A mixed-use urban regeneration proposal organised around a circular civic square in Palermo
| Project Location | Palermo, Sicily, Italy |
| Project Type | Urban regeneration, mixed-use development, civic square, tower cluster, residential and commercial architecture |
| Project Description | Competition proposal for a new mixed-use development centre in Palermo, organised around a large circular public square surrounded by a raised circular building and a series of towers. |
| Architect | UFO Architecture – Messina Studio |
| Lead Architect | Claudio Lucchesi |
| Project Status | Competition proposal – unbuilt |
| Project Duration | 2020 |
| Programme | Mixed-use development centre, public square, raised circular building, towers, commercial spaces, residential or workplace functions and public realm |
| Design Focus | Urban regeneration, circular civic space, mixed-use density, raised building form, tower composition, colour, public realm and alternative façade expression |
| Urban Strategy | The project is structured around a large circular square that acts as the civic centre of the development, creating a clear public focus within the larger urban regeneration proposal. |
| Architectural Strategy | A raised circular building frames the public square and is interspersed with a series of towers, combining horizontal urban continuity with vertical density. |
| High-Rise Strategy | The towers are conceived as part of a coordinated urban composition, adding density, skyline identity and programme intensity without detaching the project from the public ground. |
| Environmental Strategy | The proposal explores ecological urban density through compact mixed-use development, shaded public space, landscape integration, walkable connections and reduced dependence on car-based urban expansion. |
Palermo Urban Regeneration is a 2020 competition proposal by UFO Architecture – Messina Studio for a new mixed-use development centre in Palermo, Sicily. Led by Claudio Lucchesi, the project explores how a large urban site can be transformed through a strong civic gesture, combining public space, mixed-use density, landscape and a more expressive architectural identity.
The proposal is organised around a large circular square, conceived as the central public space of the development. Around this civic void, a raised circular building forms a continuous urban edge, while a series of towers introduce vertical density, orientation and skyline presence within the overall composition.
The circular square gives the project a clear civic centre. It acts as both an urban room and a public address for the development, bringing together movement, gathering, commercial activity and shared amenities. Rather than treating public space as leftover ground between buildings, the proposal makes the square the primary organising element of the masterplan.
The raised circular building frames the square while creating continuity across the site. It establishes a strong horizontal urban figure, linking different parts of the development and providing a base for mixed-use programme. The towers are inserted into this larger form, combining compact density with a more legible and publicly grounded urban structure.
The design deliberately moves away from the greyness and anonymity often associated with large glass commercial façades. Instead, vibrant colour is introduced into the architectural elements, giving the development a stronger identity and a more animated relationship with the city. This use of colour helps distinguish the project from generic commercial development and gives the proposal a more Mediterranean civic character.
The project reflects UFO Architecture’s broader interest in urban regeneration, tower clusters, ecological density and the integration of architecture with public space. The proposal explores how mixed-use development can support a more walkable and socially active urban district by combining compact building form, shaded public realm, landscape integration and active ground-level uses.
Palermo Urban Regeneration proposes a model for civic redevelopment where density, public space and architectural expression are developed together. The project positions the circular square, raised building and tower cluster as parts of one coherent urban framework for Palermo’s evolving city fabric.
