Bosco Fontile, Minusio

Bosco Fontile is a forest rising between the urban fabric in Minusio. The whole project originates from the donation made by the co-owners of the Fontile woods – a total surface area of no less than 6,671 square metres – to the municipality of the Swiss town in Canton Ticino. The donation was conditional on a commitment to allocate the parcel, which consists mainly of woodland, as a public park. The area in question, among other things, is close to the Usignolo playground, which was completely renovated a few years ago.

Walking through the trees, the town’s story emerges: slices and elements of the surroundings are visible from several points of the woods. The existing situation may be perceived as confusing, frequently causing a loss of orientation. The project proposes to enjoy the various components of the Bosco Fontile woods through two different paths: the first as a suspended path, and the second as a path on the ground.

The suspended path is conceived as a transverse and geometric element, connecting the two sides of the slopes to the land boundary, providing a special and unusual space perception. The solution helps to avoid a vertical connection with the woods’ ground.

The path on the ground is designed as a longitudinal and sinuous element, following the soil’s natural curves beside the stream “Riale Fontile”, allowing the users to immerse themselves in the green completely.

A selection of plants and shrubs covering the valley floor is proposed to increase biodiversity. This will avoid the growth of weeds, supporting a new blooming development. The slopes must remain flourishing and rife. Here, the palm trees (Trachycarpus fortunei), whose presence comes from nearby gardens, are a characteristic feature and give the Bosco Fontile a real urban forest appearance.