Labics, Città del Sole in Rome, Italy

The Roman practice Labics is the author of the Città del Sole urban regeneration project, which emptied some old bus depots next to Rome’s Tiburtina railway station and raised beside them a new building for mixed uses: offices, commercial spaces, residences, car parks, and a succession of public spaces, including a library. Forming footbridges and meeting points at different heights, the complex is organized around a large plaza. The commercial area is at street level, below the overhang containing the offices. Single-family ‘urban villas’ occupy the central block, which is clad with aluminum panels, while apartments take up the tower, which is protected against the sun with horizontal glass slats.