LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
DUNE LAGOON
Reconnecting to Lignano's unique dune landscape
For centuries, Lignano’s peninsula was shaped by the sea, wind, and the Tagliamento River, forming a unique lagoon environment with distinctive 7-8-meter-high dune ridges arranged perpendicular to the coastline. These dunes hosted coastal vegetation on the foredunes, while inland areas featured Mediterranean scrub of artificial pinewoods.
However, recent decades of tourism development disrupted this natural pattern, halting the formation of new dunes. The surge in tourism led to a high demand for waterfront land, resulting in buildings and roads placed directly onto the dunes. Front dunes were leveled to make space for recreational activities, leading to environmental degradation and dunes that rarely provide a good protection for the shore.
Within 100 years we as humans managed to demolish the unique dune landscape formed in centuries by natural processes. But now with the changing of the climate, more than ever the nature is asking for more space and connection. We have to find a new balance between the forming process of nature and the human need of recreating along the coastline.
Past
Forming process of dune ridges and lagoons perpendicular to the coastline, creating a unique pattern
Present
Tourism development disrupted this natural pattern, halting the formation of new dunes and losing the connection to the underlaying landscape
Future
A reconnection to the landscape of Lignano. A new balance between the forming proces of nature and tourism along the coastline.
The Dune
‘DuneLagoon’ represents a reconnection to the underlaying landscape and its pattern of dune ridges. Between the Camping Village Pino Mare and the Riviera Resort, the floodwall will be dismantled, and the first row of dunes will be restored in a 7-8-meter-high dune in place of the current road. This will allow space for the ocean to ingress, erode, deposit sediment, and foster the creation of a lagoon landscape influenced by the tides. Serving both a new floodwall and a recreational route, this dune will offer an opportunity to experience the power of nature.
Further inland, the connection to the landscape will be restored, delineating two distinct areas; the dunes and the lagoons. The existing back dunes rise as elevated ridges perpendicular to the coastline, with pine trees such as Pinus nigra & Pinus pinaster thriving on the sandy terrain. Walking paths meander along the height contours and consist of shell materials.
Current situation with no continuous connection to the axis, ocean and surrounding greenery
New situation with a continuous connection to the axis, ocean and surrounding greenery
The existing walking axis, tracing the alignment of the old reclamation structure, will extend towards the ocean and the new square. The new square enhances the continuing axis with additional public space and a new building integrated with the surrounding landscape. The building will be designed to resemble a dune, housing current shops and providing additional parking spaces.
The Lagoon
The lagoons harken back to the old lagoon landscapes that once existed between the dunes. In the design, they will serve as water buffers during the rainy season and provide a cool breeze during the summer. The design aims to introduce a transition to broadleaf trees and shrubs, enhancing the contrast between the dunes and the lagoons. While designated trails will be open for exploration, venturing into the lagoons influenced by the tides will be prohibited to protect rare plant species.
‘DuneLagoon’ embodies a design approach aimed at reconnecting Lignano with its underlaying landscape. ‘DuneLagoon’ achieves a balance between the forming process of nature and the human need of recreating along the coastline, resulting in a landscape ready for future challenges!
