Public Space and Happiness in the Urban Environment

urbanistica

special issue

Urban Happines and Public Space 3° Biennal of Public Space Edited by Marichela Sepe

261 s.i.

Rivista bimestrale Anno XXXXII Maggio-Giugno 2015 ISSN n. 0392-5005 € 10,00

In caso di mancato recapito rinviare a ufficio posta Roma – Romanina per la restituzione al mittente previo addebito. Poste Italiane S.p.A. Spedizione in abbonamento postale – D.L. 353/2003 (conv. in l. 27/2/2004 n. 46) art. 1 comma 1 – DCB – Roma Rivista bimestrale urbanistica e ambientale Servizio abbonamenti: Componenti regionali del comitato scientifico: Progetto grafico: Hstudio dell’lstituto Nazionale Urbanistica Monica Belli Email: [email protected] Abruzzo e Molise: Radoccia R. (coord.) raffaella_rad@ Fondata da Edoardo Salzano yahoo.it, Chietini A., Carpicella V. Impaginazione: Ilaria Giatti Anno XXXXI Consiglio di amministrazione di INU Edizioni: Basilicata: Pontrandolfi P. (coord.) pontrandolfi@ Maggio-Giugno 2015 M. Fantin (presidente), unibas.it Fotocomposizione e stampa: Euro 10,00 D. Di Ludovico (consigliere delegato), Calabria: Fallanca C. (coord.) [email protected], Teti Duemme Grafica - Roma F. Calace, G. Ferina. M.A., Celani G. Via della Maglianella 71 00166 Roma Editore: INU Edizioni Redazione, amministrazione e pubblicità: Campania: Coppola E. (coord.)emanuela.coppola@ www.duemmegrafica.it Iscr. Tribunale di Roma n. 3563/1995; Inu Edizioni srl unina.it, Roc n. 3915/2001; Via Ravenna 9/b, 00161 Roma Emilia-Romagna: Tondelli S. (coord.) simona.tondelli@ Iscr. Cciaa di Roma n. 814190. tel. 06/68134341, 06/68195562, unibo.it, Vecchi L., Zazzi M. Direttore responsabile: Paolo Avarello fax 06/68214773, http://www.inu.it Lazio: Giannino C. (coord.) carmela.giannino@gmail. com, Contardi L., Cazzola A. Urbanistica Informazioni è una rivista in fascia A2 Comitato scientifico e consiglio direttivo nazionale Liguria: Lombardini G. (coord.) [email protected], nel ranking ANVUR, Agenzia Nazionale di Valutazione Inu: Amante Enrico, Arcidiacono Andrea, Barbieri Bolgiani P., Silvano S., Vergaro A. del Sistema Universitario e della Ricerca Carlo Alberto, Capurro Silvia, Cecchini Domenico, Lombardia: Rossi I. (coord.) [email protected], Imberti Associato all’unione stampa periodica italiana Centanni Claudio, Dalla Betta Eddi, De Luca Giuseppe, L., Campo E. Direttore: Francesco Sbetti De Maio Domenico, Fantin Marisa, Fassone Antonio, Marche: Rosellini G. (coord.) responsabile.utc@comune. Registrazione presso il Tribunale della stampa di Redazione centrale: Gasparrini Carlo, Gerundo Roberto, Giudice Mauro, rip e.an.it, Piazzini M., Vitali G. Roma, n.122/1997 Ruben Baiocco, Imberti Luca, La Greca Paolo, Leoni Guido, Marini Piemonte: Saccomani S. (coord.)silvia.saccomani@ Spedizione in abbonamento Postale Art. 2, comma Francesca Calace, Franco, Mascarucci Roberto, Moccia Domenico F., polito.it,. 20/b, L. 662/96 – Roma Marco Cremaschi, Ombuen Simone, Piccinini Mario, Porcu Roberta, Puglia: Torre C. [email protected], Rotondo F. f.rotondo@ Daniela De Leo, Properzi Pierluigi, Rossi Franco, Rossi Iginio, Rota poliba.it, Reina A., Caiuolo D. Abbonamento annuale Euro 50,00 Carolina Giaimo, Lorenzo, Rumor Andrea,Stramandinoli Michele, Todaro Sardegna: Zoppi C. (coord.) [email protected], Madama V Versamento sul c/c postale .16286007, intestato a Pierluigi Nobile, Vincenzo, Torre Carmelo, Torricelli Andrea, Trillo Sicilia: Cannarozzo T. (coord.) [email protected], INU Edizioni srl: Via Ravenna 9/b, 00161 Roma, Anna Laura Palazzo, Claudia, Ulrici Giovanna, Vecchietti Sandra, Venti Gabbate G., Trombino G. o con carte di credito: CartaSi - Visa - MasterCard. Stefano Pareglio, Donatella, Viviani Silvia, Zurli Diego Toscana: Rignanese L. (coord.) [email protected], Sandra Vecchietti Pingitore L., Alberti F., Nespolo L. Umbria: Bruni A. (coord.) [email protected], Ghiglioni G., Bagnetti C., Guarnello R. Veneto: Baiocco R. (coord.) [email protected], De Michele A., Velo L. table of contents

Presentations 1. 2. 3. On Cities, Public Space and Happiness Silvia Viviani Mario Spada Pietro Garau

06 Introduction 51 There is not a continent, country or culture: the 06 Happiness and public space agreeability in the public spaces is a search of the Marichela Sepe human being 07 Principles for urban happiness Maria José Gomes Feitosa Marichela Sepe 53 W.W.W. Waste Worth and Wellness Gabriele Fiocco 54 Upgrading Urban Areas as Public Green Areas to Promote 10 Papers People’s “Good Living” 10 Notes for a Decalogue of the happy city Caterina Gattuso, Philomène Gattuso Serafina Amoroso 56 Life in between buildings: Soft places in the threshold 14 Artistic actions for a happier Venice between public and private domain Violeta Pires Vilas Boas Francesca Genise 17 The archeological heritage of Reggio Calabria: a social net 59 Public Space as Landscape Experience of Happiness: A of fruition Surprise Public Garden amidst Water and Large Blocks Salvatore Borruto of Woodland 20 Happiness and urban design Julia Georgi, Christos Constantinides, Anna-Maria Else Caggiano Vissilia 21 Parental Advisory. Experience is the Content! 62 Behaviour maps: X-rays of places indicating time quality Salvatore Carbone, Sara Omassi and urban happiness 25 Trigger the everyday public space, experience the Barbara Goličnik Marušić, Damjan Marušić happiness 67 All just for fun nothing for fun. A bridge contest in Lijing Chen Piazza Maggiore, Bologna 29 Public spaces design for urban regeneration Luca Guardigli, Stefano Lamborghini, Luca Venturi Giulia Chiummiento, Federico Orsini 70 Is Britain’s emphasis on safety and security creating an 32 A place that makes you happy: challenging models in unhappy society? public space Simon Andreas Hansen Fabio Ciaravella 75 Being happy outside the traffic jams: Moral climate and its 35 The Happy City as Multifactorial Synergy impact on transport network modeling within the cities Maria Lodovica Delendi after state socialism 37 Happitecture: Zen, Otherwhere and Space Design in Mark Kleyman eThekwini, South Africa 79 Gross Urban Happiness for the Global City Jonathan Edkins Alessandro Marata 41 The satisfaction of the environmental requisite for the 82 Urban regeneration and liveability trough a sustainable urban quality city as strategy of planning to regenerate approach and a new system of public spaces the metropolitan city Assunta Martone, Marichela Sepe, Serena Micheletti Delia Evangelista 88 The Re-appropriation of Public Space as a passage to 43 Landscapes Recyclable: New forms for the project of the happiness contemporary city Nicolas Mitzalis Francesca Fasanino 94 Taif Municipality’s Steps for Happier, Healthier and 47 Superelevata Foot[Prints]. Recycle, reuse, urban happy Livable. Communities: The Case of Al Hada and Ash- mood Shafa, Saudi Arabia Sara Favargiotti, Jeannette Sordi Hisham Mortada, Mohammed Almokharrij 99 Public sculpture, a preservation tool identity of the city 152 The exhibition Mohamed Ali Msolli 152 Happiness, or how to learn by playing with the space 99 City and Public Space as Happines Project Mariella Annese, Milena Farina Eva-Leticia Ortiz 154 Regeneration of a resilience city – the Vela case study 101 Participated anamorphic art against the suburb Delia Evangelista degradation in contemporary cities 156 Happy places Alessandra Pagliano, Mariano Marmo Agnese Follari, Arianna Fuccio, Rita Iervolino 105 New temporary perspectives for urban spaces 158 Upgrading Urban Areas as Public Green Areas to Promote Alessandra Pagliano, Angelo Triggianese People’s “Good Living” 107 What makes people happy? The case of social housing Caterina Gattuso, Philomène Gattuso in Brazil 160 Soft places in the threshold between public and private Adriana Portella, Inês Quintanilha, Andressa Rocha, domain Ellen Antonello,Sinval Cantarelli Xavier Francesca Genise 111 The city sick sickens 162 Public Space as Landscape Experience of Happiness: A Maria Quarto, Annamaria Kisslinger, Donatella Surprise Public Garden amidst Water and Large Blocks of Tramontano Woodland 115 Public Space and Happiness in the Urban Environment Julia Georgi, Christos Constantinides, Anna-Maria Nasim Razavian Vissilia 120 Influence of urban space in the happiness of citizens 164 Wall of happiness Rita Monfort Salvador Nasim Razavian 122 Interpreting communitarian tourism in the context of some 166 The Urban Eutopia in Casal di Principe-Casapesenna-San integrated experiences in Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica Cipriano (Campania-Italy). Nature wins on built: from Carlos Alberto Cioce Sampaio, Talita Cristina waste to resource Zechner,Christian Henríquez,Luzia Neide Coriolano, Maria Maddalena Simeone, Luisa Mauro, Valentina Simone Calistro Fortes Bortolossi, Alan Ripoll Alves Grasso, Germano Sessa 130 The people-oriented approach to public spaces: The case 168 The possibility to perceive different sensations coming of Adelaide by the environment provides a feeling of happiness Marichela Sepe, Assunta Martone, Serena Micheletti Mariarosaria Perna, Anna Pirozzi 135 Happiness in Urban Spaces induced by 'Anomalous Objects' 170 Green Bridge in Via San Giacomo dei Capri Sundas Shahid, Javairia Shahid Roberta De Risi 136 Happiness and Public Space 172 Taif Municipality’s Steps for Achieving Happier, Healthier Ann Sharrock, Ian Fisher and Livable Communities: The Case of Al-Hada and Ash- 138 bu.giardino, collaborative writing about/for Public Space: Shafa, Saudi Arabia towards urban hAPPiness for all... Mohammed Almokharrij, Hisham Mortada Cesarina Siddi 174 SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS. Recycle, Reuse, Urban 142 Smart Governance: urban regeneration and integration Happy Mood policies in Europe. Turin and Malmö case studies Sara Favargiotti, Jeannette Sordi Chiara Testoni, Andrea Boeri 176 Piazza Maggiore, Bologna 148 The restauration of culture heritage improves happiness Luca Guardigli, Stefano Lamborghini, Luca Venturi Zhang Wei, Chen Lijing City Happiness. Work in progress 177 Giuseppina Giugliano, Sara Iaccarino, Michele Letteriello, Roberta Nivuori

178 Indice autori

2 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Presentation 1

Silvia Viviani

The complex degradations of the urban spaces and social make fall down walls which divide ourselves. If this aggregation behaviours, a progressive consensus on topics such as land exists, it the ferment which move capacities arrives. Cities need consumption and urban regeneration, scarcity of resources become capable and from cities a dynamicity able to identify the and permanence of inequalities indicate the needs but also the aptitude to innovation and management of change has to start. The possibility to influence the public opinion and the production of dinamicity mainly means a way to walk together, built a language public policies oriented towards an integration between economy, and rules of cohabitations in common, as well as within the peculiar environment and society. characteristics of the project. In this sense, priorities concern public spaces but also the Projects are maps and tales which need to fascinate: they are way environmental performances of cities and landscapes, which to built new knowledge in the use of the resources. The main require investments on the infrastructures, material and immaterial resource is the city, place of rights and mitigation of dysfunctions complex components, with a rebalancing of eco-systemic functions. and inequalities. The city is also production of behaviours and The main questions around which it is important to focus the urban landscape. Furthermore, city have to be project of citizenship, attention include: the production of new urban services, a more recovery of soil for reciprocity, space for emotions. The urban suitable organization of the social relationships, the active happiness topic is from this perspective an interesting point to participation of citizens, the reconciliation between city and discuss again on an urban planning based on emotions, capable to nature, the multi-scalar participation of citizens, the closure of the recover human value, memory, cultural resources and identity. cycles of use and reproduction of resources, the strategies for the The Happiness and public space workshop edited by Marichela Sepe, climate change adaption, the settlement evolution in solidarity and which was held in the third Biennial of Public Space framework, sharing perspective, the compatibility of the production with the represents a contribution in this sense: starting from happiness as an urban ability, the sustainable mobility actions, the production of element capable of give positive emotions to who live those spaces, information. the best practices which were presented from all over the world The third Biennial of Public Space which was held in Rome in May have shown the factors which are at the base of the urban happiness 2015 has faced these topics and others which are both directly and as potential fil rouge of an urban planning founded on liveability, indirectly connected with the programme and objective of the sustainability, beauty, resilience to the cultural and social crisis of Italian Institute of Urban Planning, starting from the necessity of the contemporaneity. a fertile aggregation around spaces where we live, which leads to

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 3 Presentation 2

Mario Spada

The project of the public space has been forgotten for a long time by (the flashmob or critical mass streets), the creation of new physical the urban planning, which for decades communities (Hub of creative digital), the moltiplication of has been led by the car supremacy. A new attention on the public spontaneous places of aggregation beyond the home and place of space topic is linked to the regeneration of the existent urban tissue work such as “third places”, theorized by Oldenburg). which has introduced new parameters and a new glossary is in The quality of public space is the main parameter with which the course of definition. degree of social cohesion of a community is measured, the primary The topic is faced with tools and objectives which vary between the tool which is capable of build/rebuild the virtuous relationships tradition and innovation: from a side the recover of ancient urban of system between citizens, policies, productive, commercial and values – in particular in the valuable historical areas, from the other, service activities. the construction/invention/experimentation of new parameters, From the third edition of the Biennal of Public Space which took coherent with the life styles induced by the changed cultural and place in May 2015, 21-24th, although the extreme thematic variety social conditions and from the oppurtunity offered by the new due to more than 40 workshops, the most common words which technology. were used include: participation, co-design, adoption of an holistic- The term public space is often translated as common space with systemic approach, devoted to rebuilt relationships between parts many motivations which recall to the common good, or private involved in the process, integrating competences, overcoming space with public use, or again to public space concept managed the autoreferencial barriers of the administrative apparatus, of from privates. Hence, with a wide interpretation of what we professionists, of businessman, of citizens. The topic of the urban continue to define public space, and simplifying the reasoning it is happiness, in this sense, involve trasversally the aforementioned possible to identify three categories: three categories of public space. Reaffirmed after the idea movement - the public space of encounter, where the social relationships take arisen with the recent publication “Happy city. Transforming place, the local identities are affirmed and our lives through urban design” by Charles Montgomery, that of the social, educative, sport, entertainment activities are carried out: the happy city is a topic which, introduced by the theories of the proximity spaces such as the square, street, park, school and the american economists as an evolution of the creativity concept, has library of the neighborough or spaces at urban scale such as great been developed involving the social and urban disciplines, and has parks or great cultural and commercial attractors; been deepened more times in different periods by philosophers, spaces of public transport nets: - the system of mobilities of the sociologists and urban theorists. metropolitan areas is interested by a stress caused by a progressive The international workshop “Happiness and public space” edited by increase. Many years have passed since Marc Augè has observed the Marichela Sepe, which has seen a wide participation by architects no-identitary characteristics of no-places created by the increasing and urban planners, but also by biologists and artists from all over in mobility. But these are real public spaces and need a semantic and the world - Brasil, UK, China, France, Slovenia, Greece, Mexico, functional deepening; Germany, Tunisia, Libano, Italy – testify the great interest on this - the public space of the digital networks which increase in topic and the strong connection with the parameters of quality of a exponential way with spontaneous communication interpersonal public space. nets which represent the liquid society mentioned by Bauman.This The best practice presented in the workshop have shown that a is a space which produces results which are apparently overlapped: public space in which the liveability, equity, sustainability are or it circumscribes the existence of a person in a group of private tangible induce a perception of well-being which can be still more relationships or, at contrary, is a multiplicator of public society satisfying if it is trackable something, altough only symbolic, which as shown by political protests, manifestations of urban creativity is recondicible to the happiness parameter.

4 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Presentation 3 On Cities, Public Space and Happiness Pietro Garau

Some time ago, to kick off a university course on urban policy Take Little Kids for a Walk (whenever the chance arises) devoted to the theme of public space, I distributed a list. Its English Get on a Bicycle (always) translation reads more or less as follows: “A Note for the Charter of Fall in Love in a City Park (far too rarely) Public Space: List of the Good Things in Cities that You Don’t Need Use a Public Toilet (of which there are less and less) Money for, Just Public Space”. Wander around a city at night, too (more often than one thinks). Possibly, the idea came in part from Peter Marcuse’s final statement at an event at the Rio World Urban Forum. Also, in that period lists When challenged by Marichela Sepe to write a few lines about the had become very popular, and it is too bad that this new sort of happiness theme, this list came to mind because it does not only literary figure is not as popular today as it was then. offer a glimpse of the simple things you can do in a city’s public Anyway, here is the list: space, regardless of whether you have your wallet on you or not. It also contains simple experiences that can, indeed, give us all Walking in a Park (when park gates are open) a modicum of happiness. It is a form of happiness that basically Sit on a Public Bench (always) comes, one would wonder, from one or other form of unexpected, Drink from a Public Water Fountain (always) but pleasant, experience – whether from noticing something new in Play Football on a Scrap of Open Space (always) a familiar façade, or enjoying that particular light in that particular Look at Shop Windows (Practically always) moment, or running into a friend. Admiring Monuments and Works of Architecture (by day and by night) All such experiences, so simple, so easily identified with daily Visit a Church (when open) banality, are, at the same time, fascinating because of their baffling Walking Barefoot on a Free Beach (always) simplicity. An indeed, there are those who maintain that simplicity Wander in Streets, Squares and Sidewalks (always) is at the core of the elusive goal of happiness. Gaze at Posters on walls (always) There is consensus on the fact that happiness is very hard to reach. Dump Garbage in the Right Containers (always) But it is equally difficult to argue that it cannot be open ended. So, I Ask Directions from an Unknown Person (always) would like to add a couple of items to the List of the Good Things in Give Directions to an Unknown Person (always) Cities that You Don’t Need Money for, Just Public Space: Give back a Ball that has Ended up on Your Feet (it almost always does) Step into a Public Library and Leaf through Things Right and Left Not having to say hello to unknown persons you come across; (during opening hours) Maintaining the privilege of saying hello to unknown persons you Step into a Public Library and Realize that its Books are for You, Too come across. Get Assistance at a Hospital Emergency (Only if and when needed)

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 5 06.Introduction

Marichela Sepe Happiness and public space

Urban happiness is a concept which can be variants are closely interrelated to the life of defined through the observation both of the city and its inhabitants, and also to the many tangible and intangible aspects of a perception the latter have of that place. Co- place and the activities carried out by the lours, materials, smells and sounds become people who live and use it. As Lynch (1960, an inseparable part of any one spot in the p.1) affirms, “at every instant, there is more city, and thus components of the urban hap- than the eye can see, more than the ear can piness. One of the concepts which helps to hear, a setting or a view waiting to be ex- circumscribe the many aspects which can plored. Nothing is experience by itself, but describe the urban happiness include the always in relation to its surroundings, the se- placemaking, in the sense of "the art of mak- quences of events leading up to it, the mem- ing places for people” -to paraphrase the ory of past experiences". definition given in By design: urban design Indeed, if happiness is a general concept in- in the planning system (Cabe, Detr, 2000) - vestigated by philosophers, economists, soci- because it "includes the way places work and ologists, psychologists and anthropologists such matters as community safety, as well as in different periods, often achieving results how they look. It concerns the connections only depending by the state – financial, psy- between people and places, movement and chological, etc.. of people, the definition of urban form, nature and the built fabric, and urban happiness – although takes in account the processes for ensuring successful villag- elements by different disciplines, assumes its es, towns and cities". base from the observation of the relationship As Charles Montgomery has recently af- between people, places and activities. firmed in his “Happy City”, if city planners and The intangible qualities of a place consist of developers paid more attention to the growing all the elements that can be perceived by the body of knowledge about happiness, they could senses - smell and noise, but also sensations create cities that enhance the contentment of those of touch, sight and taste –, of its memory, cul- who live in them. tural tradition, etc. Starting from these premises, the interna- All of these, both individually and in their tional workshop-exhibition “Happiness and overall perception, can influence our feel- public space” which was held in Rome in the ings, actions, general well-being, and our ap- framework of the Third Biennial of Public praisal of what surrounds us. The perception Space (21-24 May 2015) has presented both of the city can be separate or partial and com- theoretical aspects and case studies concern- bined with other feelings: the overall image ing urban happiness in public space. is the union of all stimuli. Papers and posters which were proposed – The tangible elements are related to the ur- about Sixty from Brasil, UK, China, France, ban fabric and a series of morphological, Slovenia, Greece, Mexico, Germany, Tunisia, natural, and historical invariants. These in- Italy, etc. -, have answered to questions posed

