The goal of the work is to offer a vision of an active Tiber River basin in which strategic modifications to the riverbanks and walls can better connect the River to the everyday life of the city, and recommend realistic interventions that address the issues posed by the proposed modifications. This approach is at times opportunistic in identifying potential river improvements and benefits, ranging from small-scale, incremental developments to aggressive, large -scale urban renewal to accomplish these goals. The interventions include park or greenway connections, river adaptations to promote boating, modifications to the bulkhead to allow river access, new bridges, new cultural projects to activate the river-side, and urban mixed-use zones that help to support an active River Basin over the long-term.

The proposal identifies three key areas to study, located at three important bends in the river as it passes through Rome. The recommendations include reducing the height of the flood walls while maintaining a 100-year flood standard, breaking up the monotony of the existing flood wall with viewing terraces and socializing spaces, and connecting the upper and lower areas of the Tiber by providing a lock at Tiberina Island to make the river navigable again. Street-to-river stairs, new pedestrian zones, revised circulation, riverfront parks, and new land uses such as cafes and civic projects are components of the plan recommendations. The study also explores Rome’s regional open space context and proposes a new open space and bikeway network, utilizing existing rights-of-way including rail and ancient Roman roads.