Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano is one of Rome’s most iconic sites, dominated by the majestic Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the oldest and most important of the city´s four major basilicas. Led by the City of Rome and designed by the architects of One Works, the transformation of the square fits into an exceptional heritage context. The challenge: to reinvent a historic space without breaking the dialogue with its legacy.

The project asserts a strong intention: to make the square’s ground resonate with the deep identity of the basilica, drawing inspiration from the cosmatesque style—a medieval decorative art characterized by complex geometries and marble assemblies. The design of the water jets echoes these patterns, translating an ancient ornamental language into a contemporary expression.