6 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue by the call for paper, including: What are the Principles for urban Porteous,1977; PPS 2001; Whyte, 1980; Sepe, factors which influence happiness from the 2013; Sepe, 2014; Evans et al., 2011; Friedma- urban and/or socio-economic point of views? happiness nn, 2010; Gehl J. 2010) Can an urban or landscape project or a public Marichela Sepe Nowadays a new attention to the urban hap- space influence the perception of happiness piness has been given but often in terms of or these are only influenced by other factors theoretical sense or from an observational or conditions (climate, mood, etc ...)? What The English agenda has given considerable at- point of view (Florida et al., 2013; Burns, are the best practices where happiness can tention to the quality of urban design whose 2005; Taylor, 1998; Zidansek, 2007; Mont- be recognized? What are the happier cities? assumption is that it comes directly by the gomery, 2013) How urban happiness can be managed? Is place experience of the people. The senses Starting from these premises, aim of this paper Urban Happiness durable or should be con- are part of everyday life of the people and is to present the Happy place method, carried tinuously adapted? Is Happiness an adaptive the sensory experience which it is lived in a out in the framework of a IRISS National Re- urban phenomenon? place let it to remember or less in a pleasant search Council research project. The main contributions on these topics were and distinctive way (Carmona et al, 2010; The definition of urban happiness is strongly resulted by the factors which are capable to Lynch;1960, Jacobs, 1961; Appleyard, 1981; interwoven with social, environmental, eco- influence happiness, which are many and Rose,1995). nomic, philosophical studies and, according varied. The points of views due to the differ- Through the analysis of places, a more de- with the quick transformation of lifestyles, ence both in terms of interests – scientific tailed and qualitative interpretation of the needs and habits, the definition is in continu- and professional – approach and geographi- city is carried out. This is not circumscribed ous change. On the other hand the definition cal provenience of participants have deter- to its aesthetic essence, nor even to its physi- looks to be similar to that used for defining mined the construction of a sort of map of cal geometry. The functional and symbolic well-being, quality of life, and, in a certain the urban happiness with specific attention interpretations of the elements of a place are sense, sustainability. Urban happiness could be to the best practices on public space. the fundamental factors for understanding defined as a character which gives to the place Furthermore, the question of adaptation was its meaning. And “as society changes, so does a positive perception in people who live it and discussed as well, making emerge an inter- signification. Meanings attached to the built which induces them to spend long time there esting perspective related to the relationship environment become modified as social val- and/or to live there again the same experience. between urban happiness and resilience of ues evolve in response to changing patterns of The method aims at identifying urban hap- places to phenomenon of crisis meant in socio-economic organisation and lifestyles" piness and the factors which make places socio-cultural and environmental meaning. (Knox,1984). happy from the users point of view. Factors As a final result, a definition of urban happi- As Relph (1976) asserts, "Perceptive space is a which influence happiness are many and ness can be evidenced: “Urban Happiness is space of action centred on immediate needs not all depend on the beauty of the place. the set of characteristics and activities of a and practices, and as such it has a clearly de- The method consists in surveys, observa- place which give a perception of well-being veloped structure. (...) This structure can clear- tions, questionnaire. A series of case studies and joy to who lives it and the desire to stop ly be in no way understood as objective or have been carried out which have allowed there for a longer time”. These characteris- measurable - rather distances and directions the construction of a Charter for urban hap- tics can be observed in the public spaces. are experienced as qualities of near or far, this piness in public space. The paper will show way or that, and even when these are made the method, an emblematic case study in explicit as paths or trails they are known with Wuhan, China, in the framework of the FP7- their special meaning. (...) Perceptive space is PEOPLE-2011-IRSES Project Planning, Urban also the realm of direct emotional encounters Management and Heritage – PUMAH, and with the spaces of the earth, sea, and sky or the aforementioned Charter. with built and created spaces". Urban studies agree on the fact that, increas- The Happy Place Mapping ingly, the goal of the project interventions in The “Happy place mapping” method consists the urban space is to alter the experience of of five phases (Sepe, 2013, 2014). The first that space for its residents. Urban environ- phase consists in the selection and definition ments are increasingly designed to be distinc- of the study area. It needs to go on the site in tive, trying to create memorable sensory expe- question and, through an inspection, decide riences and give happiness for the people who whether to confirm the delimitation decided use them. Even people who visit ordinary ur- beforehand or modify it. ban centres can describe a series of emotional The second phase is characterized by the ob- experiences concerning those places given by servation of the characteristics of the place the five senses. And to place these experiences through three surveys concerning activities, can be very different from one place to an- perceptions, and elements which contribute other (Madanipour, 2003; Montgomery, 1998; to the perception of happiness.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 7 In the first survey, it needs to observe the 8. Do you think that the weather condition sibility to perform gymnastic activities types of people (locals, visitors, professionals) might influence the perception of this with the presence of small equipment or and activities (enjoyment, passing by, work, place? a dedicated lane. etc ..). These activities are measured from the The fourth phase is that of the analysis of the 4. The possibility to make actions that nor- quantitative point of view, namely observing cartography in order to understand the ele- mally are not performed, such as walk- in what percentage the activity is present in ments that compose the place in terms of the ing barefoot in the water or in dedicated that place and how influence its liveability. type of urban fabric, the historical and archi- areas of public space, creates a feeling of Similarly, the presence of persons is measured tectural elements, the natural environment freedom and joy. from the quantitative point of view as well. (sea, hills, etc ..), and other public spaces in the 5. The compositive elements of the space Then it needs to observe the frequency with surrounding area. should have an appropriate balance be- which the activity is repeated or implemented The fifth phase involves the construction of tween the elements of nature, landscape and with what pace, namely if that activity is the map of happiness with the identification of and equipments. carried out with a rapid, slow or moderate pace. spaces and features that give to the people who 6. The presence of water in different shapes The second survey consists in identification use that place the perception of happiness. promotes the vitality of the place. of singular visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, The map will be the result of all the informa- 7. The presence of artistic elements in the taste perceptions, as well as mixed perception collected with the different survey opera- different forms is desirable. tions, such as chaos, serenity, disorder, joy, tions, analysis and observation. 8. The presence of sculptures, games, or harmony, disorientation and so on, deriving other elements and amenities which can from the sum of one or more perceptions. The Charter of Happiness cause a smile to a person favors a state of Then it needs to observe their quantity ex- The experiments of the method were carried happiness. pressed as light, medium and high amount out in public spaces and areas different by 9. The public space should have the natural percentage as well as the quality expressed as types, geographic locations and dimensions. lighting during the day and artificial in pleasant, non influential and annoying per- The case studies which have been carried out the other hours of use. Artificial light in ceived perception. have both the aim to verify the method and daily hours should be avoided. The third survey of this phase consists in the identify what are the factors which influence 10. An adequate state of cleanliness and observation of the elements which contrib- happiness of places. maintenance must be respected. ute to the happiness sensation such as con- The factors resulted by these case studies al- 11. The public space has to give sense of se- structed and natural elements, transportation low to create the Charter of Happiness in pub- curity and safeness in those who walk modes, equipment and services (furniture, lic spaces with twenty principles. The Charter, along it. wireless, etc). which will proposed at the end of the paper, 12. It is important that there is an absence Finally, from the intersection of these data, a is meant as an open and flexible tool for aca- or controlled presence of noise coming first result on the degree of happiness is ob- demics, practitioners and administrators for from means of transport. tained, resulted from surveys on this place. the creation or enhancement of happy places. 13. The possibility to perceive smells coming The third phase consists in a questionnaire to The principles for urban happiness in the by natural materials which compose the the users of the site aimed at identifying fac- public space were deduced by the case studies space provides a feeling of happiness. tors and elements which make people who carried out using the Happy place method. As 14. The use of natural materials, preferably live that place happy or sad. afore mentioned, the Charter is meant as an local, with the possibility to experiment Questions may include the following and will open and flexible tool for academics, practi- touch perception gives a feeling of wellbe modified in accordance with the character- tioners and administrators for the creation or being. istics of the place. enhancement of happy places. 15. The possibility of doing actions – such as 1. This place gives you a feeling of happi- The premise of this Charter is that an happy walking, watching, etc.. - with a moderate ness or sadness? place is a space which can transmit feeling of or slow pace promotes opportunities for 2. What are the elements that make you happiness to everyone who use it. breaks in the space. here happy / sad? 1. It is important that both the place iden- 16. The feeling of being able to contribute to 3. What are the facilities that make this tity and the intangible characteristics of the life of that place increases the feeling place good or bad? the site and its surroundings are present of belonging of it. 4. What kind of activities do you act in this in the public space. 17. The recognition of the place as a sym- place? How often? 2. It is important to encourage the use of bolic for the neighborough improves the 5. The presence of many or few people im- the place by people of different life cycles, perception of its identity. proves the pleasantness or unpleasant- from children to the elderlies and do not 18. The educational function which a place ness of the place? have architectural barriers which can dis- possess increases its intrinsic value. 6. What could be done in order to improve courage the entrance in that space. 19. The possibility of use the space in different this place? 3. A public space should allow different seasons and weather conditions improves 7. What is a happy place that you remem- types of functions (game, breaks, move- its livability and the will of contributing to ber to have lived in this city or elsewhere? ment). It is also desirable to have the pos- its good state of maintenance.

8 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue 20. The possibility of using new technolo- Referrences gies to increase the knowledge of its in- • Appleyard, D., 1981. Livable Streets, University of California Press: Berkeley. tangible values and history can offer a • Burns, G. W. 2005. Naturally happy, naturally more profound experience of the place. healthy: The role of natural environment in well-being. In F. A. Huppert, N. Baylis, and B. Ke- verne eds. The science of well-being, Oxford Univ. Conclusions Press: New York. The paper has presented the Happy place • Carmona, M., Heath, T., Oc, T., Tiesdell, S., 2010. Public places-Urban spaces method, carried out in the framework of a , Architectural Press: Oxford IRISS - National Research Council research. • Evans, B., McDonald, F., Rudlin, D. 2011. Urban Nowadays a new attention to the urban hap- Identity. Learning from Place, Routledge, Lon- donn, New York piness has been given but often in terms of • Florida R., Mellander C., Rentfrow P.J., 2013. The theoretical sense or from an observational happiness of Cities, Regional Studies, 47, 613-627 point of view. The Happy place method aims • Friedmann, J. 2010. Place and Place-Making in Cities: A Global Perspective, Planning Theory & at identifying urban happiness and the fac- Practice, 11 (2) 149-165 tors which make places happy from the users • Gehl J. 2010. Cities For people, Island Press: Wa- point of view. The method consists in surveys, shington • Jacobs, J. 1961. The death and life of great American observations, questionnaire. A series of case cities. New York: Random House. studies have been carried out including in • Knox, P.L.,1984. Styles, symbolism and settings: particular squares, pedestrian and semi-pe- the built environment and imperatives of urba- nised capitalism, Architecture et comportment, 2, destrian streets, urban parks and waterfronts, 107-122 cultural districts were selected, particularly • Lynch, K. 1960. The Image of the city, Mit Press:Cambridge. representative for the city of belonging, such • Montgomery, J. 1998. Making a City: Urbanity, as: Hankou River in Wuhan, Lungomare Car- Vitality and urban Design, Journal of Urban De- acciolo in Naples, Boredaux Waterfront in sign, 3, 93-116 • Montgomery C. 2013. Happy City. Penguin, Bordeaux, The Bund in Shanghai as regards London the waterfronts; 798 Art District in Beijing; • Madanipour, A. 2003. Public and Private Spaces of Nanluoguxiang in Beijing; Museums Quartier the City, Routledge: London. • Porteous, J.D., 1977. Environmental and behavior: in Vienna as regards the cultural districts; Mil- planning and everyday urban life. Reading, Mas- lenium Park in Chicago, Citygarden in Saint sachusetts: Addison-Wesley. Louis (Missouri), and Promenade du Paillon • Project for Public Spaces, 2001. How to Turn a Place Around: A Handbook for Creating Successful in Nice, as regards the parks; the Ramblas in Public Spaces, Project for Public Places, New York Barcelona, the Graben in Vienna, as regards City, NY • Relph, E., 1976. Place and Placelessness. London: the thoroughfare; the Stadtlounge in St Gal- Pion len, the Place des Voges in Paris, the Piazza del • Rose, G., 1995. Place and identity: a sense of pla- Campo in Siena and Piazza Trevi in Rome, as ce, Massey D., Jess P., eds, A Place in the world? Place, cultures and globalization, Oxford: Open regards the squares. University/Oxford University Press. The results of the pilot case studies allowed • Sepe, M. 2013. Planning and Place in the City. the creation of the Charter of Happiness of Mapping Place Identity. Routlege: London-New York public spaces with twenty principles. The • Sepe, M., 2014. Preserving, reconstructing and Charter, which was proposed at the end of enhancing the place identity: identifying prin- the paper, is meant as an open and flexible ciples of urban sustainability with placemaker method, International Journal of Sustainable De- tool for academics, practitioners and admin- velopment and Planning, 9 (2) istrators for the creation or enhancement of • Taylor, A. F., F. E. Kuo, and W. C. Sullivan. 1998. happy places. The 20 principles aim to pro- Growing up in the inner city: Green spaces as places to grow, Environmental Behavior 30 (1): vide a check list which a project has to sat- 3-27. isfy in order to enhance the happiness of the • Whyte, W.H. 1980. The social Life of small public space, Conservation Foundation: Washington place in question, making sure, however, that DC place happiness is sustainable and is not used • Zidansek, A. 2007. Sustainable development for the sole purpose of rapid consumption of and happiness in nations. Energy, 32: 891-7. cultural resources The principles should not be considered static, but dynamic, in keeping with the increasingly rapid rates of change in a place that continually lead to expanding the scope of the concept of happiness.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 9 10.Papers

Serafina Amoroso Notes for a Decalogue of the happy city

Introduction object, the tool and the agent of pedagogical The happy city is the compelling link be- experiences. tween happiness (intended both as a physi- Education plays an important role in the cal/spatial and psychological/neuroscientif- development of an urban culture that raises ic issue) and urban planning and design. The awareness of what makes the difference be- happy city is a pedagogical project that needs tween a sustainable city and a threatening, a cross-disciplinary approach. This paper dangerous urban environment. In order to considers spatiality as a social construction avoid new form of inequality and allow ev- that represents an essential element of the eryone to seize opportunities that match production of culture. A renewed attention their skills and achieve their own potentials, towards the spatial dimensions of disciplines an educating city should grant access to in- – the so-called “spatial turn” – can be traced formation and communications technolo- back to the mid-1990s, but its pedagogical gies. Everyone has the right to receive train- application has now to face new challenges ing, in order to learn to question the things induced by the current crisis, the behavioral they usually take for granted, and to learn to changes resulting from the use of new tech- look at, use and maintain public and collec- nologies and the changing requirements of tive spaces with care and affection. the labour market. It’s especially necessary A new conceptual framework should be pro- to take into account the dimension of time. vided for possible future developments in New types of educating/learning-scapes and the relationship between education and ur- new models of governance are required that ban planning, the paradigm of lifelong learn- may spread over time, be implemented and ing and its implementation in urban strate- re-definable. This paper is an attempt to pro- gies and practices. vide some notes and suggestions for a Deca- The spaces of our everyday lives are char- logue of the happy city. They are by no means acterized by the blurring of functional dis- exhaustive – and, sometimes, they actually tinctions: work places very often blend into deal with issues that overlap each other – but leisure and recreational spaces; living spaces they are a challenging collection of short def- can become learning spaces or work places. initions, synthetic guidelines and principles, Our cities are called to become an extension descriptions of best practices and examples of traditional indoor learning spaces. In ad- of innovative approaches and paradigm dition to necessary institutional reforms of shifts, intended to pursue urban happiness. national educational systems, this concept requires, on the one hand, the dissemina- I. An educating city tion of (spatial, psychological, emotional) A happy city is an education-driven, communi- attractors and activators of urban learning ty-based city. It’s an educating and learning moments and events throughout the city environment, which is, at the same time, the with the aim of imbuing urban spaces with

10 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue educational and pedagogical opportunities; from the fulfilment of universally accepted porary late capitalist societies, where things on the other hand, new types of education- and shared standards, (abstract) models and are much more complex, on the other hand, al spaces (schools without classrooms, which visions of urban living conditions (those it’s possible to rescue Arendt for a happy ur- exists thanks to the introduction of digi- idealized and theorized by modernist func- banism thanks to the concerted, pluralistic, tal media as a key pedagogical tool; virtual tionalism) towards a new paradigm based on participated dimension of her account of po- learning platforms; local and global learning the (both individual and collective) achieve- litical action. pathways) should be arranged both inside ment of a good quality of life, life satisfaction, aaa’s4 Passage 56 project (2006) embodies con- and outside schools to stimulate formal, in- well-being, sustainability. Beauty and happi- struction as a social and cultural action in itself. formal and non-formal education. ness have become performative concepts, in An urban interstice in the east of Paris, which that they serve to define the process of con- was a neglected passageway between two II. An adaptable city struction, maintenance and re-invention of buildings, has been converted into a self-man- A happy city is an adaptable city, that is to say the fundamental qualities associated to a aged collective space, becoming a node inside a city that successfully manages transforma- beautiful and happy city. a wider cultural network of vicinity, productions in a context of significant changes and tive interaction and proximity relationships. economic crisis. An adaptable city requires a IV. An activating city revision of public/private relationships. The A happy city is a city that activates potentials. V. A participatory/creative city traditional dichotomy between public and Happiness should be interpreted not so much A happy city is a participatory environment private has been overcome by innovative in- as the passive experience of getting pleasure, that leaves room for expression and creativ- between methodologies, bottom-up initia- but rather as a way of taking action in order ity. A happy city is not a passive victim of tives, collaborative strategies. Architects and to achieve well-being. The most challenging the crisis, but a productive agent of change urbanists should rethink their role in order issue of action is to activate spatial potential that prompts its users, inhabitants, associa- to match these new challenging approaches: rather than providing design solutions, thus tions etc. to support each other in order to they should act as promoters, activators, cu- making urban spaces a continuous project enhance identification, awareness, preser- rators, entrepreneurs, moderators who try to open to change and transformations. vation of place identity, involvement. Small involve as many actors as possible in plan- The notion of action referred to here is an ex- scale interventions, which edit and activate ning processes. panded definition of Hannah Arendt’s usage. urban spaces that are perceived as edges It’s especially necessary to take into account For the philosopher Hannah Arendt, action and boundaries (anonymous facades or side- the dimension of time, which is a key ele- is one of the three essential conditions of walks, for instance), can influence the emo- ment to understand and treat the dysfunc- our being-in-the-world and the highest real- tions, the behaviors and the psychological tions contemporary cities are currently ization of the vita activa2. Arendt’s action is well-being of users and passers-by. Coopera- suffering from1. Time should be arranged synonymous with agency which referrers to tive, bottom-up initiatives that retrofit this to save space and to shape and model both who acts - that is to say to the agent – rather kind of spaces make them happier. Creativity collective and individuals’ sensory quality of than to what is the effect produced by action. and participation are something more com- life. Urban time planners should think of in- Neither imposed by necessity nor by utility, plex than just a consultation or a passive ex- novative strategies for spatiotemporal man- action is the impulse to set something new perience of emotions in a moment of leisure; agement of public spaces and buildings, at in motion, to introduce change and novelty they rather attempt to involve and engage different temporal scales. in the world, both through words and deeds. people in the production process. The orga- Arendt doesn’t indulge in political meta- nization of urban collective events, such as III. A beautiful city physics: the political is not an inherent qual- festivals and street markets, is a way to take A happy city is a beautiful city. The value of ity of an action; it’s rather a consequence of responsibility while, at the same time, every- beauty in the historic European city is usually the conditions of living together with others, one is starring a communication event and the result of an intimate integration between with a human plurality of unique beings. enjoying it. urban structure and morphology and a sense Therefore, action is always acted among the muf architecture/art - a feminist collaborative of identity which is also a sense of belonging others, is an inter-action; it establishes rela- practices founded in 1994 by Liza Fior, Kath- to a community. Urban sprawl and the rapid tionships and is always in concert3. Its key erine Clarke and Juliet Bidgood and based expansion of suburbs, on the one hand, and components – freedom and plurality – link in London - thinks differently about urban the musealization of many city centers, on the notion to a participatory dimension and planning and the existence of more effec- the other, have accelerated the consump- to the city as a political organization of peo- tive tools for directing (urban) design. In the tion of the traditional sense of identity and ple living together rather than as a physical Altab Ali Park project (2011) muf planned beauty. New definitions and new contents environment/space. The city, intended as the on-site actions, such as painting, and tempo- should be set out in order to match the new public realm (polis) - as opposed to the private rary transformations, involving both artists challenges of contemporary urban environ- sphere (oikos) - is, according to Arendt, the and inhabitants in the design of the park, ments, avoiding any comparison with the only specific setting for action. If, on the one stimulating awareness of their own cultural previous conditions of the inner-city. The hand, Arendt’s schematic private/public di- traditions. The site, from a cultural and his- pursuit of happiness and beauty has shifted chotomy is quite incompatible with contem- torical point of view, was a multi-layered

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 11 space made up of different (and often conflic- VII. An equitable city gardless of any difference of gender, age, sex, tual and divergent) constituents. muf’s work A happy city is an equitable city, that is to say race, religion, ethnicity, economic means – aimed at creating a sort of homegrown shared a city that gives everyone the chance to have to access and participate in the social, spatial, space between generations and genders so equal opportunities and, ultimately, a good political and economic dimensions of its life. that everyone could fully enjoy it as a posi- and happy life. There are various dimensions An inclusive city means participative plan- tive and collective experience. “Use Predicts to equity (and therefore to happiness in an ning and decision-making and accessible, Use, making shared space as a means to test equitable city), strongly associated with equal opportunities for everyone. An inclu- the emerging design5.” such issues as: right to work, right to educa- sive city has to share its (experimental) ex- tion, right to health, shared responsibilities, periences in new forms of urban governance VI. A delirious city fair distributions of benefits, fair housing with other cities in order to test, redirect and A happy city is a delirious city in which lim- policies, non-discriminatory distribution improve its innovative approaches. Such ited points of view are called upon to enter of amenities, (educational, recreational and tools as workshop, conferences, internships, into dialogue with one another in order to health-care) facilities and resources. exchanges, databases are very important to generate new knowledge and multifocal, Janet McGaw, from the Faculty of Architec- disseminate best practices and increase aware- multiple and partial perspectives towards ture, Building and Planning at the Univer- ness and public participation about the im- reality. This accumulation of perspectives sity of Melbourne, investigates ways to make portance and the inherent values of inclu- prompts the production of new collective urban spaces more equitable. Her work, her sive urban governance. and relational subjectivities and individu- professional and teaching practices, imple- A set of new indicators of exclusion should be al awareness, which may represent a civic, mented throughout ephemeral and tem- developed, together with new definition and political and ethical call for responsibil- porary interventions, use a collaborative, methods of measurement of poverty, which ity and enhance a renewed concept of col- shared and discursive approach, which can should be based not only on low incomes – lective property, established by use rather be defined as a critical spatial practice8 that is such as: low work intensity; labour market than by possession. to say a way of working that, crossing disci- structure; precarious jobs; declining social The concept of delirium this paper is refer- plinary boundaries of art and architecture, protection (because of retreating welfare ring to is quite close to the concept of altering becomes involved with a social, aesthetical state programs); (un)employment - but also practice elaborated by Doina Petrescu6, whose and ethical dimension. Her Urban Threads on other spatial themes such as: segregation objectives are undermining, transforming, (2004) project, for example, is based on her and differences; material deprivation; health subverting norms, rules, identities, shared collaboration with women who personally and environmental influences; housing con- and received meanings. Beyond its etymolog- experience marginalization and homeless- ditions and market; social and political par- ical sense of transgression from linearity and ness. It was an ephemeral urban installation ticipation; infrastructure level; educational its Freudian meaning, as intentional censor- that focused on a process of place-making opportunities (schools in disadvantaged ship and erasure, delirium is a possible key based on the insertion within Melbourne’s areas against segregation); political engage- concept to comprehend a new relationship urban fabric of privacy and intimate shelters. ment; access to quality services. between theory and practice, thought and Urban interstices and public spaces were action, retaining a certain utopian impulse turned into imaginary domestic rooms with IX. A ludic city in both of them. scissors and discarded garments. The instal- Urban collective spaces whether they are In psychosis, délire is a sort of patch in the lation gradually disappeared in a couple of open or not, are playful places. A ludic and psychic fissures7; it’s a fracture of the ego weeks, manipulated and partially destroyed playful city makes people happier because state. Psychotics’ need to construct new by vandalism and by the interactions from it contributes to the fulfillment of desires, worlds stems from this situation; they suc- passers-by. These spatial tactics9, which use expectations, physical and psychological ceed in constructing a new reality by means and occupy urban spaces, privilege the tem- comfort, which are, all of them, contingent, of hallucinations, which, being actually poral dimension of mechanisms and actions continually changing. A ludic city reveals the realities of psychotic certainties, don’t pro- focused on the how, that is, on the ways of unexpected, the unanticipated (by designers), voke a loss of reality; they rather create a not using space, while strategies10 favor the spa- the creative, the (often) economically inef- shared reality. By means of this reality, the tial dimension and produce conceptualized ficient potentials of urban spaces, which can (psychotic) subject produces himself/herself spaces (the spaces of architects, urbanists, contribute to understand the non-functional through new identities. In his/her search for planners, technicians), shaped by means of and non-instrumental aspects of contempo- a lost subjectivity, the subject turns delirium abstract models and focused on what kind of rary practices and uses in everyday life. into rationality, which, ultimately, is the oth- space is produced. Caillois argues that “Play is an occasion of er side of delirious thinking. In such a con- pure waste: waste of time, energy, ingenu- text, rationality is meant to be an extended ity, skill, and often of money11.”He gives the rationality in which there is room for other VIII. An inclusive city definition of four types of games – competi- notions, such as justification – to be added to A happy city is successful in treating with tion (agôn), chance (alea), simulation/role- demonstration - and probable truths - to be add- problems of poverty and exclusion; it is an playing (mimicry), and vertigo/disorientating ed to certain truths. inclusive city that enables its inhabitants - re- oneself (ilinix) – according to different sets

