From Parking Lot to Public Space

Tactical Urbanism Intervention
Via Carlo Marx, Via Siena, Via della Romita, Prato (Italy)
June 16th – June 20th 2025

DELTA is a Tactical Urbanism project that transformed an ordinary parking lot into a new public space for the Soccorso neighborhood in Prato. What was once an unregulated asphalt surface for about 25 cars – empty most of the week except for a weekly market – became a lively meeting place designed for people rather than vehicles.

The Soccorso district is one of Prato’s most complex urban contexts: a dense working-class neighborhood shaped by the rapid urbanization of the 1950s, home to a diverse mix of communities and cultures. Public life here revolves around a few shared outdoor spaces, where coexistence is vibrant but often challenged by conflicting uses and a reputation for social tension. DELTA aimed to respond to this context by creating a space that encourages interaction, accessibility, and a renewed sense of belonging.

The intervention was carried out through an open construction-site approach. Guided by the ECOL team and with the collaboration of IPER-collettivo, 14 participants – including students and young professionals – were actively involved in all stages of the transformation: from site analysis and chalk grid layout to painting and material application.

The final phase focused on testing the use of the new space together with the local community. Using modular textile reels made of regenerated plastic, the IPER-collettivo workshop explored different configurations for urban furniture – seating, platforms, and small landmarks – co-designed and co-assembled with the participants to respond to the neighborhood’s real needs.

DELTA was not just about painting asphalt; it was about building relationships and bringing people closer to the idea that even small-scale interventions can reclaim streets for people and shape the future of public space.