The project of the six «Sequenza» towers in northern Trento is causing discussion (yesterday’s T). In fact, a new neighborhood – near the former Sloi – destined to potentially host over 700 people. The municipal councilor for housing policies Alberto Pedrotti looks favorably on the real estate initiative of the Podini family. The opposition councilor Giuseppe Filippin (Lega) speaks of a «renunciation of the ideas expressed for twenty years by the city council: that is, first we reclaim and then we build». The president of the Order of Architects of Trentino Marco Piccolroaz is cautious. Meanwhile, for next Monday, the day before the presentation of the project to the council commission for urban planning, a majority summit has been convened to agree on the line between the different forces.
The project
The various parties involved maintain the utmost confidentiality regarding the operation: from the Sequenza company, the real estate holding company of the Podini group, to the municipal administration, up to the author of the project, the architect and urban planner Roberto Bortolotti. The idea is to build six buildings, at least one of which is up to 25 floors high, 11 more than the Madonna Bianca towers. There is talk of an initiative worth more than 100 million euros. A mixed residential and commercial initiative, which also includes the transfer of areas for public services to the Municipality. According to rumors, the new neighborhood could accommodate over 700 people.
Anti-pollutant barrier
The Sequenza area falls in the so-called B sector, i.e. outside the Sin, a polluted site of national interest. The sector – located between via Maccani and via Vittime delle Foibe south of the former Sloi – extends for a total of 28,039 square meters, of which 83% is owned by Podini. Strictly speaking, therefore, the Sequenza area measures approximately 23 thousand square metres.
The area is not contaminated. The pollutant values all fall within the environmental limits permitted by law. Outside Sin, lead undergoes a decay process in groundwater. However, for greater protection, the six towers project involves the creation of a “capping”, i.e. an impermeable barrier aimed at isolating the area. A similar barrier will also be used to isolate the area from the activities of the railway ring road construction site. The Sequenza area will in fact be used to store the excavation materials of the ring road. The Podini group company had asked to find an alternative solution already in 2021, but in the end it was unable to assert its reasons. This is why the possible construction site of the Sequenza buildings will start after the construction of the railway bypass.
Majority summit
Next Tuesday the project will be illustrated to the Council Commission for Urban Planning of the Municipality of Trento, convened in a joint session with that for the Environment. The presentation is preparatory to the opinion (mandatory but not binding) of the Commission on the guide plan as a variant of the General Master Plan (Prg). For the definitive green light, the Sequenza company will have to wait for the approval of the project by the entire city council.
Meanwhile, the majority forces were summoned by the mayor Franco Ianeselli and the urban planning councilor Monica Baggia to discuss the real estate initiative. The summit will be held on Monday. It will serve to clarify some planning aspects and, above all, to agree on the line on an initiative that could bring about an urban planning change in the capital. Some discontent is already starting to spread among the ranks of the majority.
Pedrotti: «Yes to verticality»
A vertical building development of this type in the city is comparable only to the towers of the Madonna Bianca. «In principle I agree with the logic of building high up – considers the municipal councilor Alberto Pedrotti (Campobase) – In the past, northern Trento has been subject to reckless land consumption, so the idea of going up high can only be shared. height to meet housing needs. I also see in a positive way the trust of an entrepreneur who decides to invest in the city, then clearly the project must be implemented in practice, in particular it must be compatible with territorial planning”. Pedrotti also adds a further piece. «Having a prestigious building in an area of the city characterized by low-income families could also lead to a positive meeting between different social strata», concludes the councilor.
Filippin: «Reclamation first»
The Northern League municipal councilor Giuseppe Filippin, an architect by profession among other things, has a different opinion. «Originally, when the implementation plan was made, the Municipality had decided that all the owners would have to carry out the reclamation of the northern Trento area – recalls Filippin – Then in 2019, with mayor Andreatta, the area was unpacked and the Sequence area was placed outside the Sin area. However, that entire area was made available for construction so that private individuals could clean it up. For 20 years the Municipality has reiterated that first it was necessary to carry out the reclamation and now, instead, we find ourselves with a guide plan with six towers”. According to the councillor, “the division of the original implementation plan into sub-areas places strong limits on the organization of the territory: public and private roads, organization of public and private services”.
Finally, regarding the idea of vertical residential development, Filippin raises the question of the «contrast between the secular-modern city and the historic city». But “beyond this urban planning aspect, it will be crucial to understand what services can be guaranteed in that area”, concludes the councilor.
Prudent Little Roaz
This last concept is the one also stated by Piccolroaz: «It is not so much the architectural object that makes the difference, but the design of the area in its entirety, that is, the design of the relational spaces and the connections with the urban fabric – he observes the Architects’ Guide — I don’t see building high up as a problem, in fact that area is far from historic areas and the hill.”
