AA.VV., POP Adriatico – Porto Osservatorio Partecipato, 2024

P O P A D R I A T I C O – Porto Osservatorio Partecipato is a project to reactivate the area of the Monumental Varches in the Old Port of Trieste. It consists of a program of architectural, artistic and cinematic actions that will take place between spring and summer 2024.

P O P A D R I A T I C O is positioned in Porto Vecchio, where the construction site of the future PortoVivo is currently underway. This piece of Trieste, which has long been inaccessible and is now undergoing transformation, is shaping up as a ground for welcoming new communities. The Varchi Monumentali, which once marked the passage between the Free Port and the city, now emphasize instead the margin between urban fabric in use and city in disuse: they constitute a boundary to be circumnavigated and interrogated with a continuous critical observation of the dynamics and processes underway.

P O P A D R I A T I C O identifies itself as an ephemeral “observatory” capable of traversing public space and encouraging a critical and constructive gaze on the part of the inhabitants. Around the Monumental Varches will therefore be organized multiple activities directed to the inclusion of the Trieste community and its “gaze.” With the participation of architect*, artist*, curator*, designer, photographer* and urbanist*, architectural, graphic and art workshops open to all ages, exploratory and sound walks, film screenings, concerts and DJ sets, round table discussions and meetings with artist* will kick off.

P O P A D R I A T I C O invites questions about what is the degree of inclusion of inhabitants in the decision-making processes that will invest public spaces and port buildings in the coming years.