Speaker
Description
In the context of accelerating urbanization and escalating environmental challenges, the concept of the Viability City emerges as a transformative urban ecosystem, envisioned as a living, adaptive, and regenerative organism. Grounded in Hartmut Bossel’s systems thinking and Stefano Mancuso’s ecological philosophy, this model introduces an analytical framework employing a comprehensive set of indicators to evaluate urban vitality. These indicators are organized into six systemic categories derived from Bossel’s theory—Individual, Family, Environment, Institutions, Economy, Society, and Infrastructure—enabling a holistic assessment of urban well-being.
The research focuses on a case study in Rome, where an integrated mapping methodology synthesizes critical data and indicators to evaluate and visualize urban vitality. This approach culminates in the development of the Viability City Map, designed to identify areas with high photosynthetic and ecological activity. Complementing this, the project introduces the innovative concept of “silence maps,” which highlight zones of low noise pollution, advocating for the recognition of silence as both an ecological and social asset.
A distinctive innovation of the Viability City framework lies in its design of eco-human pathways—networks prioritizing pedestrian mobility to connect vital areas. These pathways not only advance sustainability but also promote widespread social interaction, redefining walking as a strategic urban infrastructure.
The Viability City represents a groundbreaking urban paradigm where ecology, sustainability, and human well-being are intrinsically linked. By offering actionable insights and scalable solutions, this model contributes to the field of sustainable urban regeneration, envisioning cities that are not only more resilient and livable but also more responsive to human and environmental needs.
This study advances a critical discourse in urban ecology, proposing a visionary framework with the potential to redefine sustainable urbanism at both theoretical and practical levels.
References
Banca Mondiale. (2022) Urban Development and Climate Change, World Bank.C40 Cities. (2023) Global Green Cities Index, C40 Cities.FAO. (2020) The State of the World's Forests 2020, FAO.Gobster, P. H., & Raymond, C. M. (Eds.) (2005) Urban forests and human health: Exploring the physical, mental, and social dimensions, Springer.Hall, P. (2012) Cities of tomorrow: An intellectual history of urban planning and design in the twentiethcentury, Blackwell Publishing.
Hartmut Bossel (1994), Modeling and Simulation, A K Peters/CRC Press, Massachusetts.Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2021) Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis,Cambridge University Press.IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2021) Climate Change 2021: The Physical ScienceBasis, Cambridge University Press.
Mancuso, S. (2023) Fitopolis, la città vivente, Editori Laterza.
Pilleri, P. (2022) Interpretare l’ambiente: gli indicatori di sostenibilità per il governo del territorio, Alinea Editrice.Rotterdam City Council. (2020) Rotterdam Climate Adaptation Strategy, Rotterdam City Council.UN-Habitat: United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2023) State of the World's Cities 2023, UNHabitat.
| Keywords | Viability City; Sustainable Regeneration; Ecological Urbanism; Systemic Indicators; Eco-Human Pathways |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