12 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue of rules and roles assumed by participants. then be redefined as a system or network of 1. See: THEME EUROPAN 12: ADAPTABLE Stevens12 analyzes different stages and loca- relationships that shapes or arranges differ- CITY, http://www.europan-europe. tions of urban realm where these kinds of ent possibilities of living. The dialogical di- eu (accessed 13 April, 2015) 2. See: Arendt, H. 1958, The Human Condition, plays can occur and be observed: paths, inter- mension Bakhtin wrote about is a fictional Chicago University Press, Chicago sections, thresholds, boundaries and props. Paths space inhabited by both the listener and the 3. See: Honig, B. “Toward an Agonistic are linear sequences of public spaces along narrator/author, in contrast to the monologic Feminism: Hannah Arendt and the Politics which dynamic, unplanned creative activi- dimension in which the characters are mere of Identity,” in Honig, B. (ed.) 1995, Feminist Interpretations of Hannah Arendt, Penn ties may take place. “Intersections exemplify spokespersons of the author's ideas. The dia- State Press, University Park, 156-160 Lefebvre’s definition of urbanism13:” they are logic dimension is a polyphonic and multidi- 4. Atelier d'architecture autogérée (aaa) is a places of sudden, unexpected encounters, of mensional dimension of the world seen from Paris-based practice founded by Constantin assembly and simultaneity, and of distrac- others’ perspectives; in other words, it is syn- Petcou and Doina Petrescu in 2001 5. http://www.muf.co.uk/portfolio/altab- tions which open up new possibilities and onymous with cooperation and dialogue, dif- ali-park (accessed 29 July 2014) directions for movements, expanding time ferences and otherness. 6. See: Petrescu, D. (ed.) 2007, Altering and space. Boundary conditions exist to be Practices: Feminist Politics and Poetics the catalyst of transgressive behaviors. Edges Some conclusive remarks of Space, Routledge, London 7. See: Perelman, C. y Olbrecht-Tyteca, L. 1969, and margins help people regulate the level The city as a whole can still exists to the ex- The new rhetoric: A treatise on argumentation (J. of engagement with strangers and uncertain tent that we learn to think of it as a network Wilkinson and P. Weaver, trans.), University situations. Their sense of togetherness takes of interconnected but heterogeneous parts; hier- of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame advantage of the comfortable aspects of se- archical and scalar principles still work only 8. See: Rendell, J. “Critical Spatial Practices: clusion. Threshold is a boundary condition if we assume that they may change: they are Setting Out a Feminist Approach to some Modes and what Matters in Architecture,” that can be inhabited, which has an inside transformative and tentative entities. The in Brown, L. A. (ed.) 2011, Feminist and an outside where movements and social new challenge of urban planning and design Practices: interdisciplinary approaches to encounters are possible. It’s a transitional is to combine urban issues with human be- women in Architecture, Ashgate Publishing place, a buffer and soft zone, an in-between haviours (use, appropriation, shared practic- Limited, Surrey and Burlington, 17-57. 9. See: de Certeau, M. 1984, The practice of space which is “shallow enough to allow for es, self-organization, etc.) that may contrib- everyday life (S. Rendall trans.), University conversation, but deep enough to allow for ute to achieve a general feeling of happiness. of California Press, Berkeley retreat14.” Props constitutes a “microgrogra- But a happy city is not a measurable techni- 10. Ibid. phy of built elements that structure human cal issue and cannot be fully controlled and 11. Caillois, R. 1961, Man, play, and games, Free Press of Glencoe, New York, 5 experience and movement within the body’s understood. Our ordinary, everyday life ac- 12. See: Stevens, Q. 2007, The ludic city: Exploring 15 reach .” They are small devices that make tivities take place within the framework of the potential of public spaces, Routledge, London people feel more comfortable. a dialogical dimension oscillating between 13. Ibid., 99 two states: behaviours governed by rules 14. Montgomery, C. 2013, How Urban Design Influences How Many Friends You Have, X. A dialogic city often merge with those shaped by contin- http://www.fastcoexist.com/3021478/ A happy city is a dialogic city. Bakhtinian dia- gencies. Due to the growing complexity of how-urban-design-influences-how-many- logism provides a useful framework to con- contemporary life, the static and traditional friends-you-have (accessed 13 April, 2015) ceptualize and define the complex relations notion of plan needs to be expanded to en- 15. Stevens, Q. 2007, The ludic city: Exploring the potential of public spaces involved in the process of giving meanings compass the possibility of change. Disciplin- , Routledge, London, 178 16. Bakhtin, M. M. “Las formas del tiempo y del to a place and of place-making. Participation, ary boundaries need to be constantly renego- cronotopo en la novela. Ensayos de poética alterity, heterogeneity are the key words of a tiated. An upgraded version of urbanism is histórica,” in Bakhtin, M. M. and Kriúkova, dialogical approach to urban planning and needed in order to match the complexity of H. S. (ed.) 1989, Teoría y estética de la novela, design that can be located somewhere be- contemporary urban spaces. Such themes as Taurus, Madrid, 237 (my translation) 17. Possos Medellin, M. G. 2012, “Espacio tween a bottom-up and a top-down strategy, urban design qualities, behavioural econom- y Tiempo.” Paper presented within the between participatory design and the legal ics and psychological well-being should be International Workshop COAC Barcelona requirements of a regeneration project. interconnected and integrated with innova- 2012 – Jornadas Científicas COAC Barcelona The assimilation of Bakhtinian dialogism tive survey techniques, new forms of (multi- ARCHITECTURE, EDUCATION AND SOCIETY, Barcelona 23-25 de Mayo, 2012, http://www. into urban and architecture design is based level) governance and new methods and for- pa.upc.edu/Varis/altres/arqs/congresos/ on his definition of chronotope. "We will call mats for data processing and dissemination. copy_of_International-Workshop-COAC- chronotope (whose literal translation means Barcelona-2012---Jornadas-Cientificas-COAC- "time-space") the essential connection of Barcelona-2012/comunicacions/sesion-6- session-6/POSSOS-G.pdf/at_download/file spatial temporal relationships artistically as- similated in literature16." The application of the definition of chronotope to architecture makes it possible to draw a parallel between architecture and narrative, between built space and narrative time17. A chronotope can

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 13 Referrences Artistic actions for a possibilities of happiness in the city, point- • Arendt, H. 1958, The Human Condition, Chicago ing out initiatives that are strengthening University Press, Chicago happier Venice • Bakhtin, M. M. and Kriúkova, H. S. (ed.) 1989, Te- the bond between inhabitants and its public oría y estética de la novela, Taurus, Madrid Violeta Pires Vilas Boas spaces through art and culture. • Bravo, L. 2012, Public spaces and urban beauty. The pursuit of happiness in the contemporary Euro- pean city, European symposium on research in People, cities and feelings Architecture and Urban Design (6th Congress) Introduction Happiness and congregation, fear and separation proceedings, EURAU12 Porto | Espaço Público e Researching on artistic and cultural acts’ In order to comprehend the meaning of Cidade Contemporânea • Brown, L. A. (ed.) 2011, Feminist Practices: inter- impacts on public spaces has been clearly a happiness in the city, we must understand disciplinary approaches to women in Architecture, way to develop strategies that could gener- the reasons that made us, humans, to live Ashgate Publishing Limited, Surrey and Bur- lington ate happiness on public spaces. Since this together and to build cities, beyond the sur- • Caillois, R. 1961, Man, play, and games, Free Press research, up to know, had been mostly de- vival matter. of Glencoe, New York veloped in Rio de Janeiro, it was based on its Lewis Mumford’s had affirmed that even be- • de Certeau, M. 1984, The practice of everyday life (S. Rendall, trans.), University of California radical contrasts, like social and economical fore being a center of permanent residence, Press, Berkeley ones, that we were motivated to recognize the city begins to exist as a gathering place, for • Honig, B. (ed.) 1995, Feminist Interpretations of moments and places in witch those contrasts mutual relations and spiritual stimulation, Hannah Arendt, Penn State Press, University Park • http://www.edcities.org/ (accessed 13 April, were reduced, in witch the feeling of happi- rather than trading (BAGNASCO, 1999; p.120- 2015) ness was increased, despite all the sadness, 1). Thus, the need of meeting and celebrating • http://www.muf.co.uk/portfolio/altab-ali-park fear, anxiety and indifference that penetrate together was the city’s great function. (accessed 29 July 2014) • http://www.europan-europe.eu (accessed 13 social relations in this city. Henri Lefebvre also mentions that the city, as April, 2015) Proceeding to this research in Venice, its con- a work of art, has a value of use, rather than a • Montgomery, C. 2013, Happy city. The science and story of urban wellbeing, Allen Lane, London trasts reveal different origins and emotions value of trade, meaning that the city’s main • Montgomery, C. 2013, “The secrets of the world's from those seen in Rio de Janeiro. On the oth- use is the Celebration2. He affirms, “In the happiest cities,” http://www.theguardian.com/ er hand, global processes, like economical street, the movement, the mixing happens, with- society/2013/nov/01/secrets-worlds-happiest- cities-commute-property-prices (accessed 13 and cultural exchanges and intense fluxes of out which there is no city life, but separation, stipu- April, 2015) people are affecting both cities. lated and immobilized segregation”(LEFEBVRE, • Perelman, C. y Olbrecht-Tyteca, L. 1969, The new Venice was, for Lefebvre, the city among the 2008; p.27). rhetoric: A treatise on argumentation (J. Wilkinson and P. Weaver, trans.), University of Notre Dame cities and, for many visitors, it produces an Bagnasco affirms that the city is differentiat- Press, Notre Dame expectation of amusement, surprise and ed, fluid, being, in some senses, the opposite • Petrescu, D. (ed.) 2007, Altering Practices: Feminist happiness by enjoying its peculiar beauty. of community, since it is a typical place for Politics and Poetics of Space, Routledge, London • Possos Medellin, M. G. 2012, “Espacio y Tiem- Artistic and cultural events are part of Ven- separation and identity crises. He refers to po.” Paper presented within the International ice’s cultural heritage, mobilizing local econ- Simmel’s perception of post-industrial soci- Workshop COAC Barcelona 2012 – Jornadas Científicas COAC Barcelona ARCHITECTURE, omy and transforming city’s urban spaces. ety in witch city crowds had produced feel- EDUCATION AND SOCIETY, Barcelona 23-25 There is a calendar of different events sup- ings of indifference, solitude and the need of de Mayo, 2012, http://www.pa.upc.edu/Varis/ ported by local government, however, are individuality. In pre-industrial society, social altres/arqs/congresos/copy_of_International- Workshop-COAC-Barcelona-2012---Jornadas- they really generating happiness in public relations were based in a common sense of Cientificas-COAC-Barcelona-2012/comuni- spaces? Are there any unofficial artistic acts identity, reciprocity and trust. cacions/sesion-6-session-6/POSSOS-G.pdf/ that might be more connected to Venetian According to Bagnasco, in the present day, at_download/file • Stevens, Q. 2007, The ludic city: Exploring the po- residents? Those are the first questions for even in small cities and villages, in witch it is tential of public spaces, Routledge, London this research. more probable to have permanent relations Thus, first, the concept of happiness in pub- of affection and trust, it is not possible to at- lic spaces must defined and restricted, by re- tribute them as communities. With the ease lating it to the city’s development, its local so- of communications and transport, people ciety1 and to artistic and cultural acts’ effects are connected to multiple places; therefore, on public spaces. all types of cities and villages have societal Then, the history of artistic and cultural relations, even if they also have community events in Venice must be approached, in or- ones3. Today’s cities and villages can be re- der to understand the so-called ‘industry of ferred as local societies. culture’, its impacts on public spaces and on In one hand, intense fluxes of people from Venetian inhabitants’ daily life, up to now. different cultures may stimulate segrega- Finally, we intend to analyze local regulation tion, as a way to protect the sense of indi- for artistic and cultural activities in public viduality and identity. On the other hand, spaces, as well as for general public uses. The the access to multiple cultures and people intention is to understand how local govern- may provoke casual meetings and produc- ment is stimulating or restricting people’s tive experiences witch may produce a sub-

14 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue culture, like an artistic or political move- possibility of amusement10. Several legal acts Fabio Isman had described the historical de- ment, or new brands and services. Those were approved to banish it from Europe, due velopment of Venice as an industry of cul- micro social mechanisms occur due to the to, as Max Weber affirmed, Protestantism and ture, including not only cultural and artistic city’s serendipity effect4. This is connected capitalism expansion that had induced a so- events, but also several kinds of art expres- to Bauman’s notion of identity and culture, berer and more controlled behavior11. sions and cultural productions, as music, in witch “It is the ability to change (…) which From French Revolution to the 20th centu- theater and publishing. ensures its continuity"(BAUMAN, 2012; p.69). ry’s dictatorships, celebrations on the streets Publishing houses – introduced in the 15th This means that cultural identity in local could only happen in a planned way. After century – had influenced its great families societies consists in selecting, recycling and French Revolution, all royal and catholic ritu- to acquire intellectual ambitions, and, con- rearranging all cultural material available. als from Ancient Regime had to be substitut- sequently, to invest in art and cultural ac- ed. In the place of madness and spontaneity, tivities15. From 16th to 18th century, Venice’s Artistic and cultural acts and collective feelings there was serenity and order12. In the same public spaces were largely used for festivi- Believing that city must stimulate happi- path, fascist spectacles had used public spaces ties, public fights, bull hunts, and, of course ness through meetings and exchanges of to congregate people only as spectators. Carnival. Venetian families used celebra- experiences rather than to provoke sadness Rock concerts of the 1960’s symbolize a re- tions to flaunt their power16; investments on or indifference through segregation, that we bellion against the spectators’ role to witch festivities were a way to demonstrate their must understand how artistic and cultural society was restricted. Its audience wanted love for the city, as well as a way of pleasure acts had occurred through time. to combat the 20th century’s culture that had and prestige17. From the first celebrations in primitive set- restricted movements in general, weakening Carnival used to last six months, bringing tlements to giant concerts of our days, Barba- people with physical immobilization and visitors and making masks a part of everyday ra Ehrenreich had researched the permanent emotional repressions. clothing, witch was approved by Church18. need of humans to celebrate and experience Thus, rock had induced a total liberation Despite others European cities, Venice had a joy together along time. and a rebellion against war and social in- peculiar relationship between government The evolutionary function of dance can be justices, creating a culture that was apart of and church, since Republican State and Papa- justified by encouraging humans to live in dominant structures13. This is also reflected cy had different ideologies and constitution- larger groups, in order to guarantee better on several artistic movements, like Mini- al principles19. Therefore, Doges had tried to survival conditions. However, even if it had a mal, Conceptual and Land Art, Fluxus and reduce Church’s influence on Venetian life. rational function, it was a pleasant activity5. performances. Artists had the need to con- Theater was an example of this tension. Ancient Greek rituals were based on a collec- nect to the city and society, as a way of criti- Producing alternatives to daily life, it was tive loosen of control and a strong connec- cizing commercial system of art and reaf- considered a revolutionary medium of art20. tion with gods6. Roman civilization, howev- firming their social role14. Bernardo Secchi In theater, social and sexual freedom could er, had reduced those celebrations, in order deepens this perception, by affirming “this be experienced; thus, it was condemned by to maintain population control. Music and attention to performances symbolizes a phobia Church. The Republic had tolerated it, main- dance were considered indecent and vicious, of sameness and definitive, of what does not al- taining as a public event21. From 16th to 18th and citizens were not allowed to gather if it low standing out and emerging, with the conse- centuries, “from being a place of transgression, was not in a familiar level or for a State call7. quence of a gradual privatization of the body, theater evolved to being a symbol and site for Christianity used to have ecstatic rituals, but the lifestyle, the space in which this takes place” self-representation of a new social class (…): the they were repressed after becoming Rome’s (SECCHI, 2000; p.23). middle class”(FOSCARI, 2014; p.118). official religion8. In 12th and 13th centuries, This privatization relates to Debord’s society In this process, commedia dell’arte had when dances were finally removed from of the spectacle, in witch people absorb com- emerged from Carnival as a type of dramatur- churches, public festivities occupied the mercial entertainment and culture, focused gy that inherited its sexual and social libera- streets. Carnival, as a major catholic celebra- on individual property, instead of creating tion and used public spaces as stag22. Being tion, represented collective joy and the es- their own ways of collective joy. an opposition to literary theater from pal- cape of conventional roles. Ehrenreich says For Ehrenreich, Carnival is the festivity that aces, it had an extremely popular character. “Independent of the social category in witch people most symbolizes human capacity of col- In order to avoid reprehension and preserve were fitted (…), Carnival was a chance to scape lective joy. Along time, it had oscillated be- innovations, improvisation and brief scripts from it” (EHRENREICH, 2010; p.112). She tween being a way of social control and a were fundamental tactics23, consequently, ac- quotes Goethe, when he says that Carnival school for revolution. tors used to have different abilities, like sing- is something that people give to themselves. ing, dancing, magic and circus performanc- Thus, even if Middle Ages has a reputation of The history of Venice’s artistic and es. As commedia dell’arte had declined, Carlo being full of misery and fear, this period can cultural acts Goldoni, a Venetian playwright, had decided be seen as a big open air party, if compared to Venice’s artistic and cultural events have to renovate it as a way to retrieve its educa- the Puritan period that had followed9. been part of the city’s myth along its history tional function and to register the Borghese From 16th to 19th century, Church and State and compose with other art expressions the class24. Around 17th and 18th century, it was had suppressed festivities as well as every immaterial part of Venice. part of Carnival’s schedule.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 15 Contrast between San Marco’s zone and Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio

With Venice’s French occupation, in 1797, public spaces have being controlled and all artistic authorizations for the whole area followed by Austrians, Carnival was inter- used, especially, with art and culture. of Venice. This comparison indicates how rupted to prevent rebellions. Only in 1979, much tourism and commerce have been pri- Venice’s Carnival was reestablished, due to Public spaces for Venetian’s collective oritized in public spaces. cultural institutions’ mobilization and to happiness Urban Police Regulation has several restric- economical and logical support of local gov- As a touristic city, it is understandable that tions to public spaces’ uses that seem exag- ernment, cultural and touristic entities. public spaces must be ordinated. Consider- gerated, vague or uncontrollable, like step- Fabio Isman affirms that Venice needs ing Venice’s compact urban fabric, some ping or sitting on grassy spaces, lying down events to attract tourism, meaning that it uses can be abusive to collective welfare. on benches, sitting in any place that is not must produce memorable episodes, in order However, over control can inhibit residents’ specifically designed for it, or standing in to offer exceptional occasions for its audi- appropriation of their public spaces. public spaces without motivation29. ence25. Venetian calendar is fulfilled with Artistic activities’ regulation indicates 3 ‘SOS Artisti di Strada’ is a movement that events, however, they seem more related to types of permissions: Figurative Arts (draw- had begun when, after being prohibited a touristic strategy than to a form of gathering, painting, photography, etc.) may have several times by the police from drawing ing inhabitants in collective joy. semiannual or decennial authorizations; in Venice’s streets, a resident had decided to Campi – the Venice’s squares – is where col- Other Artistic Fields (jewelry, toys, ornaments manifest her indignation in a website and lective interests like church, market and and any artistic ability that can elicit pub- in social medias. This action had connected wells were concentrated. Since its origin, lic's interest) may have only temporarily au- artists and residents that met up, shared ex- campi were conceived as a meeting place, thorizations, for a maximum 7-day-period27. periences and organized collective events in used for celebrations and rituals . Venice’s Decennial authorizations have the maxi- public spaces. inhabitants still use campi as a meeting mum number of 42; semiannual, 30; and Those events gather artists, musicians, cir- place, however, in touristic zones, public periodic authorizations (for Other Artistic cus performers and include ateliers’ visits spaces are often privatized by local govern- Fields), 10 per month. Figurative Arts’ autho- and workshops. In an interview, Naomí Car- ment. As Foscari affirms, “the vast number rization – witch is mainly for art trading – rau, the artist who initiated ‘SOS Artisti di of tourists in Venice has changed the concept of are 7 times superior than for Other Artistic Strada’, affirms that street artists in Venice public property. Public spaces are no longer an Fields. are constrained to a regulation based on the ‘urban void’ that citizens can use as they see fit.” For touristic market points, the number least disruption possible, being barred with (FOSCARI, 2014; p.337-8). of decennial authorizations, just in San bans and fines. Therefore, artists are gath- In a city that its population decreases and Marco’s surrounding area, is 7628. Touristic ered together for free expression of art in touristic population has a perspective of commerce in this zone is expected to be in- public spaces and for building a more toler- growth, it is important to understand how tense, however, this number covers almost ant and sensitive city30.

16 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue This movement also had lead to a commu- Centauro Editora, São Paulo; p.17; p.52-3. The archeological heritage nity garden that is occupying a public par- 18. ISMAN, F. 2000, Venezia, la fabbrica della cultura: tra istituzioni ed eventi, terre to cultivate species of vegetables and of Reggio Calabria: a social Marsilio Editori, Venezia; p.124. spices, developing educational activities for 19. FOSCARI, G. W. R. 2014, Elements of Venice, net of fruition local children and involving their parents Lars Müller Publishers, Zürich; p.331. Salvatore Borruto and relatives in a commune action. Those 20. Ibid., p.115. experiences indicate that Venetian artists 21. Ibid., p.115-6. 22. VENDRAMINI, J. E. 2001, A commedia and residents are trying to improve collec- dell’arte e sua reoperacionalização, In: Trans/ Description tive happiness in public spaces, despite all Form/Ação 24: 57-83, São Paulo; p.66. The project idea was born from the need to net- government restrictions. 23. Ibid., p.61-64. work a territory that very often finds himself in In those actions’ manifests, the slogan “Ven- 24. Ibid., p. 71. a state of aphasia and poor historical memory. 25. ISMAN, F. 2000, Venezia, la fabbrica ice is still alive” is often used, as a way of ex- della cultura: tra istituzioni ed eventi, Through both virtual and real fielded in our pressing that residents still exist, even if the Marsilio Editori, Venezia; p.120. project idea, the intent is to put at the center city seems to be populated only by tourists. 26. MANCUSO, F. 2009, Venezia è una città. of the so-called 'network of social use' the mu- It is also expressed that those actions aim to Come è stata costruita e come vive, Corte del seum of Ancient Greece as a pole of attraction, Fontego Editore, Venezia; p.16; 18. revive Venice’s public spaces like they once 27. Regolamento per la disciplina delle attività orbit around it and do all the archaeological were, bringing to present memories of a place artistiche che si svolgono su suolo pubblico. heritage and that are located within the urban conceived to gather and celebrate together. Available on: http://www.comune.venezia. boundary of the historic city. While visiting the community garden and it/flex/cm/pages/ ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/ IDPagina/29440. Consulted on 04/05/2015. talking to the organizers, I had talked to a The program design is as follows: 28. Legge 28.3.1991 n.112 art. 3. Istituzione senior resident about artistic and collective del mercato turistico- giornaliero di actions in Campo San Giacomo dell’Orio. Her “Area Marciana – Riva degli Schiavoni”. The share capital of the network: the places answer represents the importance of stimu- Available on: http://www.comune. - Castello Aragonese lating artistic and cultural actions in public 29. venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/ - The Greek Walls IDPagina/29440. Consulted on 04/05/2015. spaces: she said that it allows her to be a child 30. Regolamento di polizia urbana. Available - The Roman Baths again and to play. This reminds us a funda- on: http://www.comune.venezia.it/ - Remains of the Italian Piazza mental concept of collective joy, symbolized 31. flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/ - The remains of Via Trabocchetto in Carnival: the possibility to scape from so- IDPagina/29440. Consulted on 04/05/2015. - Villa Zerbi 32. Interview available on: http://www.nacasona. cial characters in witch people are fitted. In a gancho.me/Intervista-Noemi-Carrau-Neura- - The museum of the musical instrument / succinct way, it is the possibility of freedom Magazine.pdf. Consulted on 04/08/2015. Pineta Zerbi witch is also the fundament for happiness. - Park Griso-Flask

The added value of the network: the muse- 1. This term will be explained forward. Referrences um of Ancient Greece 2. LEFEBVRE, H. 2011, O Direito à cidade, • BAGNASCO, A. 1999, Tracce di comunità: temi de- Centauro Editora, São Paulo; p.12. rivati da un concetto ingombrante, Società editrice 3. BAGNASCO, A. 1999, Tracce di comunità: il Mulino, Bologna Project ideas: real networks and virtual net- • BAUMAN, Z. 2012, Ensaios Sobre o Conceito de temi derivati da un concetto ingombrante. works Cultura, Jorge Zahar Ed., Rio de Janeiro Società editrice il Mulino, Bologna; p.37. • DI LECCE, C. 2014, Arte e Immaginario dei Luo- - Integrated transport network 4. Ibid., p.149-50. ghi: Valorizzazione Simbolica Site-Specific a Berli- - Integrated network of cultural heritage 5. EHRENREICH, B. 2010, Dançando Nas no. Thesis (PhD in Urbanism) – IUAV School of - Augmented reality Ruas: uma história do êxtase coletivo, Doctorate Studies, Venice Record, Rio de Janeiro; p.35-8. • EHRENREICH, B. 2010, Dançando Nas Ruas: uma - Enhancement 6. Ibid., p.54-5. história do êxtase coletivo, Record, Rio de Janeiro • FOSCARI, G. W. R. 2014, Elements of Venice, Lars 7. Ibid., p.66-70. Enhancement: return to the light of the me- 8. Ibid., p.88-93. Müller Publishers, Zürich 9. Ibid., p.116-9. • ISMAN, F. 2000, Venezia, la fabbrica della cultura: morial sites tra istituzioni ed eventi, Marsilio Editori, Venezia 10. Ibid., p.122-3. • LEFEBVRE, H. 2008, A Revolução Urbana, Editora 11. Ibid., p.125-6. UFMG, Belo Horizonte Management: integrated systems and part- 12. Ibid., p.228-9. • LEFEBVRE, H. 2011, O Direito à cidade, Centauro nerships 13. Ibid., p.257-9; p.266. Editora, São Paulo - Integration of services 14. DI LECCE, C. 2014, Arte e Immaginario dei • MANCUSO, F. 2009, Venezia è una città. Come è Luoghi: Valorizzazione Simbolica Site-Specific stata costruita e come vive, Corte del Fontego Edi- - Involvement of local a Berlino. Thesis (PhD in Urbanism) – IUAV tore, Venezia - Partnership between the various actors School of Doctorate Studies, Venice; p.118. • SECCHI, B. 2000, Prima lezione di urbanistica, - Awareness 15. ISMAN, F. 2000, Venezia, la fabbrica Gius. Laterza & Figli, Roma della cultura: tra istituzioni ed eventi. • VENDRAMINI, J. E. 2001, A commedia dell’arte e sua reoperacionalização, In: Trans/Form/Ação 24: Marsilio Editori, Venezia; p.38. The so-called 'capital' of the network is basi- 57-83, São Paulo 16. Ibid., p.51. cally formed by the archaeological heritage 17. Consult LEFEBVRE, H. 2011, O Direito à cidade, which it was decided to create a network.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 17 These from our point of view, may offer an increase in value to the entire city, simply through their use and enjoyment. The scope in which they were taken into account such property is bordered by the urban limit of the historical center of the city coming out of this dimension, it would run the risk of losing the sense and objective of the project to develop. Too much dispersion could turn into little interest and so on. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the theme from the three proposed, and that is definitely the first 'museum as attractor' in fact clear the intention is to increase, through our strategy, the potential of building Piacentini, bringing it out of the border interest of the visitor / user. Do understand that the urban fabric of the city is a museum itself, it falls between the project objectives. Hence the fact of thinking in building Pia- centini as the added value of the network, the starting point for every 'exploration modern' city of the fairy Morgana. Think of the Museum only as one of the strengths of the city has not paid off in the past, think instead as one of the strengths integrated within a network could be from our point of view, the way for the development of city. From a design point of view, the primary idea is to integrate services between the various actors acting within the city: it is in fact thought to consider railway stations located along the entire coast (as in Catona Bocale) and launched the idea of a metro area that guarantees fast connections on the coastline. On the other side at each station you should create nodes exchangers where they cross the rail transport with the road, with bike lanes. Also as part real, think small 'corner' where you can access the primary information along the route, a veritable cultural Cover of the project work paths marked physically on the territory through colors, vegetation or else could do to support the general idea networking. This should be the ultimate goal in the de- scarce economic resources, streamline every From a point of view instead virtual, the idea velopment of the area through a center of Euro spent is a categorical imperative. The of augmented reality, and that is, of the ele- attraction as the Museum of Ancient Greece, idea of networking of transport should be ments that 'increase' reality through a mobile and polar orbit, archaeological assets that a implemented by local actors: Municipality, device, such as a smartphone, with the use of a little 'should be like the Moon around the Province, Region and some private partner PC equipped with a webcam or other sensors, Earth: without it, the Earth itself is not He that would provide resources and renewable with vision devices (eg. spectacles projected would have no reason to exist. technologies. The way that we call for the on the retina), listening (headphones) and From a managerial point of view however, realization of our project is that of synergy manipulation (gloves) that add multimedia the idea of partnership in public and private public / private, through a strong control of information to the reality normally perceived institutions, governments and citizens could the investment (which, as can be seen from already, it might be one of the strengths of the be a key to strong management within the the following tables is very low) and a good project 'use of the network' . areas of our proposed project. In times of return in the long run, to allow sustainability.

