Candelo Urban Link
Project
Competition Recreation Area
Location
Candelo, Italy
Year
2026
Designers
Pearl Shoainia, Emil Shoainia
Project Name
SILENT THRESHOLD
Degree
Finalist
This project, part of a competition aimed at redefining Via San Sebastiano square in Candelo, seeks to reintegrate a dysfunctional and fragmented urban space into public life.
The competition specifically requests the design of an accessible system that resolves the difference in elevation and transforms the area from a mere surface to a living public space. Silent Threshold does not treat this solely as a technical problem; it generates a new spatial awareness between two different levels and two different urban characters. The transition is conceived not only as a physical connection but also as an experiential process; it creates an intermediate state that guides, slows down, and allows the user to feel the space.
FLEXIBILITY / SYSTEM
Instead of producing a fixed and heavy architectural object, the project proposes a changeable and adaptable system. Demountable grandstands, temporary usage areas, and lightweight structural elements allow the space to transform over time. This approach is directly related to the competition's expectation of a low-cost and high-impact intervention. Architecture recedes; space, user, and time come to the forefront.
SPINE / RAMP
The ramp, which forms the backbone of the project, is not merely an element providing accessibility, but a fundamental tool that establishes the rhythm of the space. Its expanding and contracting structure produces a sequence that directs user movement; at times allowing for pauses, while at others it accelerates the flow. Along this path of movement, the user not only moves forward but also engages with the space. The ramp becomes more than just a connecting element; it transforms into a spatial organization that generates experiences.
LOWER GROUND LEVEL / LANDSCAPING
The lower level is no longer a "surplus space," but the most tranquil and intensely experiential layer of the project. With green spaces, seating areas, and play surfaces, this layer transforms into a landscaped area where daily life unfolds. A system is established where things are passed through above and lived through below. An open-air stage and small-scale event spaces make this layer not only a physical but also a social center.
