You can find the text of the laudation by Philipp Sattler as download here.
As part of an urban regeneration project, the former airport in Vicenza has been transformed into the Parco della Pace site, designed by PAN Associati and EMF paisatge. Around 240,000 cubic metres of earth were excavated across an area of 65 hectares to create a network of canals and ponds. The design is inspired by traditional field irrigation, which is typical of the region. The excavated material was reused to shape the new park’s landscape. Several buildings were also preserved and converted to provide space for social and cultural events. Parco della Pace now offers visitors a multidimensional experience of contemplation, interaction and understanding of natural processes in an urban setting.
The park also functions as a large detention basin, capable of storing and slowly releasing up to 100,000 cubic metres of water. A diverse and layered planting strategy ensures the creation of ecological niches. A total of 62,000 aquatic plants have been introduced to the wetlands, canals, and lakes. The wet meadows, which are visually striking and ecologically rich environments, host species that had previously disappeared from the region. The site has been recolonised by native fauna, including an increasing number of aquatic bird species, amphibians and fish. A total of 12.5 hectares are dedicated to forests, including regular and irregular alignments, scattered groups and areas for reforestation.
The jury was impressed by this nature-based, strategic approach, which was applied for the first time in Italy for a large-scale public city park. The transformation of a former airport and some of its buildings into spaces for a variety of public uses also convinced all jury members to award it 1st Prize.
https://www.panassociati.it/en/progetto/parco-della-pace/ciati
https://www.emf.cat/ca/projectes/l/351-parco-della-pace-italia.html