Atipografia – The suspended garden

Atipografia is a project of transformation and extension of an art gallery. Over time the building has seen different conversions from a barn to typography, to an art gallery. It is placed in Arzignano, near Vicenza (Italy) along the Chiampo River and the Venetian Prealps.

The open-air spaces are articulated around a central suspended garden created on top of an existing terrace in order to increase green areas in a very urban and built environment. A roofscape, accessible through an external staircase covered by a topographical landscape planted with multi-stem trees and bushes.

The rainwater of adjacent roofs is collected in this area in order to absorb water as much as possible during rainfalls. This system passively cools the surrounding air with vegetal evapotranspiration and prevents the roof from heating up.

On the ground floor, other two other open-air spaces work as buffer dry gardens. The entrance garden is a gentle slope connecting the entrance gate and the gallery. A sitting area and a mix of planting zones at the side of the main path create a welcoming garden with a combination of different colors and textures.

The silent garden is a back open-door area of the gallery and works as a flexible and relaxing space to bring natural lights and fresh air inside. Both gardens keep the view free toward the suspended garden with no trees have been planted here, except the existing plants that were already there.