Vol.:(0123456789) Nexus Network Journal https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-020-00534-9 RESEARCH The Struttura Reticolare Acentrata, a Design Strategy for Spatial Organization Veronica Bastai 1  · Andrea Cavani 1  · Francesco Gherardini 2  · Giulio Orsini 1 Accepted: 15 October 2020 © Kim Williams Books, Turin 2020 Abstract The Non-centred Reticular Structure is a modular pattern developed by Cesare Leonardi (Modena, Italy, 1935) from 1983, the result of research into spatial and urban planning focusing on trees. It is a model of spatial organization seeking a balance between the spaces of people and those of trees, reconciling and promote all living forms. The Structure consists of a primary pattern of 23 irregular polygons defning the areas belonging to each stakeholder in the spatial organisation: humans, plants, animals. The sides of the polygon constitute a network of nodes (vertices) and connecting rods. The pattern may evolve in space and time, combining biomimicry and geometry, and adapts to diferent contexts through metamorphosis and deformations. The Structure was applied to ‘Bosco Albergati’ Park (Modena, Italy) which, 30 years after planting, represents an example of spatial organisation imitating nature. This paper presents the Structure as a tool supporting the designer in the spatial organisation of the functional design elements, and investigates its relevance in the design of current green projects. Keywords Struttura reticolare acentrata (non-centred reticular structure) · Design method · Modular pattern · Spatial organisation · Biomimicry · Tree Introduction The spatial organisation of parks, urban and rural areas, infrastructures and their surroundings requires the development of models describing their current morphology and arrangement as well as planning for their future expansion (growth). Several studies consider the city model as polycentric, since it describes the spatial organisation of human activity better than the monocentric model * Francesco Gherardini francesco.gherardini@unimore.it 1 Archivio Architetto Cesare Leonardi, Viale Emilio Po 134, 41126 Modena, Italy 2 Department of Engineering ‘‘Enzo Ferrari’’, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Pietro Vivarelli 10, 41125 Modena, Italy