“BOLOGNA, EUROPEAN CITY OF KNOWLEDGE”, the axis of via Stalingrado and the development of the trade fair district

Bologna City of Knowledge is a strategic project that includes the regeneration of many areas in the northwest quadrant of Bologna, the establishment of strategic hubs (Big-Data Technopole, Research Center, and University), and is located along the Bologna railway belt, which will become the connecting element of all these polarities. Several regeneration areas with different intended uses are located along the Via Stalingrado axis. To the west, there are: the Big-Data Technopole, an intervention led by the Emilia Romagna Region among other actors, for the settlement of an international level research and computer center, as well as advanced tertiary activities and business incubators; the former Caserma Sani, the former Samp and Casaralta factories. There are several disused areas along the Stalingrado axis with different sizes, potential uses, and ownership. One of these areas is the Ex Officine Casaralta , which covers an area of more than 50,000 sqm and could be repurposed for commercial and office use. The Ex Casema Sani, with a land area of over 105,000 sqm, has potential to host a mix of functions, including residential, office, hotel, commercial, social, health facilities, public spaces, and facilities. The Ex Fabbrica Samp, which is over 20,000 sqm, could also be regenerated for different purposes. The General Urban Plan allows for temporary use of the existing buildings, their renovation, or larger urban transformations. The regeneration areas (many of which, but not all, owned by Bologna Fiere) are mainly concentrated in three sectors: ● Northwest sector with respect to the current fair district beyond the Bologna railway belt and up to the ring road: these are large areas mainly owned by Bologna Fiere, partially urbanized and partially greenfields defined as areas for potential development in the urban strategies of the Municipality of Bologna, with the possibility to densify and to build a new mixed-use urban area, including a large urban public park, as well as the expansion of exhibition facilities; ● West sector, between the current fair district and via Stalingrado, mainly regeneration of a productive fabric for new advanced tertiary functions as well as mixed use with temporary residences; ● Southwest sector overlooking the square of the main entrance and originally occupied by the Ex Borsa Merci and parking lots, it is available for hotellerie, recreational and commercial functions.