18 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The network system in the historic center of Reggio Calabria

Objectives The objectives of the project are part of the cal memory of a city with ancient origins tion that requires more intervention is that first proposed topic and that is what 'Mu- often forgotten it was deliberately one of of the integrated transport system. In fact, seum as attractor' in a clear and timely. This our goals, because without the knowledge the revival of the railway stations, aban- is because in the integrated network of so- of their past can not build a better future. doned for years, could be an opportunity cial use, Piacentini palace will be the strong for local transport. A metro area that con- point, as you mentioned earlier, and will act To summarize briefly the design objectives nects the two ends of the city, would solve as a guiding star to the entire system of the set we can say that the project should: several problems roads. Create platforms 'capital of the network'. On the one hand - Networking the archaeological heritage of exchange on the various systems on the through the ease of access to sites placed and not; other hand, it offers different ways of mo- online, the other by the increased virtual ca- - Increase the visibility of the 'social capital'; bility and also at the same time would be pacity to access information support to the - Make the museum the main attraction of to support the enhancement of assets that visit and to the knowledge of the same plac- which orbit network assets; form the 'capital of the network'. In support es. This will lead to two different effects on - Increasing the accessibility of sites and of this action also there will be pedestrian the environment: increased physical pres- transport networks integrating; privileged, in which symbols (trees, instal- ences (and higher tourism and economic - Increase the virtual information; lations, color) will be the guide to the user. mechanisms in motion) and other activat- - Mend the historical memory. The plantings along the route of special es- ing a virtuous circle in the center the city, sences, installations functional or colored which gives a positive image out its borders. Actions to be taken corridors along the pavement will guide Start the tourism industry of the city (actu- Actions to be taken as previously men- intangible place. Of non-living materials, ally stops and still in its infancy) would be tioned during the presentation of the proj- which will become living beings. a strong stimulus to restart a town showing ect, are different and at different levels. some difficulty in his face. From the histori- From a point of view strictly real, the ac-

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 19 Referrences Happiness and urban sat in a subway station and began playing six • Progetto: 99 ideas Call for Reggio Calabria Bach pieces with the violin for 45 minutes. • Il Patrimonio archeologico di Reggio Calabria: design una rete di fruizione sociale. Architetto. It was estimated that during this period of • Concorso internazionale promosso dal Mini- Else Caggiano time, chosen at rush hour, there has been a stro per la Coesione Territoriale – Presidenza transit of at least 1,100 people who went to del Consiglio dei Ministri in collaborazione con altre Amministrazioni, finalizzato ad attivare la work, among them only six hold you back a partecipazione della collettività locale, naziona- Can we build happier cities? bit, about 20 gave some money, but contin- le e internazionale, per la definizione di idee a An increasingly discussed topic in the inter- ued to walk normally. At the end of the exhi- favore dello sviluppo socio-economico di alcuni “luoghi” del territorio italiano. national cultural scene, thanks to the devel- bition no one applauded, nor was there any opment of urban policies aimed at sustain- recognition in his regards; who payed more • Progetto: “Si può fare, ora!” Terre sospese • Consulenza e progettazione paesistica all’in- ability, concerns the correlation between the attention has been a child of three years old, terno di un bando di sviluppo europeo. Proget- quality of urban life and the quality of life his mother urged him to hurry, but the kid tazione di percorsi e green ways, car sharing e compared to the urban environment. Psy- stopped to look at the violinist. No one knew fruizione del paesaggio dell’Area Grecanica della provincia di Reggio Calabria. chology applied to urban planning, sociol- this, but the violinist was one of the most ogy of housing and urban design study this talented musicians in the world and two • Progetto: “Dal mare alla montagna: i paesaggi relationship. Their main contribution, as days before he sold out at a theater in Bos- del Sant’Agata” • Progetto di riqualificazione urbana e territoria- well as objective, is to analyze the influence ton where the seats’ cost was averaged $ 100. le all’interno del bacino fluviale del torrente of the environment on our behavior and on This experiment is full of reflections on what Sant’Agata nella immediata periferia di Reggio our mind and vice versa understand how the is and what has become our perception, if we Calabria, attraverso buone pratiche di ingegne- ria ambientale e naturalistica. man, with his mind and his behavior may do not have a moment to stop and listen to a change the environment. It is important musician among the best in the world, play- nowadays to think holistically about practic- ing the best music ever written - how many es related to the renewal of the territory and other things are we missing? adopt multidisciplinary criteria based also The sense of beauty today is drastically on the contact with the residents to fill the changing and evolving into something we're gap too often found among ideas-planning not used and prepared. As now you have no and the needs of the population. more time to pause for a moment in a subway to listen to a great virtuoso of classical Considering how the environment condi- music so you do not have more time to ex- tions human behavior, an extreme and im- change a few words with a neighbour or to pressive case is observed by an experiment look at the beauties of our city. on the perception of beauty, performed by violinist Joshua Bell in a subway in Wash- Now, thinking about how we can actuate in ington. The man, on a cold January morning, the built environment of our cities a “happiness cycle” we can start from the city itself, with its systems and forms. Evidence and researches have demonstrated how cities basically design emotional life, how the built environment influence our behaviour, how we treat each other and how we feel. For example, which shape symbolically gives us a feeling of inclusion and beckons the viewer to be drawn in, whatever the center may hold? The circle. The circle, geometric archetype of the psyche as Dr. Carl Jung assumes, brings naturally people together and makes us feel comfortable in staying along with other people and most of all makes us feel calm and part of a whole, no hierarchies. If for each block there were to be a circular garden, or simply a circular bench, people would be guided naturally to look into each others eyes, to share the space and social connections would become a much easier task to deal with. Copenhagen's Superkilen Urban Park (photo by Iwan Baan)

20 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Conviviality amongst people causes us to whatever else may be necessary to provide Parental Advisory. think more altruistically, more cooperatively favorable conditions for social life. Basically and this is just the attitude shift we need in the speaking, the city is the set of its inhabitants, Experience is the Content! pressing challenge of this urban century. the result of which is not the sum of numbers, Salvatore Carbone, Sara Omassi but something more, that spark that comes Urbanist and award-winning writer Charles from the purpose of the citizens and that is the Montgomery, points out that the most impor- soul of the city. The term city is not an abstract The surety of safety tant ingredient of human happiness isn’t mon- concept and does not express a utopia, it is in- Sometimes I think there is a relationship between ey, sex or food, it is social connections. There- stead a concrete form. Where what is thought the decay of mankind and prosperity and well-being fore the happy city is a social city above all. can then be accomplished. in which we live. The prosperity and well-being are The importance of social connections is well goals, also necessary, that mankind pursues in its explained by economist John F. Helliwell who Urban Psycho-Analysis and inhabitant experience- fight for progress, but they generate profound and compared life satisfaction, which is the mea- based urban planning as instruments to cure our dangerous contradictions. The human race is in fact sure of happiness, with reported trust in neigh- cities and enjoy life. destroying with its own hands some of the qualities bours, in cities across Canada. What he found The engineer and performer Laurent Petit it owns. was a strong correlation between these two, started a few years ago a research which he Mo Yan, Sorgo Rosso basically the more people said they have trust named urban psycho-analysis. Along with its in their neibours the happier people in that city association ANPU, starting from the idea that said they were. Money matters, but social trust cities have a subconscious and suffer, just like The adaptation to reality requires a continu- matters even more. People who are socially con- humans, neuroses, anxieties, complex and hid- ous frustration of primitive human impulses nected are more resilient and get through hard den fears, he explores the relationship between (Freud 1913); in his studies on creativity Sig- times more easily, they get over illness more what psychologists call 'self-identity' and 'place mund Freud, retaining too much unsatisfac- quickly, they live longer for an average of fifteen identity', individual identity and the identity of tory the nature of reality, argued that one of years more then people who are disconnected, the place, constantly undermined by urban de- the ways to satisfy human wish of happiness, they are more productive at work, infact social cay and the depersonalization of places. Aided compatible with widespread social conven- happiness correlates very strongly with eco- by the tools of psycho-analysis, interviewing tions, lied in the act of playing for children nomic growth. All this to say that if we aim for the residents of the patient-city and discover- and in the act of daydreaming for adults. a happy, resilient, healthy and wealthy society ing its history, through their myths and leg- During the last decades, the raising and the we should sincerely care about building social ends, Dr. Petit and his team analyze the collect- successive crisis of neoliberalism, deeply connections. And in order to build social con- ed data going back to the damage caused by the modified the conditions of public and eco- nections, the city must offer to its inhabitants urban design and finally pour in a performance nomic life, preparing the ground for a new instruments to interact, to keep fit, to feel con- on stage the existential conditions of the city social sphere in which the emerged subjec- fident with theirselves and the surrounding, and its inhabitants in a framework of surreal- tivities renegotiated their values and priori- to feel safe with their children and at the same ism and provocation. The ANPU also takes the ties. Increasingly people feel the need to ‘pro- time to make children to feel safe and happy in trouble to assign treatments to remedy the city tect’ themselves from a general danger state the environment. All these topics run in circle, or, if nothing else, puts into the inhabitants that relentlessly looms over an even more one cannot assume one without the other. the seed of change. Their dialogue with the in- impoverished and precarious middle class. The urban design must take into account these habitants and taking an artistic and technical To overtake this situation, people developed considerations, since itself, through her draw- approach at the same time (the working group a deep inclination to focus on the observance ings and the structuring of the city, helps to is composed of professionals such as architects of rules and knowledge of dangers to escape, change the behavior and the quality of life of and psychologists) to point the finger on the fostering a public sphere where prescrip- the citizen. Most importantly, the city needs problems of a city, bringing back to light the in- tions prevail above all. This pathologic state to be thought out, it needs us all. The city built adequate design on which they are formed, can of insecurity legitimizes an unconditional from the thought and participation, can give make us reflect on how effectively we citizens compliance of citizens to an overflowing rise to a new quality of life. To its realization are are the litmus test of urban planning and how apparatus of control that shapes people’s de- needed, the sharing of spaces and places, ideas we can make a difference if we were to be in- sires, trusts and, above all threats (Hardt and and objectives and a kind of education for so- volved in the latter by enforcing our real needs. Negri 2012). cial living and the sense of beauty. It is widely The neuroscientist Antonio Damàsio ar- accepted now that the meaning of the city can gues that unconscious feelings and incli- not limit to the vocabulary definition of "aggre- Referrences nations can substantially influence deci- gate of housing". "The city is a center not only • Laurent Petit, 2013, www.anpu.com sion procedures of people (Damasio 1995). • Charles Montgomery, 2013, Happy City: Tran- inhabited, but by making space in the best sforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, It is for this reason that fear represents one possible way, with buildings arranged more or United States, Canada, UK of the key elements of a binding regulatory less regularly, so as to form a convenient way • Carl Jung, 1944, Psychology and Alchemy, apparatus that fosters the market of “urban vol.12 the collected works of C.Jung, Princeton of practicability, provided public services and University, U.S. security”.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 21 The securitizing regime built up a kind citizen It is interesting to note how, nowadays, virtual On the one hand institutions buy certified play- desirous of protection, serenity and guaran- games - where all tangible risks are neutralized grounds by companies that sell - great cost! - ties, a kind of citizen disposed to sacrifice the - can hyperbolically represent the best option rather than a product, their readiness to assume happiness coming from the imagination of to ensure the maximum satisfaction of such legal liability on injuries; on the other hand what city can unexpectedly offers. defensive and precautionary position that, parents feel safe in knowing that someone has People accept to live in what Michel Fou- rather than protecting children, protects adults determined that certain spaces are child-proof. cault defines a prison society because of the from their responsibilities. People «feel so unable to control the events widespread thought that withdrawing from Nowadays a considerable amount of data, around them that they focus on perfecting and it makes citizens more exposed, unsafe and however, shows that the loss of concreteness controlling their children. They overmanage stressed out: they are not only the object of in games and the lack of stimuli in playgrounds their children because that is the one remain- security, but also the subject. lead to a notable reduction in the development ing arena where they can exercise real author- One of the most dangerous aspects of this of young people’s abilities. ity» (Mintz 2006). backdrop is the risk that tomorrow citizen- The lack of active and autonomous open-space In this way playgrounds have become over- ship will be even more dramatically framed experiences, besides prejudicing the psycho- protected islands, sometimes even closed and in such a condition of anxiety and uncertain- physical development, causes a significant hedged, where fences mirror parental fears ty due to institutions stuck on securitizing decrease of such experiences useful to develop more of trespassers coming in than of kids get- rules and prescriptions. the social skills of young people (Oliverio and ting out. Children are instilled by adults’ fears Even scholastic buildings are protected envi- Ferraris 2011, Healy 2004). that sometimes make them wonder why they ronments, where stereotyped, repetitive and According to INAIL data, school injuries, easily should go to a place so dangerous… paralyzing experiences occur across practic- linkable to the lack of physical development The risk is destroying the real capacities of es that should prepare youth for life outside, together with the incapacity to recognize dan- a place of urban happiness, where «children but just stoke the deep distrust creeping be- gers and risks, are ever increasing from 2009. whose lives are otherwise circumscribed by tween citizens. The Cardiologist Gavin Sandercock of the Es- age, disability, religion, ethic origin, poverty, Nowadays new generations face a very incon- sex University, has shown that in ten years the social strife, etc., can come together […] and sistent condition: on the one hand we note an strength of children’s arms fell by 26% (Cohen find their own level amongst the mix of oth- acknowledgement of their rights of social fig- et al. 2011), while in Germany some surveys has ers in ways that they cannot anywhere else ures to pay attention to, to account for and to registered a significant and gradual reduction in their lives»3. support through national and international of motor skills (jumping, balance maintaining, Furthermore, playgrounds could represent initiatives1; on the other hand a series of mea- running) in the younger segments of the popu- neighbourhood hubs: public spaces where peo- sures going the opposite way are daily ad- lation; about 50% of children attending school ple return over and over to hang out, find friend- opted, threatening their life quality and their have - according to the paediatricians and doc- ship and gain sense of community. healthy psychophysical development. tors’ association - postural defects. As this survey shows, playgrounds can reflect a There are, for example, parameters and re- Even intellectual abilities (spelling, math, ab- society’s values, attitudes and frustrations. The quirements through which producing risk- stract thinking, creativity) are compromised persistent sense of concern and anxiety fosters free environments, which, even in the places and the occurrence of typically adults’ diseases forms of individualism that strongly seem to af- where happiness should happens, provide began to affect even teenagers. fect the relational choices on public space of game. confined micro-worlds to carry out standard In such a scenario doctors and sociologists Here ethos is generally not to support and aid actions of play. Today’s typical playgrounds agree in identifying as a contributory cause each other: everyone watches out for himself. are «maintenance-free, caged areas that em- of certain behavioural problems - such as It is interesting to look at Scandinavian coun- phasize safety more than critical thinking, barbarization, self harm, violence and pes- tries, Norway in particular, where playgrounds smart reasoning, hopeful investigations, or simism - the inadequacy of relational and are training grounds for social interactions: thrilling adventures» (Solomon 2014). recreational environments addressed to chil- all citizens are responsible for all the children Here the individual and group creativeness dren and adolescents. (Waller et al. 2010). This condition of synergic is limited, or even obstructed, by ‘hyper-se- Therefore, how institutions, professionals and supervision «reassures parents that an adult cure’ devices, manufactured by industry and citizens can work to the renegotiation of an is always watching their children; it also com- required both by regulations and the securi- idea of inhabiting public space in which wel- forts kids by letting them know that they are tised citizens. fare and empathy constitute the cornerstones being monitored for anything that is too outra- In this context actions fostering proactivity of happiness? geous. In such a trusting atmosphere, parents as exploring, experiencing, launching, edit- feel they can encourage their children to be ing, starting something new, are dammed The experience of play self-reliant» (Solomon 2014) according to a so- and the ability to discover through inter- Public spaces, especially those dedicated to cial behaviour not troubled in finding ways to action - typical in childhood - is limited by children and adolescents, are thus conceived protect young generations, but rather aiming rules created to reassure adults; rules pro- thinking almost exclusively to stem respon- to provide them the skills to foster multi-age viding game actions that are mechanical sibilities and concerns of institutions and friendships, to be independent, to face the pos- and alienating. parents. sibilities to fail on the way to success.

22 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Nuovo Parco La Larga, Provaglio d’Iseo, Brescia, Italy

Particularly interesting is the work of Hau- barriers has to be overthrown in favour to an home, their expectations and desires for the gen/Zohar Arkitekter in Trondheim, where, idea of intergenerational playscapes – more new public space. TYIN architects noticed in 2012, they built a ‘Cave’ for the Breidablikk than playgrounds – that coherently merge the persistence in all graphic illustrations Kindergarten using up-cycled scraps of open- with their surroundings. Site specificity, is of strokes representing sunbeams: they de- cell xp foam. The little playground, designed a precious design subject through which duced that the project should have provided for children from two to five years old, is a architects can play a relevant social role by shady areas in a place where sun heavily twelve square meters cube that morphs into instilling memories in people providing ex- falls on surfaces with its heat wave. Young a ‘Cave’ with several external niches where clusive territorial experiences. Norwegian guys substantially participated to the project users can leave objects/treasures before en- architects TYIN Tegnestue provided an im- imagining which kinds of relationships were tering into a dark tunnel where discovering portant declination of the aforesaid approach needed in the new spaces; for example their a multitude of ‘secretive’ and ‘spooky’ spaces, in Klong Toey, one of the largest and oldest drawings showed a playscape used in his leading into internal organic rooms. Kids can informal dwellings in Bangkok. Klong Toey verticality too, reason that make the oblong help each other to overtake the slippery tun- Community Lantern is a playscape set in an building with the central courtyard usable in nels conducting to ‘secret’ relational spaces area that had been used as a landfill by inhabits 4,5 meters height too. Two wooden walls where their voices can’t be heard by parents itants after the loss of its use as soccer field. permeable towards the street are layered to because of the deafen properties of the build- The structure is «a combination of many ba- simplify the climbing of children who de- ing material. From their point of view, parents sic ideas and concepts, and embodies several light in reaching the higher floor without can difficulty go inside, but such a difficult of the features lacking in the area including using stairs. The whole building is usable by access ensures that the playground is really a new hoops for basketball, a stage for perfor- kids as a play area but the same elements per- place where kids are ‘lost’: adults trust them mances or public meetings, walls for climb- fectly fits to the needs of adults too; there are and their ability to take care of their safety. ing and seating both inside and around the no functional boundaries nor targeted benefi- Another important question emerging from edges of the playground» (TYIN Tegnestue ciaries, usages temporarily qualify the spaces this analysis is that containment is no longer and Skeide 2014). Five to ten years old kids of Community Lantern where every member a viable solution, physical and conceptual described, using drawings, their daily life at of the neighborhood is welcome.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 23 In Europe, despite the reluctance of many coun- Conclusions 1. Since the adoption in 1989 of the "Charter of tries like Italy towards this way to face to young «Architecture is a political field and a cog- Rights of the Childhood" a series of initiatives and projects concerning children and young generations, legislation accepts the risk and rec- nitive system that can enable the ‘public’ to people or including the size of childhood ognizes the possibility of injury; it provides rules access complexity, building collective capac- as a strategic element and as a sustainability that allow designer to experiment through proj- ity for political agency and actions at local indicator were born: Città educative, Città ects new ways of making relationships across scales» (Cruz 2014). sostenibili delle bambine e dei Bambini, Città Sane, Città Amiche dei Bambini, etc. urban space. With appropriate local regulatory Despite urban relational spaces for young 2. Moreover problems such as obesity (38% of interventions, urban environment can be in- people have been investigated and criticized Italian children), lack of coordination, lack deed a workshop of citizenship where experi- since the 70s, actually, the same characteris- of concentration, motor hyperactivity are ences flows while people evaluate and choose tics of 45 years ago persist. gradually increasing. Oliverio, Albertina, between many resources the ones that better fit The chance to experience spaces - then as to- and Anna Oliverio Ferraris. 2011. A Piedi Nudi Nel Verde: Giocare per Imparare a Vivere. to their needs and expectations. In this context day - is defined by game manufacturers that Firenze: Giunti, Healy, JM. 2004. ‘Early citizens join a community in which rules are mostly offer single-purpose and not recon- Television Exposure and Subsequent Attention agreements established on how living together figurable products. A small amount of equip- Problems in Children.’ Pediatrics 113 (4). benefitting by mutual differences. Spontane- ment is generally furnished to allow short American Academy of Pediatrics: 917–18. 3. Donne Buck describing the London Notting ousness, unpredictability and freedom of us- games, low-complexity activities that induce Hill Adventure Playground. Solomon, ages are relevant catalytic factors providing arid exercises and games without imagina- Susan G. 2014. The Science of Play. USA: opportunities of urbanity in which informal tive stimuli. University Press of New England. and non-aesthetistic experiences lead to dis- Nevertheless it is clear that facing the design cover vitality and happiness through gestures, of playgrounds, new generations of profes- actions and through all the unexpected conse- sionals can experiment innovative ways to Referrences quences generated from. In Provaglio d’Iseo, a reconnect young people with urban environ- • Cohen, Daniel, Christine Voss, Matt Taylor, A Delextrat, Ayodele A. Ogunleye, and Gavin little town in the Brescia territory, sa.und.sa ment, seen as a place where sharing experi- Sandercock. 2011. ‘Ten-Year Secular Changes architects referring to European standards, ences and strengthening personalities. in Muscular Fitness in English Children.’ Acta worked on a green parcel of 1200 square me- A territory interdicted, silenced by fears and Pædiatrica. Foundation Acta Pædiatrica. • Cruz, Teddy. 2014. ‘Rethinking Uneven Growth: tres into a new building neighbourhood. prescriptions can hardly be understood and It’s About Inequity, Stupid.’ In Uneven Growth: Centred around a pre-existing pathway, a tax- respected by inhabitants who will more Tactical Urbanisms for Expanding Megacities, edi- onomy of geometrical elements, defines three and more suffer the lack of opportunities ted by Pedro Gadanho. United States: Museum of Modern Art. areas characterized by their specific spatial vo- through which meeting up in a mutual and • Damasio, Antonio R. 1995. L’errore Di Cartesio: cabulary. There are linear objects to climb, pass, happy coexistence. Emozione, Ragione E Cervello Umano. Milano: Adelphi. cross or hang in order to overtake many little Without a proper policy on the ‘street play’ • Freud, Sigmund. 1977. ‘L’interesse per La Psicoa- challenges; here children can surpass their it will be always more hard to find chances nalisi.’ Torino: Bollati Boringhieri. limits, performing experiences increasingly to foster social skills and internalize rules • Jacques, Paola Berenstein. 2001. Estetica Da Gin- ga: A Arquitetura Das Favelas Atraves Da Obra De complex and gratifying. In the same area the of common sense and mutual respect. If no Helio Oiticica. 3rd ed. Rio de Janeiro: Editora Casa equipped structures can be used by adults for game will provide for margins of interpret- da Palavra. their training and fitness activities and by lo- ability and unpredictability to approach and • Healy, JM. 2004. ‘Early Television Exposure and Subsequent Attention Problems in Children.’ cal associations as support to shape exhibition to solve - maybe in collaboration with others Pediatrics. American Academy of Pediatrics. itineraries simply by fixing temporary panels - the natural attitude of people to negotiate • Hardt, Michael, and Antonio Negri. 2012. Questo or cloths. Across the pathway a composition of risks a dramatic blunting and emerging ten- Non È Un Manifesto. Milano: Feltrinelli. • Lady Allen of Hurtwood, Marjory Allen Lady. modular planar areas defines a relational zone sions will require more and more external 1968. Planning for Play. London: Thames and providing a wide range of situations where be- contributions to be smooth out. Hudson. • Mintz, Steven. 2006. Huck’s Raft: A History ing together, alone or isolated with landscape. It is therefore urgent to give serious thought of American Childhood. Cambridge, MA: The Conceived to be used by adults to socialize to reconsider the regulatory, cultural and Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. during children’s play, it is itself a playscape, design positions, with which, in the last • Oliverio, Albertina, and Anna Oliverio Ferraris. 2011. A Piedi Nudi Nel Verde: Giocare per Impara- where kids can imagine fantastical landscapes decades, urban environments for young re a Vivere. Firenze: Giunti. and situations, thanks to suggestions recalled generations have been designed; probably a • Salvati, Alessandro. 2014. ‘Studenti: Il Rischio È by stereometry. From seating in an urban liv- good beginning could be taking into account Tra I Banchi Di Scuola.’ Dati INAIL. • Solomon, Susan G. 2014. ‘The Science of Play.’ ing room to staging an exhibition space, from that «life demands courage, endurance and USA: University Press of New England. working out to playing: there is no indoctrina- strength, but we continue to underestimate • TYIN Tegnestue, and Andreas Skeide. 2014. tion on the use of space, only favourable con- the capacity of children for taking risks, en- Behind the Lines by TYIN Tegnestue. Tokyo: Toru Kato. ditions. Citizens are called to invent each time joying the stimulation of danger, and finding • Waller, Tim, Ellen Beate H. Sandseter, Shir- their own ways of inhabiting the park. Embrac- things out for themselves» (Lady Allen of ley Wyver, Eva Ärlemalm‐Hagsér, and Tri- sha Maynard. 2010. ‘The Dynamics of Early ing an idea of design not aimed to spatialize Hurtwood 1968). Childhood Spaces: Opportunities for Outdoor the time but instead to temporalize the space Play?’ European Early Childhood Education Rese- (Jacques 2001). arch Journal 18 (4): 437–43.

