CONTEXT
RATIONALE
Rising temperatures are reshaping Italy’s climate, bringing more frequent and severe heatwaves. These conditions make daily activities increasingly challenging, particularly for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, who face higher health risks during extreme heat. With people over 65 projected to make up nearly 30% of Italy’s population by 2035, it is becoming ever more important to design public spaces that provide comfort, safety and accessibility.
As the climate continues to warm over the next 10 years and onwards, humans will need to adapt their routines and the environments around them to cope with higher temperatures. On hot days, even simple activities like walking through the town or socialising can become difficult without adequate access to shade, hydration and relief from the heat.
This project reimagines Prato’s Piazza del Comune as a climate conscious public space designed to cope with extreme heat.The focus of the project is a modular plant pavilion that grows over time, providing increasing shade and cooling as temperatures rise. The pavilion is designed to support vulnerable populations, particularly older individuals, creating a safe and comfortable area to rest, socialise and enjoy the town.
When temperatures rise above 35°C, the pavilion becomes a gathering place where electrolyte gelato is served as a refreshing relief from the heat. The gelato encourages hydration while bringing people together. After use, the compostable tubs can be reused as plant pots, serving as a gentle reminder of sustainable living and offering as an pastime for seniors.
By combining shade, cooling greenery and the communal activity of sharing gelato, the project promotes wellbeing and social connection, encouraging communities to adapt to increasing heat through connection and care.
RESEARCH
For this project, I researched two key issues in Italy: the ageing population and rising temperatures. My research also connects to my own experience. When visiting Italy during July this year, I noticed firsthand how extreme the heat was. I was even interviewed by a small news station about how people were coping with the conditions. Experiencing that made the issues of global warming and heatwaves feel even more real to me and influenced the direction of my design thinking.
Climate and Rising Heat
In recent years, Italy has faced increasingly severe heatwaves due to climate change. In 2022, the country recorded around 295 heat-related deaths per million people, the highest in Europe. That summer was 1.2°C warmer than the long-term average and the following years have continued this trend. During extreme heat events, hospital admissions in parts of Italy rose by 15–20%, mainly among older adults suffering from dehydration and pre-existing health conditions. With temperatures projected to keep rising, these issues are becoming more frequent and severe.
Ageing Population
Italy has one of the oldest populations in the world and it’s continuing to grow. In 2024, almost 1 in 4 Italians were aged 65 or older and by 2035 that number is expected to reach nearly 30%. However, many in this age group lead very sedentary lives. Around 38% of people over 65 report doing no physical activity at all and only about 27% have been encouraged by a health professional to stay active. This lack of movement contributes to health risks like heart disease, diabetes and reduced mobility, but also affects self-esteem and social connection. This prompted me to explore ways to promote connection and community and also activities such as gardening into my design.
CONCEPT
DEVELOP-MENT
Gelato Tub
For my gelato packaging, I first explored a more vintage direction inspired by Italy’s gelato culture and my aim to appeal to an older audience. I experimented with handwritten cursive typefaces and pastel stripes to try emulate a nostalgic feel. However, this style didn’t really reflect the future-focused vibe I wanted, and it didn’t clearly communicate that the product was a hydrating, electrolyte gelato rather than traditional ice cream.
After feedback, I “futurised” the tub’s design, using bright colours including purple, orange and lime green paired with a wide, bold typeface. The simple asterisk-like sun imagery reinforces energy and links to the sun and heat. I changed the flavour names to reflect the hydrating nature of the gelato.
The key feature of the packaging is the wellbeing advice on the back of the tub, reading messages such as “Check in on friends and family” and “Drink water even when you aren’t thirsty”, to encourage healthy habits and social interaction. Near the ingredients, the Italian compostable symbol is displayed along with a clear reminder that the tub is fully biodegradable and reusable, emphasising sustainability. Inside the bottom of the tub, additional sustainability or hydration advice is revealed once the gelato has been eaten. The tub is made from biodegradable cardboard and printed with vegetable-based, non-toxic ink, so the colours remain vibrant while keeping the packaging
environmentally friendly.
The tub is designed to be reused as a plant pot, offering a fun hobby targeted mainly at the elderly population. By repurposing the packaging it means that the wellbeing advice on the back of the tub remain constantly visible, reinforcing healthy habits at home. Growing plants also supports the community by contributing to more greenery and shade. The plants grown can even be returned to the Piazza to become part of the modular pavilion, adding more shade to public areas and building a sense of community and contribution among Prato residents.
Pavilion
Coming from a communication design background, I saw the pavilion as a chance to explore and experiment with spatial design. I began by looking at how plants could be used to create shade and shelter, making rough visuals in Photoshop playing with how they could fit in with the context of Prato’s architecture.
In my early experiments, I tried hanging plants along the side of a balcony and also creating a gazebo structure covered in greenery. These ideas were not refined, but they helped me see how greenery could be used as both a design material and as a way to provide shade.
After receiving feedback, I explored a modular approach for the pavilion using Adobe Illustrator. I decided to use cylindrical stackable blocks as the main structure. These blocks can be stacked to create different forms, as they are hollow, they also function as planter beds for greenery to grow. They can also be turned upside down and used as low tables. I also designed simple stools made from the same material, providing places for people to sit, seek shade and enjoy the electrolyte gelato, integrating comfort and usability into the pavilion design. My final design features 5 columns that are joined together at the top with wire, allowing the ivy to twist and weave across and create shade in the Piazza.
FINAL OUTCOMES
Gelato tub packaging. Tub mockup courtesy of Dark Room.
‘Berry Boost’ packaging - front view.
‘Berry Boost’ packaging - back view.
‘Lemon Lift’ packaging - front view.
‘Lemon Lift’ packaging - back view.
Gelato tub displaying ‘futurecool’ reminder.
Gelato tub repurposed as a planter pot with a ‘futurecool’ reminder.
Information on inside of tubs revealing reminders and advice once gelato is eaten.
Outcome 2: Pavilion
Modular pavilion based in Piazza del Comune, Prato, Italy.