FOR PUTTING GREEN ON PAVED AREAS. The Piazza of the visitors is covered by a dense concrete l ayer, above the steep ground. A s ort of p latform. Therefore t o make this area more green and appealing , there was the need o f elevated surface that held the ground w ith v egetation that could adapt t his conditions. t herefore bushes and hervacious species and small trees with small rooting systems.

This multi-layer soil system, made up of four rooflite products, mimics and improves o n natural soil horizons. It recreates soil conditions at grade but optimized f or on-structure installations Ð with a granular drainage layer, a filter layer.

Small Tree max 3 mts

1. SENSORIAL GARDEN

Wild Flowers

66

2. ABOVE THE CHURCH

Hervacious species

Information Panels about inserted species

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The Journey to the HIGH LANDS IN BETWEEN .

68

POSTCARDS

Open Amphitheater and the seasons These area is the located in a existing view point, where there is a natural plan , this connected with the percorso naturalistico, makes the perfect space for an outdoor class or an area for multiple activites .

69

The postcards IN BETWEEN .

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OBSERVING THE PRE ALPS

SAN SALVATORE

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REFERENCES [1] Macfarlane R. (2003), “Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination”, Granta.

[2] Scapozza, C., Lambiel, C., Reynard, E., Fallot, J. M., Antognini, M., & Schoeneich, P. (2010). “Radiocarbon dating of fossil wood remains buried by the Piancabella rock glacier, Blenio Valley (Ticino, Southern Swiss Alps): implications for rock glacier, treeline and climate history”. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes, 21(1), 90-96.

[3] Chisholm H. (1911), "Switzerland Geography", Encyclodia Britannica, 26 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press.

[4] Schoenenberger, N., Röthlisberger, J., & Carraro, G. (2014). “La flora esotica del Cantone Ticino (Svizzera)”. Bollettino della Società ticinese di scienze naturali, 102, 13-30.

[5] Bertotti, G., Siletto, G. B., & Spalla, M. I. (1993). “Deformation and metamorphism associated with crustal rifting: the Permian to Liassic evolution of the Lake Lugano-Lake Como area (Southern Alps)”.

Tectonophysics, 226(1-4), 271-284.

[6] Harloff, C. (1926). “The geology of the porphyry district of Lugano between Ponte Tresa and Luino”.

Leidse Geologische Mededelingen, 2(1), 115-222.

[7] Seeland, K., & Ballesteros, N. (2004). “Cultural comparative studies of the potential for social inclusion within green spaces in the agglomerations of Geneva, Lugano and Zurich”. Forstwissenschaftliche Beiträge-ETH Zürich, (31).

[8] Lepori, F., & Roberts, J. J. (2015). “Past and future warming of a deep European lake (Lake Lugano): What are the climatic drivers?”. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 41(4), 973-981.

[9]Mysak, L. A., Salvadè, G., Hutter, K., & Scheiwiller, T. (1983). “Lake of Lugano and topographic waves”. Nature, 306(5938), 46-48.

[10] Pavesi, P. (1873). Materiali per una fauna del cantone Ticino (Vol. 16). Tip. Bernardoni.

[11] Ibraimovic, T., & Masiero, L. (2014). “Do birds of a feather flock together? The impact of ethnic segregation preferences on neighbourhood choice”. Urban Studies, 51(4), 693-711.

BOOKS 1. The Landscape Imagination: Collected Essays of James Corner 1990-2010: The Collected Essays of James Corner, 1990-2010Refining Nature: The Landscape Architecture of Peter Walker 2. Landscape for Architects - Landschaft Für Architekten - Paisaje Para Arquitectos: Landscape, Park, Building, Qualities, Use. an Introduction / ... / Landschaft, Park, Haus, Qualitäten, Nutzung 4. Toward an Urban Ecology: SCAPE / Landscape Architecture 4. Ecological UrbanismMohsen Mostafavi, Gareth Doherty

WEBSITES https://www.ticino.ch https://www.lugano.ch https://www.bafu.admin.ch

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