Speakers
Description
Urban and territorial regeneration practices thrive in marginal areas, ideal for initiating virtuous experimental processes. These areas, rich in generative potential, inspire innovative approaches to transforming spaces, using methods similar to learning by doing. This potential allows citizens to reconnect with their territory and forge new alliances with other communities.
This paper explores the themes and outcomes of a research and teaching activity aimed at activating the latent potential of a marginal urban area in Florence through a multidisciplinary design experiment. The activity focused on the development of innovative practices through regenerative design, emphasizing the integrated application of Nature-Based Solutions, with temporary architecture and circular economy as key drivers.
The research team, consisting of researchers in environmental technology design and landscape architecture, collaborated to develop the project at Lumen. This initiative allowed for the integration of the knowledge phase of the project with a previously developed narrative tool. The design experiment unfolded through a narrative approach, highlighting each stage of the transformation process. It addressed the physical aspects and the intangible elements related to socio-political, economic, and environmental relationships.
Designed as a culture-based regeneration initiative, Lumen enabled local actors to experiment independently with different cultural practices in a dynamic and interactive context. The project consistently focused on the dissemination of experimental practices to promote widespread learning and the potential for replication in other contexts. The self-narrative approach facilitated the transfer of complex knowledge to architecture students, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the social, economic, and bureaucratic challenges of the project. The tools provided ensured clear and transparent communication, leading to more consistent project outcomes, adapted to the specific needs and context of the space, and achieved within a remarkably short timeframe.
Starting from a common masterplan and the central theme of water, the team developed five detailed projects at different scales (L, M, S). These research activities allowed the team to experiment with projects linked to an evolving local process, based on an approach that changed spatial arrangements iteratively and non-linearly, with continuous testing and verification of results. The projects addressed the temporal dimension by adapting to contextual conditions, including social and economic factors.
References
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| Keywords | Regeneration; Nature based solutions; Temporary architecture; Circular economy; Self-narrative |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
