Cabbio square
The village of Cabbio is located on the eastern side of the Valle Di Muggio and has developed along the hillside, adapting to the conformation of the land. The project for the enhancement of the Cabbio square responded to the need to enhance the context by securing the retaining wall and paving the square with natural stone, respecting the nature of the site.
The project addressed the following specific themes:
Securing the retaining wall The retaining wall of variable height from 4 to 3 m, in natural stone and partially plastered, was in poor stability conditions. In order to ensure the stability of the square, the existing wall was demolished and rebuilt for a length of 35 m, the new wall with structural functions is built in reinforced concrete and subsequently covered with the stones coming from the dismantling of the pre-existing wall. The perimeter downstream of the square was delimited by 8 tall trees, adult specimens and in good condition (lime and plane trees in alternating sequence). The trees were numbered and replanted in their original position.
Paving and channeling of rainwater
The original flooring in beaten earth was removed and it’s laid a new flooring in Saltrio stone, a material with a color similar to the nature of the place. The new flooring is waterproof and grouted with cement mortar. The pavement is uniform and laps the trunk of the trees, the pavement at the base of the trees is draining.
Rainwater is collected by a system of grids placed at the entrance to the square and then fed into a canalization dedicated to a mechanical pre- purification system (2 oil separators and 2 sand traps); once treated, the water is channeled and reintroduced into a natural receptor.
Furniture
A fountain was placed near the pedestrian staircase near the churchyard, as a continuation of the geometry of the retaining wall. The fountain was made with an ancient block of Arzo marble, the water flows from a brass tap, recovered from the old fountain, and screwed to a pipe also in brass, supported by a natural oxidized steel IPE 100 profile. Stone seats have been placed around the fountain, made up of large blocks of Moltrasio stone, which were recovered from the excavated material of the square. The same type of seating was used at the entrance of the square.
Some of the boulders that emerged during the excavation were also used for the construction of the steps of the staircase under the retaining wall.
