22/03/2026
In Candelo, a town shaped by vineyards and time, history is read through cobblestone streets and the dense medieval walls of the Ricetto. As one moves through the town, its evolution unfolds - materials shift, scales change, and architectural languages overlap, forming a layered urban fabric shaped by centuries of adaptation.
Public spaces in Candelo have long been defined by a strong civic character: robust, multifunctional grounds capable of hosting events and gatherings. Yet the everyday presence of vehicles and service infrastructure often renders these spaces uninviting - places to pass through rather than linger.
Confronted with the underused Piazza di Via San Sebastiano, the challenge was not to overturn this civic logic, but to reawaken it: to restore identity and vitality while accepting the realities of contemporary infrastructure. The intervention needed to be simple in means, yet bold in impact - capable of stitching into the existing urban fabric rather than competing with it.
The Knot is our response, both literal and metaphorical.
Conceived as an integrated ramp and pavilion, the Knot provides a fully accessible connection between the upper and lower levels of the square, replacing the former stair-only linkage. More than a circulation device, it is an inhabitable structure - an urban element that gathers, frames, and slows movement. The ramp takes the form of a circular elevated walkway, while the pavilion is a linear shade structure accommodating a café kiosk and spill-out seating beneath a lightly filtered canopy. Where these two elements intersect, they form a spatial knot - an expressive archway and threshold marking arrival into the lower plaza, where movement becomes experience.
Find out more about the project on our website:
https://www.liveoutstudio.com/candelo-urban-link