24 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Trigger the everyday public though the material can satisfy the needs in book, the Chinese parents nowadays still use a period of time, however, the deficient in- the phrase “speaking and acting cautiously” space, experience the side cannot keep the feeling stable and will to educate their children. Which made Chi- happiness drop into the much deeper disappointed. nese people or most Asian people are sup- Lijing Chen The steady happiness can only come from posed to be shy by the other part of world. the stable everyday life and the keep on go- As it diminished the channel of expression, ing relationship with people. Or in another it blocked up the way for Chinese people to What happiness is? word it is the life or the society which di- feel, achieve and express happiness. “Are you happy?” This is the question posted rectly influences the feeling of happiness On the other hand, with the rapid urbaniza- to various people all around China by the not only from the direct stimulation of the tion and growth of GDP, the capitalism and journalist in October 2012. The CCTV s’1 pro- outside environment but also by shaping consumerism appeared and captured China. gram “Hitting Grass Roots: Hearing Voices of the personality inside. The linkage of the These two complicated social and economic the People” broadcasted the reflection and stimulating and shaping progress is action system and ideology had been criticized by response of the interviews in a multi-episode and speech, a way of communication, or the experts from so many fields in the past holiday2 special which prompted a wide dis- an expression and feedback system. Briefly few decades in the developed worlds, di- cussion about what happiness is in China. speaking, smooth and accurate expression rectly or indirectly caused the psychologi- What announced me is that no matter what and sustainable and satisfied feedback con- cal changes of people. More concentration is answer people gave at last, almost all of them struct the basis of happiness. In this system, given to the values rather than the products, looked puzzling and been offended at first the expression plays the fundamental role as advertisement become much more impor- time. Even the famous writer, the Nobel Prize it is the starting point. tant than the function. A wide narcissism Winner-- Mo Yan gave the answer he did not have been spread among the crowd, people know whether was he happy or not. It seems The Chinese dilemma always asking themselves “what this per- that for most Chinese people they do not When we transfer our focus on expression, son, that event means to me", which has the know what happiness is, or they cannot ex- we can properly explain why those people double quality of being a voracious absorp- press what they feel the happiness is. who had been interviewed looked puzzling. tion in self needs and the block to their ful- Their appearance showing they do not know fillment. (Sennett, 1977).This hungry feeling Happiness based on expression how to express themselves. It seems that, encourage people to ask more, and more Happiness is extraordinarily complicated they lack the ability to present their feeling they feel disappointed, the less happiness concept to be identified, although there are by langue or speech. This dilemma situation they achieve. so many agencies giving different happiness comes both from Chinese traditions and the In this dilemmatic condition, it seems that report every year (Helliwell, et al. 2013) and world right now. the Chinese’s expression and fulfill circle some equation has been given to measure From Greece time to nowadays, human be- had been complicated broken. However, the the happiness (Kahneman, 1999). People ings are naturally be consider as the political happiness has not gone from their world, the trying to understand it by classified it or or social animals and the ideology that the variety daily life and social activities some- linking it to the quality of public facilities human being can use the words to show their times be admired by the other part of the and infrastructures which directly lead this opinions no matter in the Agro or in the tele- world. How it happened? conception into the urban field. Actually, the vision programs is instinctive. Though the zeal for people to discuss this issue can be speech is not always considered as the only Digging from everyday life considered as the repercussions of the 1980s way for expression and it varied significant Although the capitalism was already in the and 1990s trend of included soft values as a across the different cultural tradition, it is al- business of creating "imaginary needs", and competitive parameter in the inter-city com- ways been extremely emphasized. Especially the everyday life increasingly colonized by petition and the desire to find solutions to under the trend of globalization and compla- the commodity, and hence shrouded in all the challenges posed by the environment nation, the life and communication became kinds of mystification, fetishism and alien- (Gehl &Svarre, 2013). No matter how, the much more rely on the words or symbols. ation (Marx, 1990; Lefebvre, 1991). The every- causes and conditions of the happiness var- The clearly and directly expression especial- day life, a tactic as the art of the weak, with it ies significantly by people and wildly diverse ly by the speech became so significant, as it feature of everywhere in the everyday, is as in culture and time, illustrating the varying became a kind of mark for a successful man. an undercurrent to negate or transgress the degrees of political and social control. However, in Chinese traditions, the speech dominant logic of capitalism (De Certeau, However, what we can share is that happi- or the directly expression is not always con- 1984; Jameson, 1991). ness is a stable mental or emotional state sidered as a good reputation. In Tao Te Ch- arouse up by the fulfillment of the desire ing3, there are so many phrases amplify the Life Between silence and songs (Griffin, 1986; Nozick, 1974). It is something perniciousness of showing one’s personal- In China, even in the mega cities like Beijing, firmly connects with the personal felling ity to the others, and highlight the strength Shanghai or Wuhan, we can easily find aged and relates with the whole social conditions. of the silence. Such as “If no action is taken people dance every day in the square, Chi- This feature can explain the phenomenon, harmony remains.” Not only in this ancient nese people call it square dance.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 25 Base on the investigation carried out in Wu- lic. That is the weak point, where people who and a photographer. The group can be stable han 20134, I identify the square here, it is an fight against it normally criticize. As they or simply called on the internet or even meet open space has various shapes and with di- consider this kind of songs is not exquisite in any event or simply on the street. No mat- versity of ownership which can adapt at least and not appropriate for everyone especially ter through which way, to unify a group is 10 people to dance together. It should not kids to hear. However, in my point of view, not always a problem. The average time for be every large, sometimes a street corner is it is this lowbrow and grosser music breaks one shooting is 4 hours including dressing enough. It can be in the park, on the big stage the wall between the private and public and and makeup. in front of the shopping mall or concert hall, evokes people’s expression. Or, the music Limited by the school time, the activities under the viaduct or simply on the sideway. creates an atmosphere, in which people can frequently happen in the weekends and No matter where the square is, the music is perform rather than stick by the disciplined school holidays. Before the shooting, the the essential element for the dance. And it is daily life. Not only for the dancers but also coser normally investigate the site carefully also this extraordinarily loud music causes the audiences, the music transforms the si- a week before, although most of the spaces tremendous social issue and wide discussion lent public space into a space vivid and full they have already be quite familiar with in about this phenomenon. of language and songs. their everyday life. In that investigation, The reason for how this activity happened is they trying to find ideal angles and essential various. The too early retirement age and the Life Between two and three Dimensions elements which match the character and laid off in the state-owned enterprises tran- Not only the aged people who usually be can connect the two worlds. They also need sition create the majority of this group of considered as the ones with plenty of times to find a place for dressing and makeup, as people who between 40 to 60 years old with- to waste, the teenagers also have their way they treat the process state is unsuitable to out work and suffering the healthy prob- to express and achieve happiness. For the be shown to the audiences. Dislike those lems. The memories of the good old days, teenagers in China, one of the most popular couples who take weeding dress photos, the no matter link to the yangge related with the activities in leisure time is cosplay5. Differ- cosers are very welcome people to take pho- country life (Chen 2007) or link to zhongziwu ent with what happened in its headstream tos. However, take the photos of their mak- danced during the Cultural Revolution, in- Japan and Western countries, limited by the ing up is forbidden even you are their friends spirit people to get together and chose the lack of ACG6 industry, the cosplay in China or group members. Their makeup and cos- dance as a language. The government advo- have its special characteristic. Dislike the tumes clearly draw a line between private cates people to do more exercises to keep on situation in Japan that cosplay is mainly an and public, and transform a man who lost healthy (Chen 2007) gives people an excuse individual performance, the cosers in China their ability to play to a great artist (Goffman to fight against the authorities. No matter always have their own group and perform ,1959;Sennett, 1977). what exactly the cause is, no one can doubt with their group. They add some personal With their performance, with their simple that their dance is a performative and physi- comprehension into the fictional characters uncover some abandoned school or air- cal appealing (Wang, 2014).No matter where and stories, rather than present exactly alike raid shelter, the forgotten space have been they are, their activities always attract pass- the originals. (Wang, 2010) The most com- shown in front of the public with totally ersby stop or lower down their speed, some- mon way they are dealing with the original different appearance and feelings, sharing time even make them join in their activities. story is just pick up few sections and fabric different meanings with different group of Nearly all dancers appreciate the audiences, them with their comprehension to make people. By occupying the decorated high- and they even confess that the efforts they a new one. This feature also made taking chairs and dancing in front of the imitative put in their dance is related with the number cosplay photos outside, in the urban space, Cathedral belongs to a mall, even simply use of the audiences (Wang, 2014). Despite using rather than in the photostudios much more the KFC’s space for makeup and dressing. dance as an effective way of doing exercises, popular. This activity connects the world of They blur the proprietorship of the space they more cherish it as a way to show their two and three dimensions and also links the and showing the corrodibility of capitalism beauty and health condition to the public. personal everyday life and thinking to the not only to themselves but to all the audienc- They use their body language to express public. es. When they are dressing the kimono and themselves, just like their words “Be old in Base on the survey in 2013, there are more standing ahead of a Chinese tower, the time age, but young in mind; the setting sun had than 30 places we can easily recognized, in and history became twist, as they are using boundless beauty life”. the Wuhan urban area where they take their their way to show the connection between The music they used normally is finger- cosplay photos, by reading their final pho- the different symbols. The most important popping pop music sometimes includes net tos on their websites. The sites distributed things happened during the whole activi- songs, and most of their dance bases on the evenly in the different area of the city. It can ties, is they pick up their ability to express ballroom dance mixed with a lot of pop ele- be a nature area with lakes and trees, a his- themselves and with the help of that they ments rather like the old fashion ones. The torical district with traditional buildings, a meet different people and form a loose com- text content of the song always about love European style commercial street or just an munity which can shape and diffuse at any and everyday life things without any critical abandoned factory or school. Generally, a time. And from which they can continually or deep thinking, which not commonly con- group is composed of at least three persons, achieve the feedback and fulfill themselves sidered is suitable to broadcast loudly in pub- including a coser, a dresser or a support staff in order to achieve happiness.

26 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The vivid temporal public space we created

Life between days and nights tric equipment like street lights. Though this All these activities perform regularity in Wuhan is famous for its night market, in- kind of night market provided a vivid space everyday life, with their spatial and trivial fluenced by its typical climate conditions and a convenient life for people who lived character as a weapon to avert the symbolic and the night market traditions. One of the around, the mass situation also caused seri- and degree zero word system. With the adap- most noted novel talks about the life in Wu- ous security problems which directly made tion of space, it constructs a world with bal- han which considered as the best reference the government decided to control it. During ance which not so complicate with multiple of the grassroots’ life in the city called Sheng the period from 2003 to 2011, the govern- meanings to make people confuse or only Huo Xiu7 is talking about the story happened ment cleared some of the markets and con- have exclusive way of understanding ruled in the night market. It can be seen all around trolled the site by sent inspectors, punished by the authorities. city8 and gives people especially the grass- the sellers and rearranged the traffic of the roots a platform to perform and show them- roads. However, the night markets survived Learning from everyday life selves, just like the name of the novel Life during the control period, they switched to These everyday life expressions dexterous- Show. You can find varies kind of commodi- some other places nearby and became much ly find a way to walk out of the dilemma, ties selling in the market without fixed price. denser. Fought against the administrators for which is also the way Chinese people kept Normally a nice bargain can help you save at several years with different ways, the vend- for centuries. The way remedy those weak- least 50% and make friends with the seller. ers also find that the stable selling environ- nesses of clearly and directly action, a more And for those who suffer their daily life, the ment and proper management can benefit humble and ambiguous way of expression. night markets traditionally provide a refuge their business and fight against extortionate. Through this way, people from all age lev- for them seeking to make ends meet in the They began to negotiate with the govern- els by uncover, occupy and appropriate the big cities (Yu 2004), and give them a way to ment and invited community association to traditional public spaces, like streets, parks express themselves. join the management by giving rent which and some left-over spaces, in order to express Nearly all night markets are originally bot- reward with stable and safe electricity, a rela- themselves. Their performances attract dif- tom-up ones. Basic on the different relation- tively fix space and the protection. The night ferent kinds of audiences and create layers ship with the government management it market came to its third period. of communications, which form the whole experienced three different periods. The first No matter in what period, the night mar- stable system of expression and feedback, one, before 2003, is the spontaneous forma- ket is a temporary commercial and public and lead the way to happiness. It also trans- tion period. The people who have low in- actives. By occupy sidewalks, streets, and forms the urban space back into this original come or the students who want to earn some squares with different materials, especially form – a place of strangers, a real “Theatrum money to support themselves occupied the daily necessities, people expand their every- Mundi”. In a world, full of architects who de- sidewalk, sometimes even the whole street day life space. And with the night, they blur prive the designing and building work from to sell goods. Generally, their occupation the boundary of the private and public and every human being, it gives back the mean- started around 18:00 when there was not so welcome even more people to join. Without ing of urban space as a self-conscious process much traffic on the street and ended at 22:00. fixed price, bargain is welcome so is the com- and was the result of a long series of ‘agoniz- Various materials have been used in their munication. The street occupied by the traf- ing decisions’. Peoples use their way to build occupation. Goods can be put inside a small fic can easily be transformed into a vivid life their own space (city) which parallels with pedicab or just packed in a package made by show platform by the night market. Some- the world we commonly known and collabo- bed sheets or curtains. Most of time they just times this transformation also happened by rate their community to make a real public put their goods in the package on the ground, a group of white collar workers who sponta- space. if the site have some leveled up parterres neously form a night running group. They What else we can recognize from all these those place will become a very good exhibi- running and talk to each other, sometimes spontaneous expressions? Dislike what we tion places. Commonly, lamps are used for attract people who walking dogs nearby to comely think the expression and public be- lights. And for those bold ones, they some- join their conversation and create a temper- havior is, they are frequently and temporar- time stole the electric from the public elec- ate public space. ily, they are unstructured and self-organized.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 27 And in all those expressions the boundary 1. China Central Television or Chinese Central • Marx, K. 1990, Capital, Volume I, Penguin Clas- we used to stick to between private and Television , commonly abbreviated as sics, London • Nozick, R. 1974, Anarchy, state, and utopia, Basic public realm have been corrupted. The cor- CCTV, is the predominant state television broadcaster in mainland China. Books, New York ruption of the boundary breaks the dilemma 2. During the vacation period of the mid- • Sennett, R. 1977, The Fall of Public Man, Faber and Faber, London situation and stimulates the expression and autumn day and national day • Wang,Q.2014, Public Dance: A Sociality Invented happiness. What temporally break or blur 3. Tao Te Ching is a Chinese classic text, and a in Individualizing China, Working Paper for the the boundary? It is a trigger. Like the music fundamental text for both philosophical and 17th Annual Harvard East Asia Society Gradua- religious Taoism, and strongly influenced for the dancers, the makeup for the cosers, te Student Conference, Cambridge other schools, such as Legalism, Confucianism • Yu, S.-D. 2004, ‘Hot and Noisy: Taiwan’s Night the night for the seller and night runners. and Chinese Buddhism. It was written Market Culture’, in Jordan, D.K., Morris, A.D., around 6th century BC by the sage Laozi. and Moskowitz, M.L.(eds.), The Minor Arts of Daily Life: Popular Culture in Taiwan An experiment or a practice 4. The Research centre of Urban Environment, , University School of Architecture and Urban Planning, of Hawai’i Press , Honolulu Basic on this inspiration, an experiment had HUST, which the author belongs to, started a been carried by my studio, also in Wuhan, in research about the informal urban public space the historical area. We used some colorful from 2013. The students and teachers in the ropes, balloons and stools which had private lab investigate different spontanoue public activities like night markets, suqare dance, meanings to define some spaces in the side- skating and so on in the city area of Wuhan. walk. Simply by bound the ropes between Achived a lot of basic information about where, the trees at eye level with some blown and why and how these activities happened. flat balloons, and put stools around the street 5. Cosplay is a portmanteau of the words trees randomly. During our installation, the costume play, is a performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes hurried passages slowed their pace and the and fashion accessories to represent a specific local residence came out of their private character or idea. The act is taking a two- house to see and ask what was happening. dimensional character and bringing them to We explained the original life on the street life in a three-dimensional interpretation. 6. Animation、Comic、Game industry and the current fall of public space to them. 7. Or Life Show written by Chi Li, Although they were not fully understood a famous Wuhan writer and our practice had been partly disturbed 8. Basic on the investigation in 2013, there are 15 by some city inspectors. There are quite a lot constant night market, which each has at least 150 booths, in Wuhan. And they distributed of people, especially child, came out of their evenly in the different area of the city. home and begun to play in and around our space, used the chalks we offered to drawing on the street. The space used to be occupied by cars became a vivid public space with happy talks and laughers. People expressed Referrences themselves in the space and feel the tem- • Chen, C.2007, Dancing in the Street in Contempo- rary Beijing: Improvised Uses and Long-Life Practi- poral happiness, and we are quite sure if it ces, Urban System Proceedings of the 6th Con- happened frequently, the expression and ference of the Pacific Rim Community Design feedback circle can be keep on and the sure Network, Quanzhou • Wang, K.2010, Cosplay in China: Popular Culture happiness will be achieved. and Youth Community, (Master Thesis) Lund Uni- Actually, what we need for urban public versity, Lund The Practice of Everyday Life space is basically a trigger, which can blur • De Certeau, M. 1984, , University of California Press, Berkeley the boundary of private and public and stim- • Goffman, E. 1959, The presentation of self in ulate people to express themselves. This trig- everyday life, Anchor Books, New York • Gehl, J. & Svarre, B, How to Study the Public Life, ger is something can happen frequently, so it Island Press, Washington Covelo London should be in the everyday life. And the every- • Griffin, J. 1986, Well-being: Its meaning, measu- day public space here it is a trigger, like street rement, and moral importance, Clarendon Press, Oxford, or any urban space people need to use every • Helliwell,J. et al. 2014, World Happiness Report day. It should have ambiguous characteristic 2013, UN SDSN and which can be felt and stimulate people • Jameson, F. 1991, Postmodernism or, the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism, NC: Duke University to express. Only through this way, people’s Press, Durham self-expression can be improved, the com- • Kahneman, D. 1999, Objective happiness. In D. munication can happened, the steady feed- Kahneman, E. Diener & N. Schwarz (Eds.), Well- being: The foundations of hedonic psychology, Rus- back and stable feeling of fulfillment can sell Sage, New York achieved, the happiness can be acquired. • Lefebvre, H. 1991, The Production of Space, Blackwell, Oxford

28 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Public spaces design for In particular, these studies, analyzing sev- In addition to these studies, analyzing the eral components of the urban environment, urban environment from a perception point urban regeneration for example the relation with the car (Ja- of view to define new methodologies of in- Giulia Chiummiento, Federico Orsini cobs, 1969; Venturi et Brown, 1985; Inger- terventions, recent international researches soll, 2006), the dimension and the shape of focus on the concept of urban environment public spaces (Gehl, 1971; Alexander, 1977; through the lens of the landscape ecology, Can an urban or landscape project or a White, 1980), the relation between the infor understanding the way of controlling the public space influence the perception of frastructure and the public space functions urban landscape resilient capacity. To cope happiness or these are only influenced (Banham, 1971), the city visual perception with the effects of a strong urbanization, it by other factors or conditions (climate, (Lynch, 1969), the consequences of the urban appears necessary the structural introduc- mood, etc ...)? pollution (Nicoletti, 1978), etc., try to define tion of landscape (e.g. renaturalisation strat- different approaches to overcome the limits egies) within the urban environment and of the Modernist model. In the light of these the application of new methodologies and 1.Beyond the Modernism Approach for considerations, we can deduce the complex- intervention approaches coming from the a New Urban Quality ity at the base of urban environment and its ecology conscience (Morin, 2007). These ap- The urban growth, that has characterized control and why the Modernism, character- proaches come from the urban ecology stud- the last two centuries, has compromised the ized by a reductional approach (Ingegnoli, ies (Odum, 1963; Commoner, 1971; Nicoletti, habitat in which the human being develops 2011), didn’t understand the environmental 1978; Gisotti, 2007; etc.), that consider the his own essential activities (Indovina, 2005). complexity. As a result of the general inca- urban environment as an ecosystem com- The emergence of social issues, as segrega- pacity to understand this complexity, the posed by biotical communities, energy flow tion and increase of social inequality, eco- Modernist movement didn’t define appropri- (coming from sun) and materials cycles. nomical issues, as continuous increase in the ate tools to control it, favouring the emer- Interventions to transform the ecosystem consumption of resources, environmental gence of new issues (moreover caused by should reach the equilibrium between these issues, as air pollution, loss of biodiversity, the conceptual separation between human components. urban heat island, hydrogeological risk, etc., healthiness and environment healthiness). In particular, from these studies, it’s possible are only some of the consequences of this un- More recent researches (Rahm, 2002; Farinel- to state that the landscape, intended both controlled expansion. li, 2003; Zardini, 2005; Zumthor, 2007; etc.) as an intervention methodology (temporal Part of these issues are strictly related to the investigate the concept of environment, ana- dimension of a system in evolution) and an Modernism urban vision. If it’s true, in fact, lyzing the concept of perception, to under- operative strategy (natural surfaces, water that the Modernist approach tried to solve stand the relationship between the human system, etc.), could be a useful mitigation part of the issues related to the nineteenth- being, as an open system of multiple sensori- instrument (acting to reach the equilibrium century industrial development (as urban al connections, and the environment as am- among the terms of the energy balance, the healthiness, living quality, etc.), it’s also true bience. These studies consider the ambience water cycle, the material cycle, etc.), improv- that the proposed solutions (as urban zon- as a complex system defined by physical ing the general urban quality. ing, the death of the street, the buildings components (light, temperature, sound, etc.), elevations, the exigencies standardizations, physiological components (hormonal inter- 2. The Public Spaces as a Tool for etc.) led to the emergence of new and equally action, sensorial apparatus, metabolism, Urban Regeneration serious problems. etc.) and cultural components (experience, The short illustrated scenario makes evi- The general deterioration of the urban settle- memory, culture, etc.), and by the complex dence of the emergent importance of public ments quality is evident as regards the state interaction of all these components. This ap- spaces to reach urban quality. Many of the of urban public spaces, intended as the con- proach, that finds first references with the environmental, social and economical is- nective system of open spaces between the previous studies of Merleau-Ponty, Serres, sues, affecting our cities, could be attributed building façades (Gehl, 1971), that, from the etc., considers the human being as an open to the large and uncontrolled urbanization ’60s, start to lose the necessary quality at the system, interacting with the dynamic, non process of the last century. base of human activities (loss of accessibility, linear, complex system of the environmental From the ‘70s, several researches try to de- safety, comfortability, flexibility, etc.). components. The public space quality is a fine new methodologies to control the ur- product of all the interactions that builds the ban complexity, proposing interventions on In the same years, international scientific ambience, between its components and the the open spaces, and demonstrating as these research starts to analyze the reason of this human perception. From these researches it’s spaces could be essential to enhance the pro- quality loss. These important studies give extremely clear how the “perceived” quality cess of urban regeneration. back to the human being, and his dynamic is strongly influenced by the ambience and, Starting from these considerations, from and multiple exigencies, the role of being in particular, by its general atmosphere. Un- the ’80s, several public administrations (as at centre of the design investigation, focus- derstanding the environmental components Barcelona, Lyon, Copenhagen, Zurich, etc.), ing in particular on the complex interaction that affect the space atmosphere, means to implemented strategies to guide public and between human being and environment. control the quality of public spaces. private interventions on urban open spaces,

