The Depositi delle Vittorie

The Rome City Council approved a Memorandum for the urban regeneration of the Depositi delle Vittorie in Piazza Bainsizza in Rome, a former ATAC (Rome City Rail and Tram Transport Company) depot dating back to the early 1900s, abandoned for almost 20 years and now privately owned.

The regeneration project, which will lead to the creation of a multipurpose center for culture, education, commerce, co-working and leisure, along with the creation of a new public plaza and an 8,000 m2 rooftop garden, is designed by the studio Stefano Boeri Architetti.

Architect Stefano Boeri comments: “Our project for the Depositi delle Vittorie represents a virtuous example of urban regeneration, thanks to the balance achieved between the valorization of a decommissioned and now privately owned urban infrastructure and the collective interests of the residents of a historic neighborhood in the heart of Rome. On the ground floor, the courtyard of the new Depositi delle Vittorie will become a small city of commercial services, spaces for culture and work, while the large roof will host a hanging garden designed to host events and installations, gradually building an open-air museum.”

The project aims to regenerate a crucial urban hub through the architectural renovation of the former ATAC depot and the integration of new green spaces and citizen services in a predominantly residential neighborhood. The Depositi delle Vittorie are being transformed into a multifunctional space, creating a new attraction for residents at the heart of the Prati-Delle Vittorie neighborhood. Within a 16,000 square meter area, the project offers a variety of commercial, cultural, and recreational activities—a multifunctional hub where spaces for creativity coexist with commercial and hospitality businesses and, above all, with greenery. Among the project’s most significant aspects is an 8,000 square meter rooftop garden, suspended 15 meters above the ground, offering a green perspective over the streets and pedestrian plazas below.

Open spaces: on the ground floor, a public courtyard—the agora—will host leisure spaces, integrating with the existing urban fabric and creating, together with the roof garden, a system of two tree-lined plazas. While on the ground floor, the inner courtyard of the former Depot will open up to the city, on the second floor, the Roof Garden will be reinterpreted in a contemporary way as an exhibition space for sculptures set within greenery. Conceived as a labyrinthine pathway, it will invite visitors to discover artistic installations in a natural setting, creating a plurality of views that will merge with the landscape of the neighborhood and the nearby Monte Mario hill.

Greenery: the integration of plants and trees in an area of Rome characterized by a strongly mineral quality will significantly contribute to increasing biodiversity and regulating the local microclimate, creating a more comfortable environment for residents. The introduction of trees, shrubs, and perennials will not only improve air quality by trapping fine particulate matter and absorbing CO2, but will also significantly contribute to shading, and therefore cooling, public spaces in a city increasingly plagued by heat waves and rising average temperatures. The landscape has been designed to be dynamic and constantly evolving, with square groves and panoramic terraces, while the “green rooms,” with their variety of heights and tones, will act as true vegetal sculptures, offering visitors diversified experiences as the seasons change. The selection of plant species reflects the botanical tradition of Rome and the surrounding countryside, while adapting to the new climatic conditions of the Mediterranean urban environment. The irrigation system was designed to ensure the sustainability of the roof garden and internal courtyards: a drip system, controlled by electronic control units, will ensure efficient water distribution for both the tree-lined areas and the flowerbeds.

The objectives: thanks to its strategic location and the transformation of the former ATAC Depot into an accessible and welcoming space, the new complex will serve as a new urban connector, capable not only of providing useful services for the neighborhood, but also of attracting visitors from other areas of Rome.

Pietro Chiodi, partner and Director at Stefano Boeri Architetti, adds: “The project builds a complex and integrated system of functions, designed to activate the site throughout the day. The choice to focus exclusively on non-residential uses strengthens the public character of the activities located there and defines a new urban polarity. At the same time, the organization of the underground levels resolves a historical criticality of the area, improving accessibility and easing pressure on the neighborhood.”

Stefano Boeri Architetti’s project for the Depositi delle Vittorie represents an innovative and sustainable urban regeneration intervention that combines architectural and landscaping dimensions, creating a dialogue between the neighborhood’s historical past and the contemporary needs of its residents.