waterfront

The new waterfront of Laveno Mombello, on Lake Maggiore in the province of Varese, is LCA Architetti's proposal for the redesign of via Labiena, piazza Matteotti and the old harbour. It was a finalist in a 2023 competition.

The area is one of the town's most beautiful spots, but paving, trees and furniture without a common design made it look untidy. The project treats it as one continuous space, strengthens the link between the old town and the lake, and recalls the ceramics industry that shaped Laveno's history.

The key idea is "the breathing of the lake": the rise and fall of the water level becomes a quality to celebrate. Spaces at different levels, linked by ramps and steps, appear or disappear with the lake. West of the harbour, stepped seating and a small beach form an urban lido and a theatre on the water: when the lake rises, only the ceramic sculptures remain visible, a museum of art at water level. Piazza Matteotti is raised to become an outdoor living room facing the lake, paved in washed concrete with glass inserts that recall ceramics. A large planted structure, the "biosphere", replaces the untidy verandas of bars and restaurants.

Sustainability comes from reusing the existing porphyry, permeable paving that reduces urban heat, keeping the existing greenery, LED lighting and certified low-impact materials. Timber was avoided only because floods would damage it.