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 29 with the aim of increasing urban quality The second phase (1986-1992), strictly linked 3.2 Lyon. The Confluence Renovation and the and solving social, economical and environ- to the Olympics Games, involves a larger part Temporary Dimension of the Project mental issues, following the international of the city and provides an historical and sub- The Lyon urban area reaches 58 municipality community directives for sustainable de- urban renovation, an infrastructure upgrad- and 1.200.000 inhabitants. From the ‘80, the velopment. ing, a requalification of abandoned industrial municipality of Grand Lyon started a large Analyzing several interesting case studies, areas (as the docks area), etc. To achieve this transformation process to increase the qual- trying to define best practices, searching target and control the transformation, the ity of the whole city. The main target of the from the whole international panorama, it’s administration defines public emprises (HOL- transformation process is to define a new so- possible to observe as these interventions SA, VOSA, AOMSA) and mixed public- private cial and environmental equilibrium involv- have really increased the urban quality. Cit- emprises (NISA, POBASA). ing all the urban areas, as the historical areas ies as Lyon, Copenhagen, Zurich, that have The third phase (1992-2004) is characterized of the centre, the semi-periphery of modern made of the public space quality a general by an intervention, almost completely pri- expansion, the abandoned industrial areas, objective for the whole urban transforma- vate, that aims to increase the industrial de- public and natural infrastructures. The mod- tion, present nowadays a high quality of life. velopment of the city and involves the whole ern urban planning approach, characterized The next pages will describe three best prac- metropolitan area, the 22@District. by the functional paradigm, is replaced by tices examples, underlining the environ- The last phase (from 2004) is characterized a more contemporary approach that focus mental quality of these projects and the ad- by a territorial program and “macro projects” on environmental quality, accessibility and opted tools, by the public administrations, to that aims to define a new city model, that con- public services. achieve this quality. The three projects will sider the whole metropolitan region and the To achieve these targets the Grand Lyon Ad- be described by three different dimensions: landscape that defines this large territoriality. ministration constitutes new offices (as the urban policy and environment characteris- All these urban transformations are charac- UAP, Unité des Arbres et Paysages) that, col- tics, applied design strategies and solutions, terized by a great attention to the public space laborating with several University Depart- and, at last, adopted technological devices to quality. From the observation of several pub- ment and other specific professionals (as build a new urban atmosphere. lic space projects, we can observe an emergent landscape designers, artists, etc.), apply an trend, that underlines an innovation into interdisciplinary approach to control the 3. Comparison between Several the design process. If the first projects were urban complexity. This collaboration brings European Experiences strongly defined by impervious surface (as to the definition of several planning instru- 3.1 Barcelona. The St. Juan Boulevard as a Ex- stone, brick, or concrete) responding to dura- ments (Schéma d’aménagement des espace ample of Interdisciplinary Approach bility criteria, in the last years we can observe publique, Plan Bleu, Plan Vert, Plan lumière, Barcelona is one of the first European cities how the last projects try to use more and more Plan Presqu’ile, Plan de Végétalisation, etc.) that started, during the ‘80s, an urban reno- pervious surfaces, responding to the re-natu- that design the new city of Lyon. vation process, based on the public space ralization process exigencies. At the base of these transformations, the quality. This renovation process started The Boulevard Passeing de St. Joan, designed public space plays a fundamental role, after the Franco death in response to the by Lola Domènch, is a good example of this as connective tissue, playground, natu- degradation and general poverty issues that emergent trend. The project rethinks a part of ralization space, becoming a support for characterized the city during that period. one of the historical boulevard defined by the the urban regeneration, as showed by the To find a solution to the urban degrade, the Cerda Plan. Aim of the project is to improve Confluence Renovation, an abandoned in- city administration defined a transforma- the surface for public uses, changing the re- dustrial area of 150 ha located at the con- tion process that involved public and pri- lation between car and pedestrian. For this fluence of the two rivers. The regeneration vate financial sources. This model could be reason the street section is reduced, favouring process starts in 1998 when Michel Des- defined nowadays as the Barcelona model the sustainable mobility and increasing the vigne proposes a new intervention meth- (Delbene, 2007). space for public furniture. All the interven- odology, overcoming the rigid paradigm The city transformation could be synthe- tion of urban regeneration is developed using of the modern planning and defining a sized into four phases, characterized by a landscape materials, as trees and shrub mass- strategy of “infiltration” and “a process of different use of the public and private finan- es, or integrated technologies, as mixed stone- evolutionary occupation”, that, taking ad- cial sources. vegetation surface. All these interventions, vantage of the urban fragmentation, intro- The first phase (1979-1986) starts with the increasing the environmental and social qual- duce “new gardens and temporary parks” adoption of the Plan General Metropolitano ity (improving thermal comfort, air pollution, that allow the urban regeneration without (1976) that defines an urban renovation of water cycle, etc.), describe a new naturalized waiting the “big project”. According with the historical city and of its public spaces, to atmosphere, that makes more and more com- this approach, the urban transformation improve the sanitary level and define new fortable those spaces. is defined through the landscape and the relation opportunities. This phase is de- From this example emerges how, nowadays, open spaces project. This system becomes fined by the work of the Oficina de Proyec- the attention for the environmental quality the support for the future interventions, tos Urbanos and several architects as Solà- and the importance of the role of the pedes- introducing the temporal dimension into Morales, Acebillo, Bohigas. trian are at the base of quality interventions. the project process (Desvigne, 2009).

30 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue contests, requiring feasibility plans, inform- ing the stakeholders, starting processes of participation, etc. In particular, the Park and Public Space Office is one of the public actor actively involved into the design process, applying a continuous experimentation and technological up-date. Into the last years, the Neu Oerliker is one of the areas that has been drastically transformed, achieving interesting results of experimentation into the open space design. In particular the MFO Park and the Oerliker Park are two examples of those transformations. Winner of an international competition won by Burckhardt+Partener and Raderss- chall Landschaftsarchitekten AG in 2002, the MFO Park appears as a new urban landscape and define a new atmosphere. The project is defined by a steel structure that simulates the volume of the pre-existing industrial building. This structure integrates the public furniture (as intimate terrace or public passage), the public illumination system, the natural elements, defining a new open public hall. The nature is the main character: the climbing plants, as it happens to industrial abandoned buildings, grow on the new steal structure. The green density transform this square in an urban Zurich, the river banks; Barcelona, Boulevard Passeing de St. Joan;Lyon, Plan Presqu’ile, re-naturalization devices; Lyon Confluece, transformation strategies; Zurich, the MFO Park: steal structure, public furniture artificial forest, strongly increasing the bio- and nature; Zurich, the Oerliker Park: 4X4 grid trees. diversity level of the district. The Oerliker Park is a neighbourhood park, The aim of this strategy is to introduce the km2 with 370.000 inhabitants that, consid- made in 2001 by the Office of Parks and way for an environmental equilibrium that ering the whole metropolitan area, reach Open Spaces, following the project of the anticipates the slow big transformation, of- the number of 1.100.000 people. During the architects Zulauf, Seippel, Schweingruber fering in this way, new public spaces during last twenty years, Zurich has been object of and Haerle Hubacher Landscape Architects. the whole requalification process. In partic- several urban transformations, that have The park, that has an area of about 17 500 ular, the masterplan designed by Desvigne expanded the urban footprint. Results of square meters, is thought as a large multi- defines several phases intervention. At first this expansion process, ex novo expansions, function area, with spaces for public events river banks requalification is followed by requalification of abandoned industrial ar- (as concerts), neighbourhood functions and the construction of temporary natural-plat- eas, renovation of urban infrastructures, ur- several playgrounds. A very dense grid of forms that define a new natural landscape. ban densification process, etc., have modi- new trees (4X4 m) characterizes the inter- After this first interventions, the masterplan fied the image of the city, that nowadays vention. The plantings rhythm is a central shows a natural park, by green and water appears, not only as a financial district, but point of the project. The choice of such parallel strips, that will be the infrastructure also a new contemporary settlement, char- morphology space (4X4 m) arises from the for the whole area interventions. acterized by a high public space quality. need to make the park usable already at This transformation process shows as, All these urban transformations have been the time of realization. In fact, these trees through a design approach that considers developed through the cooperation between describe a continuous green canopy soon the temporal dimension of the environment all the subjects that interest the building pro- at the first years of realization. When the as a principle of the project, it is possible to cess: administration, citizens, cultural associa- trees will grow and distance between them encourage the urban regeneration process. tion, promoter, etc., became part of a complex won’t be sufficient to make them comfort- process of participation and information of ably survive, some of them will be moved 3.3 Zurich. MFO Park and Oerliker Park as ex- the urban policies. The public administration into other part of the cities to green other amples of Program integration plays an important role as regards the process public spaces. The administrative surface of Zurich is 92 of transformation, organizing international

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 31 4. Conclusion relation with the whole city, as happens into A place that makes you The short literature review and the described the Zurich experience, where the public space case studies showed as the regeneration of became an urban vivarium for the future trans- happy: challenging models the public space could be a interesting way to formation, without losing any public quality. in public space promote the diffusion of a new urban quality. Those examples show only some of the pos- Fabio Ciaravella From these analyses we can make some con- sible strategies applied to the urban transfor- clusive considerations. mations and suggest some possible actions to First of all, the described examples confirm active public spaces, improving the environ- Overview what we can find in literature when we read mental urban quality, and favouring the ap- From 2010 Italian and international newspa- that public space, intended as the urban con- propriation processes that are the first step to pers and websites all over the world have been nection system of open spaces, could be the transform open spaces into human habitat, talking about FARM CULTURAL PARK as a support of those interventions aiming to necessary condition in order to make "[...] some- new way to make culture, tourism and busi- improve the environmental, social and eco- thing happens, because something happens, ness while meliorate quality of life in public nomical urban quality. In this sense, indeed, because something happens [...]" (Gehl, 1996). space. FARM is placed in the 35.000 habitants the open spaces system, diffused within the Favara, in the Agrigento province, which has whole city, seems to be the perfect means to been for a long time (and today is still in many diffuse urban quality, due to its positive im- of its part) a problematic place. The project is pact on urban accessibility, urban flexibility, Referrences changing radically Favara imagine and per- urban heat island, air pollution, water cycle, • Alexander, C. Ishikawa, S. Silverstein, M. (1977). ception both form inside and outside. A pattern language: towns, buildings, construction. energy balance, etc. New York: Oxford university press Inspired by Parisian Palais de Tokyo as well The examples show also as the urban quality • Banham, R. (2009). Los Angeles. L’architettura di as Marrakesh Jemaa el-Fnaa market, the could be achieved only if, during the project quattro ecologie. Torino: Einaudi editore (ed. orig. project is working in the historical center 1971) process, the designer consider the complex- • Clément, G. (2005). Manifesto del terzo paesaggio. into a cluster of semi-closed spaces which ity of the urban environment. In this sense, Macerata: Quodlibet have a spontaneous urban autonomy. Nev- seems to be necessary to apply a holistic ap- • Commoner, 1971; ertheless the spirit of the project spread in • Décoster &Rahm, (2002). Physiologische Archi- proach, to analyze all the environmental com- tektur/ Architettura Fisiologica. Berlino: Bunde- other parts of the city encouraging to ride ponents and control the relations between samt für Kultur cultural and economical wave. That implied • Delbene, G. (2007). Barcellona. Trasformazioni them. To achieve those results, it is necessary contemporanee. Roma: Meltemi a natural requalification of public spaces to adopt an interdisciplinary approach, con- • Desvigne, M. (2009). Intermediate Natures. The like the main city square. sidering the different skills and defining in- landscape of Michel Desvigne. Berlin : Birkhauser. Using the idea of happiness in that environ- • Farinelli, F. (2003). Geografia: un'introduzione ai terdisciplinary working groups, as has been modelli del mondo. Torino: Einaudi. ment FARM and its happy activities created showed into the described case studies. This • Gehl, J. (1971). Life Between Buildings. Copenha- a fascinating contrast balanced between methodology allows to overcome the linear gen: Danish Architectural Press decadent south and shining international • Gisotti, G. (2007). Ambiente urbano. Introduzione approach (cause-effect), characteristic of the all'ecologia urbana. Manuale per lo studio e il gover- urban art centers. Modernist Movement. no della città. Palermo: Flaccovio Dario What looks interesting in FARM is the The case studies show finally some good prac- • Indovina, F. et. al (2005). L’esplosione della città. way in which Andrea Bartoli and his wife Bologna: Editrice Compositori tices that could be applied to improve the gen- • Ingegnoli, V. (2011). Bionomia del Paesaggio. Mi- Florinda Saieva are lightly touching and eral urban quality and to control the design lano: Springer. deeply questioning fundamentals themes • Ingersoll, R. (2006). Sprawltown. Roma: Ed. Mel- process. For example, all the projects are char- temi related to contemporary public space like: acterized by a strong attention to the landscape • Jacobs, J. (2009). Vita e morte delle città americane. management (Carmona, 2010), ideas of fou- elements (as tress or green surfaces) that are Torino: Einaudi (ed. orig. 1969) caultanian heterotopia as a way to solve di- • Lynch, K. (1983). L' immagine della città. Venezia: used to define new natural atmospheres inside Ed. Marsilio (ed. orig. 1969) chotomies between public and private space the urban tissue, improving at the same time • Morin, E. (2007). L’anno I dell’era Ecologica. Roma: (Dehaene, De Cauter, 2008), the vision of the environmental quality and, for this reason, Armando Editore. “Musei dell’Iperconsumo” (De Carlo, 2002), • Nicoletti, M. (1978). L’ecosistema urbano. Bari: favouring the use of these spaces. Furthermore Dedalo Libri relation between economy, art and culture the projects of the Oerliker Park (Zurich) and • Odum, T.O. (1963). Fundamentals of Ecology. (Landry, 2000; Florida, 2000), art as a civic of the Confluence (Lyon) show as the temporal Thomson Brooks/Cole tool (Mouffe, 2007). • Venturi, R. Brown, D.S. (1985). Learning from Las dimension approach, introduced by landscape Vegas. Venezia: Ed. Cluva The strong social commitment of FARM studies, allows to think the intervention in a • Whyte, W.H. (1980). The social life of small urban CULTURAL PARK in improving a depressed spaces. New York: Project for Public Spaces different way. In this sense, the project of the • Zardini, M. (2005). Sense of the city. Baden: Ed. town is associated with a business activity, open public spaces could be the support for Lars Muller Publishers mainly related to real estate. Nevertheless the future transformations, already becoming • Zumthor, P. (2007). Atmosfere. Ambienti architetto- artist, architect, designers young citizen ac- nici. Le cose che ci circondano. Milano: Electa a living urban area also in the early transformative participation is demonstrating a best tion steps (as happen into the Confluence ex- practice that is filling a great void left by perience), or could be thought considering the public administrations.

32 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Case study is still running, developing and turistico di nuova generazione”. Think Art is a tool to create pedagogical conditions growing in partnership and notoriety. In the about! A place like FARM is kind of unique, for a future community more educated, following questions we will look for a contri- there isn’t anything really similar. We all more generous, and more aware. bution in the debate about definitions, mod- know touristic or cultural centers. FARM likes for its contrasts between a con- els, and the role of happiness in this process. FARM is a place where we offer a changing temporary art center, ruins, “zia Antonia” experience to visitors. There are many differ- underware on the balcony, design chairs. In Improving “Musei dell’Iperconsumo” ent kind of places, you can eat there or “do the beginning I was a bit embarrassed for model shopping experiences”. All these activities these contrasts, I was feeling discomforted, Fabio Ciaravella: Is there any common word allow us to create an accessible cultural of- but later I recognized it was exactly our or sentence used by people to talk about fer. All the places are easily recognizable, you strenght point. FARM CULTURAL PARK project? don’t need any particular mediation. That is a Today FARM could be placed in the middle of Andrea Bartoli: I could turn the question. really important aspect for us, it really lies to established categories. From one side there How do you would describe FARM to your heart to us. We feel that if we still keep going are the great cultural institutions like Gug- aunt, or to someone not skilled else? to talk among ourselves [specialists of art] we genheim, Tate, MOMA and so on, and from FC: Actually I don’t know. I’m not able to find create ghettos, and in that case we don’t want the other side there are private galleries: a simple word. It’s funny. to create the contemporary art one. nothing is in the middle. AB: Of course, I knew. It’s a common FC: Aren’t you a contemporary art collector? In that sense I really like De Carlo idea of difficulty and in a way, It’s has been the AB: Yes, it’s true, I was, but I’m not more from “Musei dell’Iperconsumo”. These are pleas- same for us for a while. The reason why you a long time. Collecting now looks a sterile ant places, small Disneylands, where anyone can’t find a word is because maybe there is activity, it is fetishism. Now I experience the can have a more affordable vision about cul- not the right one yet. Probably we created a creation process and that’s a strong aesthetic ture. De Carlo has been really effective with new category that we call “Centro culturale feeling. his definition because

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 33 I think today cultural experience is really Our experience is participated, we work togeth- I think that everyone who come at FARM, articulate. People wish to meet authors, eat, er with many people. With them we create, talk once looks around thinks: so it’s possible, dance, have a sauna, cut a tree branch. and exchange ideas. It’s a shared project. then we all have a chance! Obiousvly I know that in each of these defi- Arriving in Favara from elsewhere, and after- nition there is a negative meaning, especial- Happiness and transformative ward looking at FARM you think that beauti- ly for the research approach, but I think we potentiality ful things are possible also into places where all belong to our time. FC: You are used to go to other places to talk are unimaginable. In De Carlo’s definition there is a negative ac- about your project and your experience. Then you think that you are able to do that, ceptation, but I think it’s objective. What do you think people would like to and actually it’s true! Thinks can change, but right now attractive know from you? cultural places are characterized by these ap- AB: I feel I’m an enthusiasm carrier, maybe I proaches. bring hope. Think about, when I’m used to say Talking about FARM in relation with other that Favara had its changing possibility, I mean Referrences models I think the question is about it’s re- why another place shouldn’t be the same? • Carmona M. 2010, Contemporary Public Space: Critique and Classification, Part One: Critique. producibility. Maybe it wouldn’t make sense, We are trying to communicate that a change Journal of Urban Design, Vol. 15. No. 1, pp 123– maybe not. is possible, while from another side we 148. would like to explain that is not so easy. You • Carmona M. 2010, Contemporary Public Space, Part Two: Classification. Journal of Urban Design, Participation and civic values have to join diligence, know how about that Vol. 15. No. 2, pp 157–173. FC: Urbanism history is full of heroes, people topic, together with economic investment. • Ciorra P., Suma S. (eds) 2002, I musei dell’Ipercon- sumo: atti del convegno internazionale that have been changing entire cities from When guys come to me and ask if all that , Accademia di San Luca, Roma the planner point of view or the power one, we have done is possible to make without • Dehaene M., De Cauter L.(eds)2008, Heterotopia in any case from another, far from emotions, money I say “no”. You need money, maybe a and the city, Routledge, London • Florida R. 2005, Cities and the Creative Class, perspective. On the contrary you say that also small amount, to start. And you need many Roultledge, New York common people are able to do the same and other conditions as well. I see many people • Landry C. 2000, The Creative City: A Toolkit for that happiness and emotions are involved. lost, asking where to start, but I can help Urban Innovators, Earthscan, London • Mouffe C. 2007, Artistic Activism and Agonistic Why do you think so? them relatively. There is not a unique recipe, Spaces. Art & Research, Vol1, n°2, pp 1-5 AB: We’re so used to the void, to failed no manual. Every time the project has to be promises; if someone comes saying he whish different otherwise it make no sense. to transform Favara into the second touristic FC: Does it is related with happiness? path in Agrigento district, everyone is stroke AB: Of course. My happiness for instance is by that. related to a familiar atmosphere, healthy But look, when we decide to start in 2010, a values. But what if I ask the same to you? falling old building smashed down killing What’s for you happiness? two young children. People and politics were FC: I don’t know exactly. I’m sure it’s so alarmed and moved that they would like something really intimate. That’s why I don’t to destroy a large part of the historical center. understand how a so intimate feeling should We said: we have a good project! And so doing be a good reason to change a public space. we forced our presence out of what we really AB: There is a close relation between them. would like to do. For instance yesterday I’ve been for fifteen What should be really normal is that a citi- minutes in a work place with no access to zen should act something for himself but direct air and light. I was getting crazy. Space, also looking at the others. Instead that looks and public space have a great influence on outstanding! health and quality of life, and in a way are This should be our normality. related to happiness. As you know I live FC: You’re doing a project related to art and between Favara, Gela and Riesi which is publicness in Sicily where, for instance, the a kind of Bermuda’s triangle of ugliness! I great process of Gibellina has been developed know exactly that to spent your time in a already. What kind of difference do you find pleasant place is good for everyone life. between it and FARM? FC: Do you think happiness is related to AB: There are wide differences between them. hope when you talk to people? In Gibellina they had a great amount of money AB: Actually I think the most important and a complete authority to work on the aspect you at FARM is not the happiness territory. But also they didn’t create any real you can find when you came into our places. relation with and between people. The same There is no a direct relation between staying problem is related to other projects in Sicily. in our places and be suddenly happy. Better

34 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The Happy City as no relation with the natural element1. The Parks certainly become a place of harmoni- therapeutic potentiality of the natural ele- sation thanks to the presence of plants, sen- Multifactorial Synergy ment has already been widely highlighted in sorial activations, the beauty of design but Maria Lodovica Delendi the case of places of hospitalisation/recovery also, and above all, an occasion for socialisa- of all types, in trying to understand and pro- tion and activity for all ages. How can we mote its presence2. design places that create happiness? Happi- A happy city is a green city; it is functional, I have already analysed how the immersion ness is a mood that requires emotional ac- sustainable and resilient, with parts of ex- in the natural element as part of a wider eco- tivity, active participation and satisfaction; ceptional beauty in which to reflect oneself. system, but also the enjoyment of the ener- a gratifying reply to one's own expectations It is a social city and also a coloured one. getic presence of a tree-lined road or even of in the world is fundamental. It requires the The study published in the International Jour- an only tree, is beneficial both on a physical individual’s creative action and this can be nal of Environmental Research and Public Health and psychological level. I have also analysed obtained on different levels: from play to which cross checked data on mental health, how some devices such as the presence of social commitment or to pure creativity, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and water in its different forms can be considered which fundamentally corresponds to the satellite data revealing the quantity of veg- a key element, reference and meeting point if expression of one’s own being. etation in censused blocks, showed a corre- provided with seats and meeting areas. Run- So a happy city must offer spaces that cre- lation between the greenness and wellbeing. ning water, especially, has the property of ate opportunities for all this. James Hillman The cross-sectional research on social strata, inducing ionisation in the environment to- has taught us that there is no soul happi- carried out on more than 2,500 residents in gether with a sensation of wellbeing for the ness in man if the soul of the world, with 229 cities, reveals that people living in a sub- people who can use it3. which man is in close contact, is not cared urb with less than 10% of green areas (tree But happiness draws our attention from for: so evolutionary respect for nature and canopy) are more inclined to show symp- an area where, in particular situations, the the environment becomes of fundamental toms of depression, stress and anxiety. For ex- benefits on a physiological and environ- importance for the balance of man’s soul ample, a poor person living in a poor suburb mental level are considered proven to the and therefore for his happiness. A happy but in a street that runs through the Chequa- field of social living in the context of daily city is a sustainable city that evolves with megon-Nicolet National Forest is more likely normality of effective improvement and nature and not against it. to be happy compared to a wealthy person the continuous "harmonising" action of A sustainable city is sustainable energy-wise, living in a suburb which is wealthy but has plants on our life. resilient to climatic changes thanks to the

From left to right clockwise: Cartagena; Luis Barragan, San Cristobal; La Boca, Buenos Aires; Balat, Istanbul; Haight Ashbury, San Francisco; Curacao; Guanajuato.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 35 left: active façade; right: inactive façade

mitigation system of the urban heat island, influential vibrational input of the moment, terventions of Cromoambiente based on an with a widespread and pervading presence with which it comes in contact. The sound accurate study on the psycho-energy effects. of the vegetation apparatus, such as green with characteristics of musicality and harmony A further study on factors which may make roofs, green walls, permeable systems for will bring living matter to sound according to a city happy was carried out in Seattle and the absorption of surface runoffs, and multi- these characteristics and will determine a posi- was based on the relation between design of use areas. It is a city which favours pedes- tive energy effect on the cells that will reflect on façades, therefore perceivable to the pedestrian paths and areas, slow mobility and organs and systems and consequently on the in- trians, and social behaviours6. Two extreme light transportation, and makes it possible dividual as a whole. In this way, it is easy to cases are chosen from the catalogued façades: to reach work and study places with bicycle understand how "noise pollution" can be a the most "active" façade (with a high concen- and pedestrian greenways. critical stress factor4. tration of small sized enterprises, opportuni- A happy city can also be a coloured city. It is The happy city is therefore a city made of ties for pedestrians and a high level of visual well-known fact that sound and light elec- acoustically harmonic areas (pedestrian ar- stimulations) and the most "inactive" façade tromagnetic waves (music and colour) are eas, parks) but also of "chromatized" health- like a long grey monotonous wall with few capable of penetrating into the biological tis- areas that not only take care of the interiors openings. sues and interacting with the cells, restoring but also of the public areas, such as gardens, Studies confirm the effect of design on pede- electro-chemical balance on a physiological parks, squares, rest stop points such as train strians’ behaviour. When facing an active level and improving the biological func- stations, shopping centres and housing units façade, people tend to walk slower and stop tions. The use of colours in colour therapy while paying attention to the psychological for a longer time enhancing in this way so- and music in music therapy has very ancient effect of colours. cialisation, trust towards strangers, and avai- origins and these therapies were utilised up The Cromoambiente5 project has already lability to pay more attention and give infor- to the most recent scientific researches that realised different projects that include chro- mation. In this case a participatory laboratory certified their validity. Albert Szent-Gyӧrgyi, matic interventions for the environmental has shown how the improvements suggested the biochemist who won the Nobel Prize in harmonisation of interiors and exteriors by for the inactive façades and places followed 1937, discovered that colours stimulate the implementing the psycho-physical effects of the patterns previously encountered in active production of different hormones and en- the different colour wave lengths. Therefore façades, like the presence of green, architectu- zymes. Dennis Gabor, winner of the Nobel interventions of this type could be included re and services conceived for pedestrians, im- Prize in Physics in 1971 confirmed the rein the design of public areas both in the case proved with services for passers-by and those searches of the Russian biologist and medical of redevelopment of deteriorated areas, and stopping to talk, such as benches, tree-lined ro- scientist Alexander Gurwitsch who originat- in new designs. Even the new tree planting ads, lighting, bicycle stands and shelters, shop ed a sort of photonic communication: in this interventions have a colour effect which windows and possibility of shopping, simple way it is ascertained that living cells are able falls under the autumn season within the en- catering services, rubbish bins and temporary to transmit biological information through vironmental colour therapies. stalls. In other words the "happiness of places" photons. Lights and colours can therefore be The examples are many from the colours of is improved by inserting the patterns obser- seen as a nutrient for the autonomic nervous the advertising spaces of Barragan, to the lev- ved in the "active façades". Social trust results system and are absorbed not only by the vi- els of colour for Portofino, and from the sub- to be a key driver of health, happiness and sual system. The biologist Rupert Sheldrake urb of Balat in Istanbul, Cartagena in Colom- economic growth of small enterprises given describes living matter as nested hierarchies bia to La Boca in Buenos Aires; Copenhagen; by a strong preference for "active" roads and of vibrational frequencies, in resonance with Curacao; Guanajuato; Burano; Manarola, etc. "fine-grained" built environments that allow each other and in harmony with the most (picture 1) even if not yet refined like the in- these activities.

