An abandoned early twentieth-century rail and tram depot in Rome is set to be converted into a mixed-use private development led by Stefano Boeri Architetti. The Depositi delle Vittorie site, located in Piazza Bainsizza, has been unused for almost two decades and will now be repurposed as a cultural, commercial and leisure destination.
For organisations working across urban regeneration, cultural placemaking, visitor experience and mixed-use development, the project offers a strong example of how redundant infrastructure can be brought back into active civic use. The 16,000 sq m site will retain a clear relationship with its industrial past while introducing new public and semi-public functions for the surrounding neighbourhood.
The plans include spaces dedicated to culture, education, commerce, co-working and leisure. This mix gives the scheme relevance beyond property redevelopment alone. It positions the former depot as a new social and cultural asset, with activity planned throughout the day rather than concentrated around a single use.
Rooftop Gardens And Cultural Programming
A key feature of the scheme is an 8,000 sq m rooftop garden suspended 15 metres above ground level. The elevated green space will include an exhibition area for sculpture, placing art within a planted environment and adding a cultural layer to the building’s new use.
For experience designers and destination planners, this rooftop element is particularly significant. It shows how green infrastructure can be used not only for amenity, but also as a setting for programming, public art and social use. In dense city districts, elevated gardens can add valuable outdoor capacity while creating new viewpoints and gathering spaces.
At ground level, a public courtyard will connect the development to the existing urban fabric. This is important for the project’s relationship with the neighbourhood. Rather than operating as a sealed private site, the courtyard is intended to support movement, access and interaction between the former depot and its surroundings.
The decision to focus on non-residential uses also shapes the character of the development. Stefano Boeri Architetti has described the scheme as one that balances private ownership with the collective interests of local residents. By avoiding housing and concentrating on cultural, educational, commercial and leisure activity, the project seeks to create a public-facing destination with a broad daily rhythm.
Lessons For Urban Experience Development
The Depositi delle Vittorie project underlines several important considerations for the wider visitor experience sector. First, historic transport infrastructure can carry strong identity value when reused with care. Former depots, stations and industrial buildings often provide scale, texture and local memory that are difficult to reproduce in new-build environments.
Second, the project shows the value of mixed programming. Culture, co-working, commerce and leisure can support one another when planned as part of a coherent site strategy. This creates opportunities for varied audiences, repeat use and partnership activity across the day and evening.
Third, the treatment of access is central. The project team has indicated that underground levels will be organised to address long-standing accessibility issues and reduce pressure on the surrounding area. For operators and developers, these practical systems are as important as the visible design features.
As cities continue to reassess unused infrastructure, the Rome depot scheme points to a development model where heritage, green space, culture and commercial activity can sit within one site. For B2B stakeholders, it offers a useful reference for turning dormant urban assets into active places with civic value and visitor appeal.
