Winning 2025 Architizer A+ Award

In a bold reimagining of Italy’s Lignano Sabbiadoro coastline, STUDIO VI’s “Lignano 2.0 – Embracing Nature, Celebrating People” has been awarded the 2025 Architizer A+ Award, recognized for its powerful vision of ecological renewal and community-focused urbanism. Designed by architect-sisters Iuliia and Valentina Tambovtseva, the project transforms an underutilized coastal area into a dynamic, sustainable public waterfront that seamlessly integrates natural systems with human-centric design.

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

At the heart of the proposal is a master plan that envisions Lignano not only as a tourist destination but as a year-round community hub. The design includes expansive tree-lined promenades, dedicated bike paths, interactive play spaces, and an amphitheater for cultural events. Art installations, viewing platforms, and outdoor sports areas further animate the shoreline, inviting both locals and tourists to connect with the landscape and one another.

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

But “Lignano 2.0” is more than a visual overhaul. Rooted in environmental responsibility, the proposal emphasizes habitat preservation and restoration. Native flora is reintroduced to attract pollinators, and careful planning ensures the protection of existing wild landscapes. New pedestrian and cycling routes prioritize accessibility and safety while encouraging low-impact mobility and outdoor activity. The goal is not simply beautification, but the creation of an ecosystem that supports biodiversity, mitigates climate risks, and nurtures community wellbeing.

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Architecturally, the project pays homage to the town’s mid-century heritage with soft forms and graceful arches. This stylistic choice adds cultural continuity to the innovation-driven master plan, offering a nuanced response to contemporary urban and environmental challenges. While forward-looking in its approach to climate resilience and adaptive public space, the design remains deeply contextual—respectful of the region’s identity and ecological characteristics.

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

“Lignano 2.0” exemplifies a global trend in waterfront redevelopment: an emphasis on flexible, socially inclusive design that anticipates future needs while strengthening local character. STUDIO VI’s strategy balances visionary aesthetics with practical sustainability, presenting an unbuilt proposal that feels immediately plausible and widely applicable.

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

The Architizer A+ Awards jury recognized the project’s excellence not just in its ambition, but in its ability to inspire transformative thinking. It demonstrates how urban design can restore nature, activate underused land, and create a shared public realm that enhances everyday life. Though yet to be constructed, “Lignano 2.0” is already influencing the discourse on waterfront revitalization and stands as a model for cities worldwide seeking to turn overlooked shorelines into resilient, people-first environments.

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Photo credit: STUDIO VI

Through its synthesis of ecological awareness, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement, STUDIO VI’s master plan offers a hopeful and practical blueprint for future waterfronts—an architecture of connection, regeneration, and joy.

STUDIO VI

Founded by sisters Iuliia and Valentina Tambovtseva, STUDIO VI is an emerging design voice reimagining how architecture can serve both people and the planet. Rooted in the belief that public spaces should be inclusive, sustainable, and emotionally resonant, their work seamlessly blends contextual sensitivity with human-centered design. Focusing on holistic, community-oriented projects and public space design, they explore how thoughtful interventions can transform overlooked environments into meaningful, adaptive, and engaging places.