36 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The pro-social design is essential to build fine- Happitecture: Zen, Generally though, in this English version, grained environments both in high and low considerable restraint is shown, (almost to population density zones, to create multi-mo- Otherwhere and Space the point of bashfulness) and those afflicted dal roads and districts with a diversity of in- Design in eThekwini, South will most probably only twitch their limbs tense and dynamic uses and these principles Africa spasmodically, shuffle their feet, or hum can be incorporated in the zoning legislations. Jonathan Edkins gently. So in this view, the aspects of social sustaina- “Felicitecture” is the Italian version of “Happi- bility become a priority for the happy city that tecture”, which is generally greeted with joy- is directly related with the idea of a "healthy" ful exclamations using words ending in “o”, city, that is salubrious, in the sense of psycho- Introduction expansive gesticulation and fluent dancing physical and perceptive wellbeing that cor- Objective of a slightly suggestive nature, beautifully relates the city with the possibility to freely 1. Research and identify the primary phys- and elegantly executed. use spaces for widespread sociality, as well as ical and traditional design elements “Bonheurtecture” constitutes the French sports activities and self-organised games. which have been found universally to equivalent of “Happitecture”, which incor- contribute to characterisation of spaces, porates both happiness and well-being. The places and buildings as “happy”; and ex- result is a pot-pouerri of positive emotions, 1. School of Medicine and Public Health, tend the hypothesis to include attention expressed through declarations of love, gen- University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin to the metaphysical qualities and values eral bon-homie and sometimes tears. Research Shows Green Space Keeps You from Feeling Blue, in http://www.med. which affect our emotional responses; “Jabulanitecture” is “Happitecture” in the isi- wisc.edu/news-events/wisconsin-research- 2. Suggest an alternative methodology Zulu translation; which is by its nature a far shows-green-space-keeps-you-from-feeling- for planning and design of public and louder, more liberated and expressive version, blue/43187, 04. November 2014. private spaces of South African cities, in which those affected or afflicted actually do 2. Clare Cooper Marcus, Marni Barnes, Healing Gardens. which includes broader participatory dance and sing joyously, and demonstrate im- 3. M. Lodovica Delendi , Il progetto di paesaggio processes, a people-centred approach mense capability and affinity. Ululation and come dispositivo terapeutico (Landscape showing respect for cultural and heri- the art of Toyi-Toyi often result. design as a therapeutic device). PhD thesis. tage related responses, to determine the “Ubuntu” is an ancient Zulu philosophical 4. Biagio Modica, Per un utilizzo dei colori e della musica in medicina, primo trattato nature of shared public space, including concept, defined for the purposes of this medico- scientifico sulla cromomusicoterapia the Zulu principles of “Ubuntu”; paper, as the “capacity of people to express per la cura e la prevenzione delle malattie 3. Propose a new professional discipline to compassion, justice, reciprocity, dignity, (For the use of colours and music in be applied within shared space design harmony and humanity in the interests of medicine, first medical-scientific work on and place making towards a “happy” building, maintaining and strengthening the chromo-music therapy for the care and prevention of diseases). Jubal Editore, 2004. environment. To be called “Jabulanitec- community… it recognises a person’s status 5. Paolo Brescia, Stefano Parancola, L'armonia ture”, this can be translated as “Happi- as a human being, entitled to unconditional del colore in architettura (Harmony of colour tecture” (English), “Felicitecture” (Ital- respect, dignity, value and acceptance from in architecture). Delfino, Milano 2010. ian) and “Bonheurtecture” (French); the members of the community”. 6. http://thehappycity.com/wp-content/ uploads/2015/03/Editable-Urbanism-Report.pdf. 4. Draw a link between “Happitecture” (Justice Jajbhay J, in City of Johannesburg v and “Otherwhere” (the mythical space Rand Properties (pty) Ltd and others, 2006, (60 within which great architecture and city BLCR728 (W)). design occurs, freed of the constraints of time, place and the need for physical re- Goals alisation). Propose a more creative philosophical meth- 5. Bring a smile to the lips of readers. After odology for Urban Planning, Urban Design all, we are talking about happiness here! and City Architecture in South Africa, which draws from an inclusive, people-centred, cul- Definitions tural, emotional, intuitive, mythological and “Happy” for the purposes of this essay, is de- metaphysical approach, to shape and fash- fined as the emotion which makes one want ion shared public places which make people to dance or sing joyously (whether one is ca- “happy”. This is in direct contrast and op- pable or not). It is not to be confused, under position to top-down planning and design, any circumstances, with the dry technical which leads to classical or overtly romantic terms of “satisfied”, or “comfortable”. theming and “master planning” processes. “Happitecture” is therefore the result of care- Such practices are currently followed by fully considered and people-centred design, Town Planners, Geographers, and other built which makes those exposed to it want to environment professionals in most South “dance or sing joyously”. African cities, leading to many “unhappy”,

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 37 desolate, inappropriate and rapidly degener- which we usually neither see nor consider. ments leading to “satisfactory” spaces, and ating public spaces. It is the space occupied by elements we take suggestions about processes for successful for granted, but which may be holding our “place making”. This paper does not intend Outline society together; such as the informal con- to critique these ideas at all, but offers an al- Applying a metaphysical “third way” start- tributions of street-traders into a formalised ternative focus and starting point to develop ing point to the design of spaces, and thus business society; the forgotten and neglected emotionally responsive public shared spac- enabling a new multi-disciplinary and con- pockets of the city which lack care; the pub- es, which may lead to different outcomes in sultative approach which is led by specific lic spaces which are full of promise, but need different areas. Human mythology, heritage, religion, mem- focus and attention to tie them to our equally Many studies allude to the need for shared ory and emotion, whilst excluding neither neglected heritage and culture which is nei- spaces to be “owned” by their users, and for romantic and subjective ideologies nor clas- ther understood nor effectively represented place making to be an activity undertaken sic, objective and functional concerns: in the city. by communities, often at their own costs, 1. Researching and critiquing some ex- and for their own benefit. A treasure trove amples of “universal rules” currently Robert Persig of such studies exists in the web page1 of the applied in the search for “satisfying” Robert Persig questions the need for a deci- “On The Commons” organisation, which has shared places and communities. sion to be made between academically classi- very usefully coagulated a number of short 2. Reviewing some past processes and at- cal and romantic views. He suggests a “third papers into a single journal. The desired tempts to engage stakeholders in realisa- way”, which excludes neither, but enables characteristics and functional attributes of tion of improved public spaces in eThe- metaphysical elements to prevail in coming such spaces are uniform, and deal with the kwini, South Africa, and the outcomes. to a new understanding of “reason”, “value” physical realm, but do not capture the spirit 3. Initiating an urban laboratory process and “quality”. of the place or the “genus loci”. The com- on an inner city university campus, to mons approach is certainly a great way of explore the perceptions, emotions and He questions the basis of our understand- building community cohesion, but does not dreams affecting individual responses ing of technological solutions and the un- necessarily directly address the role of public to shared spaces, and to conceptualise derlying classical “science” upon which it space as a retainer of community heritage, “Happitecture” as a discipline which relies. There are simply too many phenom- identity and mythology, which appear to be taps into the mythical and subconscious ena which cannot be explained through our essential components of “happy” places. realm to guide design and development scientific knowledge, which is based purely The gist of the consensus information about of high quality spaces and buildings on a rational reality determined by Aristote- successful public shared spaces is contained which evoke “happiness”. lians. We have tended to neglect the power in the following list compiled by Jan Gehl2: of indigenous mythologies and non-western Approach philosophy. A change of thinking is needed, “TWELVE STEPS TO CREATING A COMMU- In addition to primary survey and research as illustrated in the following extract : NITY COMMONS: work undertaken in the city of eThekwini “What’s wrong with technology is that it’s not 1. Protection from traffic (Durban), South Africa, in 2010, this paper connected in any real way with matters of the 2. Protection from crime draws on two principle sources : spirit and the heart. And so it does blind, ugly 3. Protection from the elements • “Otherwhere” theme and legacy of the things quite by accident and gets hated for that…… 4. A place to walk 25th UIA (Union of International Ar- the solution to the problem isn't that you abandon 5. A place to stop and stand chitects) Congress, which took place in rationality but that you expand the nature of ra- 6. A place to sit Durban, South Africa, in August 2014; tionality so that its capable of coming up with a 7. Things to see • Robert Pirsig’s seminal work : “Zen and solution…… Newton invented a new form of rea- 8. Opportunities for conversations the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” son….. What is needed now is a similar expan- 9. Opportunities for play (Pirsig, 1999, original 1974). sion of reason to handle technological ugliness. ” 10. Human-scale size and sensibility (Pirsig, 1999, original 1974). 11. Opportunities to enjoy good weather Otherwhere To begin the “expansion of reason”, there 12. Aesthetic quality” “Architecture Otherwhere” was coined by first has to be an acknowledgement of the 13. the organisers as the word to describe the “universal rules”, as follows: and this insight, adapted from a presentation overall theme of the 25th Congress of the by Jay Walljasper, Senior Fellow at On The Union of International Architects, held in 1. Primary elements of Urban Space Commons: Durban in August 2014. Not to be confused Happiness “Place-making is a multi-faceted approach to with “Architecture Underwear” (which is a Literature abounds as to what postulates the the planning, design, and management of public different exhibition altogether), the idea of favoured ingredients for baking a successful spaces Put simply, it involves looking at, listening “Architecture Otherwhere” is open to indi- “urban space cake”. A desktop study reveals to, and asking questions of the people who live, vidual interpretation. It describes the mythi- correlations across countries and nation- work, and play in a particular space to discover cal experience of the in-between world alities, with general agreement on the ele- their needs and aspirations. This information is

38 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue then used to create a common vision for that place. Despite this, Durban (eThekwini) has been life as well as social cohesion within neigh- The vision can evolve quickly into an implemen- named in the Mercer Survey as the South Af- bourhoods. This approach has started to ad- tation strategy, beginning with small-scale, do- rican City with the highest quality of life, is dress the question of inclusivity and “peo- able improvements that can immediately bring designated as a “New 7 Wonders Site” and is ple-centred” design in eThekwini, as well benefits to public spaces and the people who use number 7 on the New York Times’ list of 52 as establishing stronger community owner- them….. unfortunately the way our communities Places to Go in 20154. ship of public spaces. However, the project are built today has become so institutionalised did not look beyond the obvious physical that community stakeholders seldom have a Surveys components and interventions needed to chance to voice ideas and aspirations about the Focussed urban design based studies were modify the place to meet the needs and aspi- places they inhabit. Place-making breaks through conducted by the eThekwini Municipal- rations of the local community, and gave no this by showing planners, designers, and engi- ity into Public Open Space (Parks) in 2009, thought to the intangible elements which neers how to move beyond their habit of looking and more general surveys were undertaken could be incorporated to improve social coat communities through the narrow lens of single- by the South African Council for Scientific hesion and extend ownership of the space minded goals or rigid professional disciplines. Research (CSIR) in 2010 into the use and re- to a broader range of residents. This is where The first step is listening to the best experts in the sponse to parks within the municipal area. “Otherwhere” opened new doors. field—the people who live, work, and play in a There is generally no participation from place.”3 users or other stakeholders in the location, Otherwhere or development of these places; and con- Legacy projects developed for the 25th UIA This gives us some clues about the prevailing sequently a low degree of “ownership” by Durban Congress were specifically aimed at concerns about the design of public spaces, communities. This may well be the reason increasing social cohesion, and “taking back and different ways of going about improving for many public parks having degenerated the streets”. This was guided by the concept them. There are many references to the need into wastelands, threatening security and of “otherwhere”, which started to apply cul- for stakeholder engagement and involve- wellbeing, which sometimes results in local ture and heritage and individual emotions ment of affected people in the development residents calling for them to be eradicated. within street level interventions sponsored of shared spaces. However, there is very little In fact 55,4% of respondents (0) were calling by the program. This shift was facilitated in which touches on the need for cultural heri- for existing public parks to be fenced off. The some part by the new relationships formed tage to be articulated within public space, very opposite of a “happy”, shared, accessible between actors, musicians, artists, architects, nor are any linkages drawn between specific and welcoming public space! poets, economists and engineers in the city, cultural distinctions and the potential for towards generation of shared spaces of high mythologies and less tangible elements of Bulwer Park Pilot Project quality, which would appeal to the souls of “quality” and “value” to guide the shaping of Arising from the surveys, a pilot initiative our architectural visitors, as much as to their space. was undertaken by the Architecture Depart- aesthetic sensibilities. The “Campus Laboratory” process, described ment of the eThekwini Municipality at Bul- Works commissioned in the city’s shared in Section (3) below, proposes a way to ad- wer Park in 2011. Bulwer Park is a well estab- spaces ranged from massive murals painted dress and include these elements in the lished, but under-utilised public park within on the pillars of freeway fly-overs, to paint- palette for place designs. There will be no a middle-income residential suburb close to ing electrical control boxes and individual similar “universal solutions” as each design the city centre. Residents, park users, local inspection covers with depictions of rural af- process must be, by definition, location and businesses, specialist interest groups, politi- rican settings and a proliferation of “pocket community specific. cians, schools, clubs and churches were in- parks” and sculptures within every neglect- vited to a series of open public meetings, and ed corner of the city. Whole districts of the Firstly, a specific case study from South Af- participated in joint visioning exercises for city changed character almost overnight, as rica: improving the nature of their park. Owner- people began to feel the reality of the own- ship of the space by the “people” was stressed ership of the main streets, the parks, the 2. Reviewing stakeholder engagement during the engagements, and all were en- beachfronts, and the spaces between build- for improved public space in eThekwini, couraged to think creatively to contribute ings which had previously been dominated South Africa. to the “Community Brief”. A “blank paper” by cars, or subtly reserved by one group or eThekwini is a metropolitan city of over approach was taken, much to the surprise of another. Barriers were broken down through 3,5m inhabitants, situated on the warm, sub- participants, whom were more used to being this event. tropical east coast of South Africa, embrac- told by government what they were getting, ing the Indian Ocean. It is a harbour and hol- than being asked what they wanted! The inner city environment has never been iday city, consisting of vibrant and diverse as happy as during the week of the congress cultures. Like all South African cities, eThe- The result was very positive, and started to in August 2014. This gave some impetus to kwini suffered from apartheid planning, and demonstrate to other residents, city officials initiatives to change the planning method- is trying to knit back the torn fabric of soci- and politicians that shared space, creatively ologies for the city. ety, both physically and emotionally. geared, can add immensely to the quality of

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 39 3. Proposing an Alternative Planning Methodology

The Durban University of Technology Campus Laboratory (DUT) : Blue-Skies Program 2015. The Urban Futures Centre (UFC) of DUT has established an opportunity for the existing “Campus Masterplan" to be reviewed and cri- tiqued through experiments to find a new way of multi-disciplinary involvement for a sustainable future environment.

Proposal Locally based Vusa Collaborative, which works Otherwhere legacy Projects in City Architecture and Urban Development, has proposed a new and creative approach. The 6. 5. The “Space Happiness Index” (or initiative provides opportunities for students Conclusion “Happitecture Index”) is still to be compiled. and other stakeholders to express their desires, “Jabulani” is the isiZulu word encompassing It will vary from location to location, and dreams and emotions to guide new inter-rela- “happiness”. Most public spaces in South between projects, but is very loosely based tionships between buildings, spaces, systems Africa are sadly neglected, and anything but on the “Gross National Happiness” index pioneered in the tiny Himalayan kingdom of and landscape. This is to guide the realisation happy. There are the exceptions, but these Bhutan in the 1970s. It provides a method for of “high quality” or “happy” spaces on the Cam- are largely the preserve of more affluent visi- briefing and objective measuring of results. pus. Videos, poetry, theatre and games are used tors or citizens. This does not contribute to to establish non-threatening communications social cohesion, nor improve the general to extract answers beyond the superficial. Re- quality of life of all South Africans. Referrences spondents are encouraged to draw on aspects eThekwini, has adopted the vision to be- • Conway, E. (2009) 50 Economic Ideas You Really Need to Know. United Kingdom: Quercus. of fantasy, dreams, legends, mythology, cultur- come, by 2030, “the most caring and liveable • Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, al identity, symbolism and their own heritage city”. This cannot be achieved within unhap- SA. (2010) Park Survey - eThekwini, unpublished. in their answers. py public spaces. • Eureka Market Research Specialists. (2010), Ur- ban Design Parks Survey Report 2009-10 prepared Responses will be analysed and processed to South African cities and public spaces could for City Architects, eThekwini, unpublished. provide a Space Happiness Index5. This in- do with an injection of “Jabulanitecture”. • Gehl, J. (2010), Cities For people, Island Press, Wa- dex will relate the metaphysical experience Perhaps this paper is a starting point? shington • o’Leary, B. Personal correspondence, 13-04-2015. to physical elements, structures, layouts and • Pirsig, R. M. (1999) Zen and the Art of Motorcycle systems. Maintenance. London: Vintage. (First published in 1974 by The Bodey Head, Great Britain). Happitecture 1. 0. Urban Design Parks Survey Report The Campus Laboratory opens doors for dis- 2009-10 prepared for City Architects, eThekwini Municipality, Eureka Market cussion of symbolism, mysticism and heritage research Specialists, Durban, 2010. within the city environment, and for introduc- 2. 1. Jay Walljasper & On the Commons tion of characteristics relating to specifics of provide a wealth of information in the place, culture, religion, tradition and emotion, website www.onthecommons.org on “How to Design our World for Happiness”; the to help guide built environment design profes- commons guide to place-making, public sionals working in the city in finding a physi- space, and enjoying a convivial life. cal realisation of the environment best suited 3. 2. List compiled by Jan Gehl, Architect to the well-being of those living, working, and the founding Partner of Gehl Associates, Copenhagen. studying and playing within the city. 4. 3. Adapted from the website of Project This initiative goes well beyond planning and for Public Spaces, a nonprofit planning, design, and starts to integrate people from a design, and educational organisation variety of traditionally differentiated profes- dedicated to helping people create and sustain public spaces that build stronger sions, life-stages and social conditions, within communities. www.onthecommons.org. an endeavour to understand and record the 5. 4. traveller24.news24.com : Read “Surprise SA keys to creating and evolving “happy spaces”, inclusion on NY Times annual travel list” (12-01- in an imaginative place contextualised as “oth- 2015), and “Durban gets New7Wonders Cities nod” (08-12-2014); also uk.mercer.com “Mercer erwhere”, and a new discipline, which to be 2015 Quality of Living Survey” (4-03-2015). called “Happitecture”.

40 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The satisfaction of the As urban ecosystem is understood he sees, Often the presence, in these zones, of works to morphological level, the insufficient of primary urbanization it increases the state environmental requisite percentage of the open spaces that they cre- of degrade and the risk hidrogeological since for the urban quality city ate urban quality and vivibility. These new enough works of drain of the meteoric wa- as strategy of planning models of urban perception underline the ters don't exist. These areas are defined there- to regenerate the phase of transition that crosses the concep- fore residual as remainders or of an agricul- metropolitan city tion of the city: from industrial city to eco- tural origin or of a function productive junta logical city. to term Delia Evangelista The areas with great criticality, individualiz- The residual areas are classifiable therefore es in the urban circle, are totally representa- in: tive mainly from the industrial areas or par- 1. not functional residual open spaces: Introduction tially disposal, initially situates in external their genesis is originally due to inter- Being tightly the comfort of the person con- areas to the urban center, in the proximities ventions of primary and secondary ur- nected to the state of health of the habitat of courses or basins of water, necessary re- banization in uncultivated green areas that surrounds him, the quality of the en- source for operation of industrial machines or to agricultural use. They have an vironment it becomes the central theme of and the disposal of waste process, and that irregular form and they are often posi- the politics of development. With the term currently they result to totally be or partial- tioned to shelter or among town road environment he doesn't tightly intend the ly englobe in residential districts. connections, intercity or interregional ecological habitat but the whole habitat These same districts, been born for origi- of districts service residential of new in which it develops him the to act human nally entertaining the workers employed in construction or destination districts therefore also the built environment, with the industry, today completely transformed tertiary. They often represent the only particular attention to the saving and the and they result to be you deprive of suitable green space inside whole residential exploitation of the natural resources in the infrastructures, united to environmental districts, they don't have a regular plant urban areas. discomfort of the buildings and the spaces but introduces an uncultivated and var- The morphology of the city is quickly open of pertinence because of the renewed iegated vegetation that follows the natu- evolved in the last century, often in congest- functional demand. ral cycles. ed way and convulsive, forming metropolis, In them, besides, lacks infrastructural are 2. residual open spaces de-functionalized: with zones urbanized very vast to regional often underlined and technological. These their genesis is due to the change of dimension, where different metropolitan areas result as residual areas to be clas- proper destination of use or neighboring areas unite him and they amalgamate in a sified de-functionalized, showing with areas that you/they have created a so- continuous environment built of great di- evidence a loss of identity of the places, in cial and economic mutation inside the mension. which the only morphological references urban fabric. I am often identify in the These complex conurbations introduce are this space deprive of function that they brownfields sites, in the closed commer- notable criticality, that the recent develop- determine some real wounds inside the ur- cial centers and in the city parks in aban- ments of the economic and environmental ban fabric. donment. They are characterized from crisis have set even more in evidence, what: In the recovery of the borders of these aban- an infesting vegetation that invades the presence of degrade resilient urban areas, de- doned areas the factors are determined for re- paved open spaces and from an improp- graded building patrimony, missed function- covering the quality of the urban ecosystem. er and unauthorized use of the same and al mixitè, absence of environmental comfort, The valued structural factors are water the buildings to work of the weak bands risk hidrogeological in case of exceptional ground air and green urban while the fac- of the population and the young people. meteoric phenomena. tors overstuctural to them connected they The environmental degrade it becomes so so- are the consumed energy, the acoustic pol- These two categories of open spaces repre- cial degrade, in how much the human being lution and the understood information as sent, in the morphology of the contempo- results to strongly be conditioned by the feel- active share of the citizen. rary city, the public space destined residen- ings aroused by the habitat in which alive. As elements of the city being considered to tial fates to the socialization of the districts be recycled, you positions in the strategic around the industrial areas or to the com- The perception of the urban quality in the metro- zones, the brownfields sites become occa- mercial centers. politan city: the satisfaction of the requisite sions to bait good practices of environmen- The environmental degrade, due to the lack The today's city is currently agreement as tal retraining. of function of this space and the consequent ecological resilient system with evident These voids are of the real artificial land- state of abandonment, it negatively influ- functional, spatial and environmental criti- scapes of varying dimension, residual of ences the social and economic aspect of the cality, with urbanized areas very vast to re- permeable ground in the realization of road district. gional dimension that they unite him and connections or brownfield sites, in which is The environmental criticality is mainly giv- they amalgamate in an environment built assisted to a spontaneous and messy re-nat- en by the morphology and by the typology continuous of great dimension. uralization of the spaces. of this space. Being often productive areas

