by InTrieste
In a move to transform one of Trieste’s most historic and densely populated neighborhoods, the city has launched the first phase of Progetto Scintille, an ambitious urban regeneration initiative centered on San Giacomo. With €2.45 million in regional funding from Friuli Venezia Giulia, the project aims to redesign and revitalize public spaces, green areas, and essential services to improve the overall quality of life for residents.
The project’s cornerstone is a robust, participatory approach. In the coming weeks, the city will begin a structured listening phase, inviting residents, associations, civic groups, and local institutions to voice their needs and priorities. The participatory process will continue until the summer break and is designed to ensure that the people of San Giacomo help shape the future of their neighborhood.
Architect Eddi Dalla Betta, director of the City of Trieste’s Urban Planning Service, emphasized that the listening phase is key to identifying which interventions should be prioritized. “The goal is to respond to the real needs of the community through a process that is inclusive and transparent,” he said.
To lead and facilitate this engagement, the city has commissioned Archpiùdue Architetti Associati and urban sociologist Stefano Carbone. Selected through a public tender for their collaborative methodology and prior experience in socially driven urban design, the team brings a strong track record of success. Their previous projects include the regeneration of Mestre’s Altobello neighborhood—awarded by the Barbara Cappochin Foundation in 2015—and the ongoing redevelopment of San Liberale in Treviso, recognized by Urbanistica magazine in 2022.
Following the listening phase, a strategic masterplan will be drafted, laying the foundation for future interventions in San Giacomo. It will act as both a vision and a roadmap, signaling a new chapter in the city’s approach to urban planning—one that puts community voices at its core.
