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E. Ginelli et al.
Compared to the planning processes of large city areas fostered by huge investments, the regeneration and the reclamation of abandoned and degraded urban spaces
are often hampered by administrations due to the lack of assets. Design solutions
based on the recovery, reuse, and recycling of buildings, materials, and components,
within the circular economy scenario, for temporary or permanent projects are winning proposals, from both the environmental and the financial point of view (Ginelli
et al. 2019).
Furthermore, urban regeneration represents a practice for the development of
strategies which can overcome some critical aspects of contemporary cities: ‘Innovative experiences carried out within the international context link urban regeneration
to the wider governance scenario, pointing out operational behavior and research
approaches that do not merely make urban regeneration as a design matter exclusive,
but push it out as strategic opportunity for creating a new physical order and new,
upgraded, urban performances’ (Losasso 2015).
Indeed, urban regeneration is a combined set of urban/building projects and social
initiatives that include the redevelopment of the built environment and the reorganization of urban assets. The main goal is the search for urban, environmental, social,
and economic quality. Its outcome should be an integrated process for a continuous improvement over time. The keywords are polycentric re-balance, densification, hybridization, participation and inclusion, eco-efficiency of resources treatment,
investment efficiency, economic and social enhancement.
Urban public spaces, as open unbuilt areas between buildings, play a strategic role
with respect to the future of cities, assuring comfort and environmental preservation.
Nowadays, the theme of public space is extremely relevant since cities, marked
by social inequalities and various limits, requires the presence of public spaces as
key factors of urban relationship and participatory elements of citizen life. These
spaces represent essential goods for comfort and life quality.
We are aware that urban space is considered as place (Augé 2009) if it is recognized
as a distinctive space, an area full of sociality, participation, and symbolization, a
testament of the strong link between social aspects and collective history (Dardi
1992).
The place is the balanced combination of space and identity, because it can make
history and leave a ‘memory’ even in temporariness.
We assumed the concept of space, place, aggregation, shared space, network system, time, and strategy as a methodological key for the project. The combinations
space/place, sharing/relationship, artificiality/nature, temporary/permanent, connectivity/integration, open/close represent essential reference criteria to design a place
where the user belongs to his community.
We therefore propose the use of active and stimulating devices that meet functionality and safety requirements and are capable of triggering interaction between
the cultural, social, landscape, environmental, economic, and institutional dimensions of a context: They are an active connection hub. The challenge is to design
multi-dimensional and multifunctional spaces.
E. Ginelli et al.
Compared to the planning processes of large city areas fostered by huge investments, the regeneration and the reclamation of abandoned and degraded urban spaces
are often hampered by administrations due to the lack of assets. Design solutions
based on the recovery, reuse, and recycling of buildings, materials, and components,
within the circular economy scenario, for temporary or permanent projects are winning proposals, from both the environmental and the financial point of view (Ginelli
et al. 2019).
Furthermore, urban regeneration represents a practice for the development of
strategies which can overcome some critical aspects of contemporary cities: ‘Innovative experiences carried out within the international context link urban regeneration
to the wider governance scenario, pointing out operational behavior and research
approaches that do not merely make urban regeneration as a design matter exclusive,
but push it out as strategic opportunity for creating a new physical order and new,
upgraded, urban performances’ (Losasso 2015).
Indeed, urban regeneration is a combined set of urban/building projects and social
initiatives that include the redevelopment of the built environment and the reorganization of urban assets. The main goal is the search for urban, environmental, social,
and economic quality. Its outcome should be an integrated process for a continuous improvement over time. The keywords are polycentric re-balance, densification, hybridization, participation and inclusion, eco-efficiency of resources treatment,
investment efficiency, economic and social enhancement.
Urban public spaces, as open unbuilt areas between buildings, play a strategic role
with respect to the future of cities, assuring comfort and environmental preservation.
Nowadays, the theme of public space is extremely relevant since cities, marked
by social inequalities and various limits, requires the presence of public spaces as
key factors of urban relationship and participatory elements of citizen life. These
spaces represent essential goods for comfort and life quality.
We are aware that urban space is considered as place (Augé 2009) if it is recognized
as a distinctive space, an area full of sociality, participation, and symbolization, a
testament of the strong link between social aspects and collective history (Dardi
1992).
The place is the balanced combination of space and identity, because it can make
history and leave a ‘memory’ even in temporariness.
We assumed the concept of space, place, aggregation, shared space, network system, time, and strategy as a methodological key for the project. The combinations
space/place, sharing/relationship, artificiality/nature, temporary/permanent, connectivity/integration, open/close represent essential reference criteria to design a place
where the user belongs to his community.
We therefore propose the use of active and stimulating devices that meet functionality and safety requirements and are capable of triggering interaction between
the cultural, social, landscape, environmental, economic, and institutional dimensions of a context: They are an active connection hub. The challenge is to design
multi-dimensional and multifunctional spaces.