RCF Arena Reggio Emilia is the project for the park and arena located close to the airfield of the city of Reggio, in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna. A permanent space designed to host outdoor live music events that is expected to become the first in Europe for size and type, transforming the non-operational area of Reggio Emilia airport and intended to improve the economic and cultural sphere of the city. An advantge for the airfield that once had to stay closed a few days for events and concerts.

Designed by a project team including Iotti+Paravani Architetti, Tassoni & Partners and Lauro Sacchetti Associati, the permanent structure can host up to 100,000 people and will be inaugurated in September 2020. The objective is to ensure safety and the best conditions of acoustics and visibility for the public, while transforming the area through an intervention of landscape design. The main challenge was to allow a link between the different parts: the boulevard, the Arena Events, the access areas and the backstage.

As architect Paolo Iotti underlines, “The space is distributed in three macro sectors to organize both large concerts and smaller events, and is developed on 50,000 square meters of land covered with grass, with a slope of 5% to always guarantee visibility of the main stage. This will be located in the centre and behind it there will be a service area”. The project is also designed to create a connection to the system of parks in the area, enhancing the natural environment and landscape.