Unfolding the river - an urban happening on the Cassarate river

On Saturday, 18 October 2025, from 3 pm to 11 pm, the Cassarate river will become the stage for Unfolding the river, an urban happening conceived by the Academy of Architecture of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in collaboration with the Idra Association. The event will be held at the USI SUPSI East Campus, Via la Santa 1, Lugano (in case of uncertain weather, it will be postponed to Sunday, 26 October 2025).

At the heart of the initiative is a temporary platform installed on the Cassarate between the two USI university campuses: an ephemeral space designed as a symbol of encounter between the academic community, citizens and the art scene.

The platform is the result of the introductory workshop "Unfolding the river", curated by Professor Martino Pedrozzi's Atelier, which introduces third-year Bachelor's and Master's students to the themes of the 2025–2026 academic semester.

The artistic and cultural choices shaping the programme aim to transform the previously inaccessible riverbanks into a point of engagement for the general public, the student community, and the art scene.

What seems like a boundary today transforms into a gathering place through workshops, presentations, and collaborations. The sounds of the river, the noise of traffic, and the presence of plants become integral elements, playing a vital role in the works and performances hosted here.

The cultural programme — including installations, performances and music — explores new ways of using public space and enhances the river environment as a shared resource.

On Saturday afternoon, there will be a launch showcasing the work of the workshop, along with a presentation by the Cantonal Cultural Observatory on the results of the survey titled "Spaces for Independent Culture in the Canton of Ticino," developed in collaboration with Idra.

Following this, Fabio Pusterla and Leo Pusterla will present their poetic-musical creation "Ultimo Fiume." Additionally, there will be a cyanotype and botany workshop named "Sponde del Fiume" led by Le Sovversive. In the evening, in collaboration with the Lugano Human Rights Film Festival, the "Voci Viola" choir, directed by Anna Kiskanc, will perform a choral piece, which will be followed by an experimental electronic music concert by REA.

The evening will continue with a social dinner and conclude with the sound performance "ARK" by Giordano Rush and Francesco Fonassi.

The happening is intended to be an act of collective imagination towards new spaces for encounter and cultural sharing: an invitation to experience the river as a living part of the city, enriched by its unique sounds and the vibrant noise of urban life.