SHORT DESCRIPTION
The Municipality of Cuneo participated in the Interreg Italy-France ALPIMED Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Program, Project MOBIL. The project aimed to identify and promote sustainable mobility actions within the territory, intended to support tourism and improve the quality of life for residents. Among the planned actions, the sub-activity “Creation of mini intermodal hubs at railway stations” included the construction of a closed and covered bicycle parking facility (Velostazione), equipped with spaces for bicycles and e-bikes as well as charging stations, at Cuneo railway station. The selected site supports intermodality between rail, road, and bicycle transport. The bicycle parking project is based on a simple and linear functional layout, with a distribution corridor on one side and bicycle racks on the other, ensuring clear delivery and pick-up paths. The Velostazione has a rectangular plan and is entirely made of metal, with steel portals, panels, and grilles. The ridge, a characteristic element, is aligned along the diagonal of the rectangular base. The cladding elements, with two different patterns, and the grilles create characteristic trapezoidal shapes that are also reflected in the geometry of the reinforced concrete seating and the square’s surrounding flowerbed. The main body of the Velostazione consists of a modular metal structure, a choice that allowed costs to be contained, construction times to be reduced, and economic and environmental sustainability to be achieved. The building was mostly prefabricated in the workshop and assembled on site, with a lightweight envelope that provides protection from the weather without the need for thermal or acoustic insulation, while effectively defining the architectural character. To separate the pedestrian area from the parking area, a corten steel sign displaying the letters of the word “VELOSTAZIONE” was installed, which also functions as a bicycle rack. An additional covered shelter for bicycle parking was also placed in the square.
