The square, symbol of a shared city

My research seeks to ensure that the square of my native city, Faenza, in Emilia Romagna, Italy, once again fulfils its function as a public place for aggregation par excellence, a function which the Mediterranean tradition, from the Greek agora’ to the roman forum, has assigned it. A function which has been significantly weakened today due to two main factors:

1) There is a widespread feeling of diffidence and fear relative to immigrants, who group together in the square, that is not justified by deviant behaviour.
2) There is a general decentralisation of activities related to leisure time and socialisation (multiscreens, fast-food, pubs, pizzerias have been located in a new suburban area).

The resolution of complex city problems is certainly not the prerogative of architecture alone although, in my opinion, this too must play an important role in the creation or revaluation of spaces and contexts that can encourage, on a psychological level, a climate of hospitality relative to “others”, one of sharing and general improvement in the quality of life.