What is Lago EX SNIA? The story started in 1992, during the construction of an underground car park for a shopping mall planned in an abandoned industrial building complex in the Pigneto-Prenestino area of eastern Rome. During the construction of the shopping mall, the builders accidently hit an aquifer. This led to a lake developing where there had previously been dry land. Not only did this lake change the geography of Rome forever but also served as a catalyst in the creation of a series of events/spatial organisations.
The lake — and the surrounding park that owes its existence to it — has helped the polluted and densely populated neighbourhood of Rome where it’s situated. Before, there hadn’t been many green areas and community spaces in the area. Now, Ex SNIA offers a popular public open-air spot for local community events and gatherings and children’s playground. Meanwhile, the park is owned and managed by local residents.
Spatial Organisation – The lake acts as a chain reaction of spatial organisation and programme, creating adjacent spaces such as the garden and park. On top of this a cultural and social centre has been built in response to the lake. The cultural and social centre hosts many events and provides a space for people to socially engage with one another.
The Lake That Fights
From this lake many responses have taken place. One important response was a song by Roman hip hop group Assalti Frontalu, and the rock band II Muro del Canto. Their song, entitled The lake that fights (ll lago che combatte), was released in 2014 and became a hit throughout Italy. Through music, the news of Lago Ex SNIA spread throughout Rome and then throughout Italy. The song proving itself as a useful and powerful tool of spreading knowledge/information.
A Lake for Everyone
The Ex SNIA lake might have been created by a mistake. But it has become an important natural resource — and a powerful story of community solidarity — for the people who live “in the midst of concrete monsters.”
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