«L’architettura non è prima di tutto un messaggio o un simbolo, ma il luogo fisico in cui si svolge la vita.» Peter Zumthor, Thinking ArchitectuWorld Landscape Architecture explores DKA’s Bachelet Park-Square in Maglie, focusing on the Biodiversity Ring and on landscape as a framework for reconnecting public space, ecological processes and everyday urban life.re
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the biodiversity ring: landscape as urban infrastructure on WLA
1 settembre 2026
Published in July 2026, the article examines the project as a landscape-led transformation of a fragmented urban area, highlighting its approach to biodiversity, climate adaptation and the creation of a new shared public landscape.
Located in Maglie, in the Salento region of southern Italy, Bachelet Park-Square transforms a fragmented urban site into a new public landscape rooted in ecological regeneration. […] Rather than treating landscape as a complementary layer to the urban realm, the proposal positions it as the primary organising framework of the intervention. Public space, ecological processes and everyday activities are brought together through a continuous system of vegetation, pathways and gathering spaces.
[…] At the centre of the proposal lies the Biodiversity Ring, a continuous green infrastructure that embraces the new park-square and gives form to its identity. More than a landscaped boundary, the ring functions as a spatial, ecological and climatic device, organising movement, structuring public life and guiding the transition between built and natural environments. […]
The landscape strategy draws inspiration from Mediterranean ecosystems and is based on a diverse palette of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous species selected for their ecological resilience, climatic adaptability and biodiversity value. […] The microforest represents one of the most distinctive aspects of the proposal. Developed according to principles inspired by the Miyawaki method, it is conceived as a dense ecosystem that accelerates natural succession and generates a self-sustaining woodland environment within the city.
[…] Beyond its environmental benefits, the landscape is conceived as an immersive public experience. The network of pathways, shaded areas and gathering spaces encourages multiple forms of use and interaction. […] Through the integration of biodiversity, climate adaptation and public life, Bachelet Park-Square proposes a contemporary model for landscape-led urban transformation, positioning ecological infrastructure at the centre of the design process.
