The architect Renzo Piano and the relationship with sand castles

Many people from Ferrara and beyond will remember the summers camping at Lido degli Scacchi and at all the other 6 beaches.

When parents, eager to relax by the sea, hoisted coolers, towels, and toys onto their shoulders and walked towards the beach.

Who hasn’t been dragged onto the sand to build a track for marbles or spent hours on the shore building makeshift castles with the aim of making them even remotely resemble the Sagrada Família by Gaudí? The same Renzo Piano, world-renowned architect, stated in a tweet: “I started my career like this, as a child, on the beaches of Genoa”.

For Piano, creating has always been a pleasure and the carefree spirit that one possesses as a child has certainly trained his imagination. The father of the Shard of Glass in London must always keep in mind the outcome he wants to achieve and the related consequences in his projects. In the past, however, just like any child on vacation camping at Lido degli Scacchi, the young Genoese let himself be carried away by creativity without thinking about the consequences, just for the joy of creating. Inviting adults to rediscover this childlike spirit, the architect suggested to the newspaper The Guardian 4 tips for building the perfect sandcastle.

We have summarized them for you below:

1. First of all, you need to be aware of the futility of the operation: building a sandcastle is a purposeless action, therefore you shouldn’t expect too much. The castle is destined to be destroyed by the sea simply because there is no point where the water cannot reach it. So, if you want to return from your camping vacation at Lido degli Scacchi having built a castle worthy of the name, you must study a strategic position on the shore that allows you to have the right balance between sand and water. If it is too close to the sea, the structure will be overwhelmed by the waves; if too far, the water will not be able to reach it. It seems easier said than done, but follow your instinct and it will be fine.

2. Once the position is chosen, start digging a trench with your hands where the water has already moistened the sand. The sand obtained will be used to build the castle in the center. Initially, it will look like a small mound preferably with a slope of 45°. It is important that the trench does not exceed 30 cm in depth and 45 cm in width. While the castle should be about 60 cm tall.

3. At this point, create a passage for the water. The magical moment when the waves reach your castle and the dug channel becomes a real moat will surely give you great satisfaction. If you have found the right position, you can enjoy this spectacle about every 10-15 minutes. To imprint it in your memory, close your eyes every time the wave reaches your castle.

4. Finally, put a flag or anything else that comes to hand on top of your work. This will serve to make it more visible to passersby. Then get up, go home, and don’t think about it anymore.

So, parents on vacation camping at Lido degli Scacchi, put down your shovels and buckets, head to the shore with your children and build the perfect castle with your own hands.

Don’t be afraid to be a child again!