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 41 cal upload and infrastructural of the district remodeling the urban morphology of it, re-functionalized the spaces through the reused of industrial buildings according to the necessities it emerged from the active share of the community. The re-project of these parts of city through the respect of the environmental requisite, allows the social reconnection of parts of city with the planning greenways that bypass the degraded areas retraining her and mitigating the presence of it. The same industrial areas come re-functionalized through projects of urban regeneration that contemplate to the environmental new balance making a technological upload of the present architectural manufactured articles, restoring the areas of environmental filter and protecting the ecological difference that the impact of the industrial presence has suffered. The open spaces are reconstructed, returning to be enjoyable, realizing projects that depart from a technological upload through permeable floorings that act in operation of the regeneration of the waters of stratum, with the insertion of systems for the waters' recovery in the micro one and in the macro-scale of planning. The presence is increased in the district of parking lot with floorings filter- ing and permeable that drain the waters rain of it and make with the present systems for the lowering of the temperature perceived in warm periods. This allows the creation of places for a new urban conviviality. The city becomes sustainable if it integrates in balanced way the outskirts and the center, building a connective fabric among the dif- Food industry Vela brownfield sites in Naples district Barra of Napoli Est ferent inhabited centers of the metropolitan area. The new conception of ecological city sees the districts introduce a real functional in state of abandonment, introduces vast teorological phenomena you improvise mixitè restoring the urban network of the impermeable open spaces, that increase the the impermeable surfaces not allowing open spaces for the socialization. perception of the environmental discomfort: the natural drain of the meteoric waters The functional mixitè reduces the necessity 1. microclimatic: in the summer periods because of their ampleness, creating the of due moves to the job and the satisfaction the reflectivity of the impermeable sur- conditions for floods of vast areas. of the primary needs. The combination be- faces increases the temperature of the 3. perceptive: the dimension of abandon- tween ICT and new technologies they sus- air this, combined to the lack of natural ment of the area influences the aspect tain a new conception of mobility that is or artificial shading, it creates the effect of the perception of the environmental accompanied to the rediscovery of the transit isolates of heat that involves a notable quality from the inhabitants of the dis- ports slow. consumption of electric energy for the trict, also influencing the economic in- The town planning must foresee a strategic lowering of the perceived temperature vestments. planning, in which the two levels are con- of the inside environments of the pres- nected local-metropolitan strengthening the ent buildings It is a datum of fact what it produces a so- public transport of the commuters. 2. hidrogeological: during the extreme me- cial ri-configuration through a technologi- The urban residual spaces result to be, for

42 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue their genesis, branched on the urban ter- Referrences Landscapes Recyclable: ritory and their re-plant and maintenance • AA.VV 2009, Riuso e risparmio delle acque reflue e meteoriche Atti della V Giornata di Studio sul Dre- New forms for the project they favor the owering of the perceived tem- naggio Urbano Sostenibile, Cipa Editore Milano perature operating as areas of drain for the • AUDIS 2004, Convegno nazionale “La valuta- of the contemporary city management of the extreme meteorological zione degli interventi di riuso delle aree dismesse”, Torino 18 ottobre Francesca Fasanino phenomena, more and more frequent also to • Baiani S. 2008, Vallitutti A. Tecnologie di Ripristi- our latitudes. no ambientale, Alinea Editrice Firenze • Cirelli G.L. 2003, I trattamenti naturali delle acque reflue urbane: fitodepurazione, lagunaggio, accumu- Recycling means put back into circulation, lo in serbatoi, Esselibri, Napoli reuse waste materials, elements that have 1. The city is the most complex system that the • Clement G. 2005, Manifesto del terzo paesaggio, lost value and / or meaning. If we try to trans- Quodilibet Edizioni Macerata human society has ever created. So complex late the meaning of this term in architecture, to be resembled more always to a biological • Dierna S., Orlandi F. 2005, Buone pratiche per il organism, that alive thanks to delicate metabolic quartiere ecologico. Linee guida di progettazione it will get a completely different result de- equilibriums, and as among the biological sostenibile nella città della trasformazione, Alinea pending on whether regeneration or recy- Firenze organisms they are not two of them identical, • Droege P. 2008, La città rinnovabile. Edizioni Am- cling. every city has characteristics that make her/it biente Milano The recycling, unlike the regeneration, only, even if the tendency of the XX century has • Franco M. 2006, I parchi Eco-Industriali Collana works necessarily on the gap and on the resi- been toward the formal uniformity: buildings Ricerche in tecnologia dell’Architettura, FrancoAn- and equal urban layout everywhere."F.M. geli Editore Milano due. With the aim of giving a new value to a Butera In P. Droege La renewable city. • Gangemi V. 23 ottobre 2009, Convegno civiltà product, a piece of the city, to a landscape. In Editions Environment Milan 2008 delle acque valorizzazione e risparmio della risor- a word, recycling is a "new paradigm”1 who 2. The concept of resiliency refers to the ability of sa acqua nell'architettura e nell'ambiente, Atti del a system to recover and to modify the proper Convegno Progetto Abitare Verde XI, Edizione assumes an altered sensitivity towards the modus operands to get ready and to answer Incontri periodici sul tema della ecocompatibi- environment in which we live, which in- lità ambientale to the changes of the external environment • Guillerme A. 1983, Les temps de l’eau. La citè, l’eau volves the lifestyles of citizens, even before and to restore the equilibrium of his/her own et les techniques, Champ Vallon, Seyssel, the disciplinary approaches. inside " structures Cfr EEA Resilience lab 2013 • Indirizzo: Governo dei Sistemi Territoriali - Uno In this sense recycling forces us to rethink 3. They are works of primary urbanization (art. 4, strumento di supporto alle decisioni per la trasforma- law September 29 th 1964, n. 847): the roads to zione delle aree industriali dismesse. radically the methods and approaches service of the installations, included the lacings • Leone U. 2004, L’area orientale di Napoli. Contri- whereby we interpret the change and try, as to the principal viability of the lotteries to be buti per un progetto AMRA Napoli architects, planners, landscape architects to building ;the space necessary for the standstill • Losasso M. R. 2006, Riqualificare i litorali urbani, respond to its demands. The crisis has high- and the parking lot of the car, in relationship Clean Napoli to the characteristics of the installations; the fit • Lucarelli A. 2006, Siti industriali dismessi: il gover- lighted the inadequacy of the tools used to no delle bonifiche, AMRA Napoli ducts to the harvest and the I unload some filthy date and made urgent what Serge Latouche • Martelli A. 2009, Dottorato di Ricerca in Piani- (black) waters and the relative lacings to the ficazione Territoriale ed Urbana (XVII ciclo) calls "peaceful decline" through the theory urban principal net, I understood the fittings of Dipartimento di Pianificazione Territoriale ed of "8R”2. depuration cicle; the water net, constituted by Urbanistica Facolta’ di Architettura Ludovico the behaviors for the disbursement of the water Quaroni Universita’ degli Studi di Roma “La Sa- drinkable and relative works for the captation, pienza”- Sulle condizioni che influenzano la trasfor- He argues that a real change of perspective, the lifting and accessory, as well as from the mabilità e ostacolano la riqualificazione delle aree necessary to build a society of self-growth, industriali dismesse. necessary ducts of lacing to the principal can be realized through the radical program, urban net ; the net for the disbursement and the distribution of the electric energy for systematic and ambitious of the eight R: re- domestic and industrial uses. To the works of evaluate, redefine, restructure, redistribute, primary urbanization they are compared: relocate, reduce, reuse, recycle. These eight 4. the cemetery fittings, the amplifications imperatives interdependent trigger a virtu- and the constructions of the cemeteries, included that is the streets of access, the zones ous circle of decline serene and sustainable. of parking lot, the spaces and the avenues It is not a program, but a level of conception destined accessories to the inside traffic and of the idea. However it seems that three have the constructions (art. 26-encore, D.L. n. a more strategic role of the other: the revalu- 415/1989 converted by the law n. 38/1990); ation, because it gives rise to all the changes, the parking lot realized in the subsoil or in the local sites to the terrestrial plan of the the reduction because it takes itself all prac- existing buildings (art. 11, law n. 122/1989). tical commandments of decrease and reuse 5. They are works of secondary urbanization (art. because it is closely related to the problem 44, law n. 865/1971 and following changes): of the city and the territory now consumed the kindergartens;le maternal schools; 6. the schools of the obligation; the markets from decay and neglect, deprived of their of neighborn the municipal delegations; identifying characteristics. But the aim of the asked and other religious buildings; building a peaceful society of decline, the re- 7. the sporting fittings of neighborn the location can not be only economic. Politics, social center and the cultural equipments and healty ; the green areas of district. culture, the meaning of life must regain their territorial anchoring.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 43 The key word is autonomy. The relocation the highlighting of wealth unrecognized of It follows that the abandoned city, if it is pro- therefore plays a central role in utopia con- brownfield sites, identification of urban re- posed in the popular imagination as a place crete and fruitful degrowth, and is divided al- sources wasted, you look at the "waste" in the of terror and degeneration looks real nice for most immediately into a political program. territories, spaces, architectures, infrastruc- those who want to try their hand in the de- The decline seems to renew the old formula tures uninhabited, abandoned, never used, sign using these materials as a base to repre- of ecologists: "think globally, act locally." Re- such as scraps of sense who ask a rethinking sent a really wild: a wild natural, mixed that locate the economy and life is a significant of the project that generated them. And still is, of freedom and danger. condition of sustainability. If the utopia of the same tattered offer themselves as "raw It’s an example the Garden House Bulkwin- decrease implies a global thought, today is material" to recycle. This implies to develop kle in West Oakland, an open-air museum realized only starting from the territories. It tools and models capable of indicating action of works of land art made by the artist and is a practice that allows to reduce waste, to on the existing lines of regeneration that can owner of the house that bears his name, limit the presence of waste, to reduce the radically rethink modes consist - physical Marc Bulkwinkle, recycling the scrap col- costs of disposal and contain those of the and manual - existing structures and obso- lected here and there for the neighborhood. new production. Recycle means, in other lete, even reconsidering the value of the prop- In fact, as he told in an interview with the words, create new value and new sense. An- erty for a long time neglected -Landscape as New York Times5, came from England in other cycle is another life. Therein lies the substantial in the design of new cycles of life. West Oakland in 1972. The neighborhood content propulsive recycling: ecological ac- In the literature three trajectories insist in the was degraded, mostly frequented by pros- tion that pushes the existing in the future by groove of the review process: the landscapes titutes and criminals: his house cost only $ transforming waste into prominent figures. of abandonment, recycling of the existing 10,000, and after attending a course to learn The innovative aspect of the contemporary and the city and its metabolism. These three the technique of metal began to make use of condition resides in considering strategic tracks, often bribes and sometimes partly waste around him to achieve what today are policy for architecture, for the city and for overlapping, put together the two natures of the works unique and valuable. By the time landscapes derelicts. The paradigm of re- the term "post-production"3. the district was redeveloped and place of cycling is opposed to those of the new con- The first who explored with attitude con- abandonment and degradation has become struction and demolition that dominated the stantly "searching" the problem of "waste" a wealthy residential neighborhood, where, period of modernity, but not trivially. The and the "gap" was Kevin Lynch in Wasting however, 9000 m2 are still occupied by the practice of recycling of spaces and urban fab- Away (Italian edition, Cuen 1992), which garden of scrap iron. rics can not be implemented with technical opened, the theme of "waste" and "waste" as Once again we can see the ruins retain their stereotypical or traditional instruments. Ev- the biggest problem against which the glo- symbolic value, evocative, even more so ery place and every case involving a different balized world would have run shortly there- when the weakening of the sense of pur- project. We could talk about different tactics after. The importance of studying the space pose for immediate human allows greater based on a single intervention strategy. A is in the city was greeted with enthusiasm by freedom of form, and also of mental recon- strategy oriented to the increase in qual- Kevin Lynch in the late '50s, it was fascinated struction. ity and environmental landscape in the city by the opportunities that the reuse of aban- The landscapes change from one function to and, on the other hand, the erosion of the doned land, such as railway stations, fences another, are abandoned and reoccupied, take density of the metropolitan functions such or livestock areas Alluvial could give to de- new forms, return to previous states, and as suggested by Renato Bocchi in "New life fine a new form for the contemporary city. sometimes are changed irreversibly. cycles for architecture and infrastructure of In fact in those years urbanism became aware The remains of the successive phases of oc- the city and landscape ", the first publication that in order to deal with the reconstruction cupation accumulate and become part of the produced under Research PRIN Recycle who of urban voids generated by the abandon- nature of the land: the landscape changes ac- want to investigate the issue of recycling of ment, from the disposal of natural causes and cumulating debris of history. the landscape from the analysis of cognitive not, needed to evaluate the changes made by The decommissioning, abandonment and architectures and infrastructure of the city man to the environment through a careful destruction are not the only generators of and the countryside on our territory. analysis of natural systems. waste soils. There are uses not well accepted The reference range of the new way of design- Hence the interest in the issues of change, the in every community settled, but essential to ing the architecture part of the landscape, not decline of reuse that led to the birth of a con- the larger territory. the territory: in fact, while the territory, as he tinuous strand of investigation and multidis- These include the arrangement of people on points out Renato Bocchi, asks architecture ciplinary study that today sees the highest the margins of society (districts of affordable quantity, stability, persistence over time and expression in urban planning, architecture housing, social rehabilitation institutions, projects as authorial decision, able to estab- and landscape. psychiatric hospitals, ...); equipment that lish the competitiveness among the places Yet as stated by Kevin Lynch, yet, in his post- have some direct effect of disturbance (mo- through the author's signature; the idea of humous book more famous, Wasting Away, torways, quarries, heavy industry, ...); equip- landscape, rather, on the contrary it seeks "scrap unnecessary in a random mixture can ment scrap (landfills, incinerators, sewage to grow old together, to keep changing con- suggest new forms while preserving the pa- outlets, scrubbers) that we avoid and yet we stantly as the landscapes change. Through thos of old meanings"4. depend on them.

44 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Yet the decline in nature has a strong aes- areas of accumulation of waste, often or promotion of activities for leisure; are, ul- thetic appeal: just think of the landscape extending several hectares, sometimes timately, landscapes actually devoid of qual- of Stoke on Trent, dramatically shaped by with accumulation " regular "waste, ity, but loads of potential to be discovered. coal mining and the production of ceram- though often without a clear idea of" The state of alteration of their original quali- ics, it appeared with wells, mountains and differentiation "of the waste, sometimes ties, directly attributable to human activi- ridges of debris. The mid-twentieth century, even with a buildup" irregular "which ties more or less legal that have depleted reno other English county had used up much then led more recently to the famous sources, often leads to "the loss of identity of land, but from the end of the 60's most of theme of the" land of fires "in Campania, historic landscapes, the degradation of envi- it was recovered as open spaces and forests. and, more hushed in Italy and Europe. ronmental quality, the failure to meet social The cones of debris were remodeled and re- These areas constitute "new territories needs "7; and the disposal of these activities planted, walking and cycling routes they re- landscaped" negative, to which we must - whether mining, production or other - that placed the old railways: the land recovered find solutions. allows (or returns) the visibility of these today provides an open back and a new ur- 2. The themes of these areas, although its fi- landscapes, otherwise suitably concealed, ban form for the city. nal perspective that of a "new landscape which is the first essential step for their re- "We know that the landscape is intimately drawing" "livable and re-usable" by the covery. With regard to the techniques under- linked to our subjective reading and cultur- people, must necessarily pass through a lying the redevelopment projects of these al, that the environment is a list of objective theme more "technical", which is related landscapes, which of course does not stand components of the living, that the garden to technologies " reclamation ", which, as the ultimate end bring the area interested is the dream territory, and the collection of in part, have to do with the techniques in the original situation, you may experience the best political project"6. With these words, traditionally called" landscape ", while a dual trend of "reinvention" and "restore". Gilles Clément in His book, gardens, land- in a first and larger quantities must em- In the first case the project becomes an op- scape and natural genius, opens the section ploy techniques based on chemical as- portunity to work on the contrast between dedicated to the city recyclable: in particular, pects - physical, hydraulic, etc. artifice and nature, emphasizing it and es- it is interesting to note that the thought of And this is a measure of the complexity of tremizzandolo, avoiding any temptation to the author focuses on two foundational to the challenge, which can not be foreign to the masking of mimesis; resorting accentuation the shape of the contemporary city: the first Landscape Architecture, or "landscape proj- of items forgotten or eclipsed by prejudice, concerns the absolute necessity of recycling ect", but, as we understand, in terms different the application of this approach has the in a territory over; the second field survey of from that simply oriented "autorialmente" by sense to explain to users of the landscape construction sites of the future is the time, recent developments discipline with prevail- altered the character of the site. In the case its use, its acquisition and its abandonment. ing aesthetic reasons and land art. of the so-called "environmental restoration", At a time when we witness the take the form As of the end of the last century, the devel- however, the tendency of nature to resume of forward-thinking of Kevin Lynch, we are opment of lexical expressions suitable to spontaneously possession of the territory is showing how the finite ecological us return designate those particular types of landscape in some way helped, stimulated - of course to the matter and to ask ourselves what tools that result from improper use of the territo- not without a transaction design, and shows we can use to give back to the environment ries and the waste of natural resources has a value of compositional flow rate definitely and therefore to the landscape and garden increased significantly, symptom intensifi- lower than that the previous case. Ultimate- what we subtracted. Recycling becomes an cation of reflection, conducted in breast to ly, while in the first case it is to operate with imperative for a society consumed: the city disciplines rather heterogeneous, on this is- eminently formal, in the second you pursue would then be recycled a compromise be- sue of pressing current. goals that are decidedly more structural per- tween ephemeral architecture and sustain- In particular, the expression "landscapes re- ceptive, moving within a perspective "eco- able architecture transformed into garden. jected" indicates better than other situations logical". To return to a short "synthetic historiogra- of abandonment of portions of land compro- Within this framework, the practice of recy- phy" of the issues object of my search, you mised by inappropriate uses; these are often cling is proposed as a mode of operation for should quickly mention some experiences of in direct contact with the places of everyday the transformation of landscapes rejected in metropolitan cities that improcrastinabilità life, and often originate a social discomfort "new" landscapes; more than "restore", more notified of the problem, have implemented or severe forms of pollution that result, in- than trying to re-establish a natural condi- strategies implemented and attempts to evitably, in their rejection by citizens. Simi- tion original now lost forever, this should solve the problem, which still can be con- lar to what happens to the waste themselves, essentially restore meaning to the places cern, as examples from both methodological in fact, in the collective sense in these land- through a "critique of reinvention"8. Recycle and technological. scapes are extremely negative connotations: landscapes refused means then move be- But two clarifications should be introduced: aesthetically unpleasant, disturbing and tween memory and invention, techniques 1. the issues of "waste" and "waste" have dangerous, are places to avoid, where it is not designed to regain sustainable environmen- since determined the new landscape good to pass or, even less, be. tal conditions and the choice of functions problems, identifying unwittingly land Conversely they represent strategic spaces to unpublished, configuring reports (physical areas not previously considered: the start regeneration processes ecological and / and / or conceptual) between the elements

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 45 Park, Japan. The area of about 180 acres currently occupied by the park is located near the lake Moerenuma, a medium reservoir that was formed in the bends of the river that divides into two parts the city of Sap- poro, and until 1988 housed a huge landfill of municipal waste. Strongly backed by the sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi (1904- 1988), the Moerenuma Park is designed as a large sculpture at the urban scale, consistent with the design vision of its author, who already had several other times dealt with this type of approach the topic the City Park. On the death of Noguchi, which occurred shortly after the preparation of the general plan, Byxbee Park in Palo Alto, California (font: www.hargreaves.com) the study Architect 5 Partnership becomes the sole owner of the project executive. Be- cause of a design process that is particularly already present - an-that those produced by the and artists Peter Richards and Michael Op- troubled, the park opens to the public - al- activities responsible for the deterioration - and penheimer, has some features that are now though not fully completed in July of 1998 new ones may be added. It means, ultimately, commonly associated with the parks real- and was finally inaugurated in 2005. Inside draw the umpteenth overwriting in the sched- ized landfill, such as the lack of vegetation to runs a promenade that intercepts some plas- ule of the landscape. trunked new planting - in this case accordingly tic elements scattered in the green, such pads Since the eighties of the last century an increas- dell'esiguità the layer of earth that covers the artificial said Moere Mountain, Tetra Mound ing number of design experience has resorted waste and damage the roots of any trees could a hill topped by a pyramidal structure in steel to recycling as expedient functional compari- cause the material that seals the landfill - or the tubes or even the Play Mountain, designed in son with an existing problematic, unresolved, presence of earthworks and sculptures that re- 1933 for another public space and ever. Some or from a state of decline. A paradigmatic case fer to the Land Art. The trails wind through the of these elements are habitable, such as Hi- is that of the landfills, landscapes of disorder park to identify a number of primordial follies, damari, a sort of winter garden in the form of and contamination, which are built by accu- built by accumulating and placing a few sim- large glass pyramid that houses inside shops, mulation and progressive layering requiring ple elements, like little mounds of earth with restaurants, exhibition spaces and scenic the earth what it is not able to receive and re- organic shapes, embankments in groups, pre- spots, others, such as the fountain Fountain insert into the natural cycles. The projects that fabricated elements carefully arranged to mark Sea, particularly spectacular. What emerges reinvent these places do not pursue the restora- space, which are offered as reference points in strongly from these facilities is a strong play, tion of the site in an attempt (compartment) to a landscape that is predominantly horizontal which stimulates the visitor the desire to restore it to its previous appearance and now ir- and without shadows. experience them not only visually, but mak- retrievably lost; they seek rather to reconfigure Unlike other parks made above a landfill, ing use of all the senses, demonstrating the a portion of land that has been deprived of any which house facilities for recreational or edu- validity of the project and confirming Nogu- semblance of naturalness, and to return to the cational activities - such as occurs, respectively, chi as a place inhospitable both possible and enjoyment by the public through the addition in Tel Aviv over the landfill Hiriya design by Til- necessary to derive usable spaces. of new functions, which are compatible with man - Latz or in Mestre San Giuliano Park An- The opportunity for development and inves- its new physical characteristics. tonio Di Mambro, the Byxbee Park is proposed tigation of certain issues are not always easy, Due to the large surface characteristics of these as a space dedicated to the re-appropriation by such as the identity of the place and the tech- places, the park is the intended use of the most the avifauna and the free enjoyment of its visi- niques of re-naturalization of a part of the immediate and obvious, first of all for issues re- tors. This stance on the part of its authors high- landscape refused, were fundamental to my lated to the shape and texture of the substrate lights the desire to leave open some parts of the recent trip to Portugal in Lisbon, where in - that would not support any form of building project in which the same terrain modeling, for the month of June 2014 was inaugurated the - and secondly for the phenomena of gas forma- example, provides that it is the nature that will park Ribeira das Naus on study design PROAP tion in the lower layers. complete the set, naturally colonizing the few Lisbon, coordinated by the 'landscape archi- Byxbee Park in Palo Alto, California, is a proj- but essential elements introduced by man. tect Joao Nunes. The draft of what could be ect of reclamation of an area in front of the called "Recycling a infratruttura industrial" San Francisco Bay, largely used as landfill. The An approach to the transformation of park- dates back to 2009. Originally the Ribeira das artificial landscape that is achieved, the result ing spaces landfill diametrically opposite is Naus was the name given to the construction of collaboration between the study of Ameri- the one adopted by Isamu Noguchi and the of the Palace Ribeira that King Don Manuel I can landscape painters Hargreaves Associates study Architect 5 Partnership in Moerenuma built west of the new royal palace.

46 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue In the eighteenth century, the Ribeira das 1. Ricci M., 2012, New Paradigm, Listlab, Trento Superelevata Foot[Prints]. Naus was renamed "Royal Arsenal Navy" as 2. Latouche S., 2008, Short treatise on the a result of the reconstruction of the center of decline serene, Bollati Boringhieri, Paris Recycle, reuse, urban 3. Marini S., Santangelo V., 2013, New life Lisbon after the earthquake of 1755. In 1910, cycles for architecture and infrastructure of the happy mood he assumed the name of Naval Arsenal Lis- city and landscape vol.1, ARACNE, Rome Sara Favargiotti, Jeannette Sordi bon and the 'access to the river Tagus was in- 4. Lynch K., 1992, Wasting Away, terrupted by the construction of the Ribeira Italian ed. by CUEN 5. Rafkin L., 3 Marzo 2012, Bulwinkleland, The das Naus Avenue. The Ribeira Das Naus was New York Times U.S. (http://www.nytimes. Forse stiamo avvicinandoci a un momento di crisi made up of the largest shipyards Oceanico com/2012/03/04/us/bulwinkleland.html) della vita urbana, e le città invisibili sono un sog- Portuguese empire, especially from here de- 6. Clement G. 2013, Gardens, landscape no che nasce dal cuore delle città invivibili. parted the ships that were celebrated for the and natural genius, Ed. Quod Libet (I. Calvino, 1983) 7. Maniglio Calcagno A.,2010, Landscape projects for great discoveries. refused places, p.7, GANGEMI EDITORE, Rome The historical importance of the site today 8. Trasi N., 2001, Refused landscapes, recycled SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] is highlighted by the revelation and the in- landscapes: perspectives and contemporary On the 21 of September 2014 one of the most tegration of these elements fossils (Arsenal approaches: the abandoned mining areas interesting spots in Genoa – the industrial in the landscape: the phenomenology of a basin, the walls of the basin repair, dry dock), shipyards next to the Ancient Harbour – has design problem, p.85, DEDALO‬‬‬‬ partially buried and potentially determining been temporarily opened to the public. For the character of the space, contributing the one day, this area stretched between the city process of recreation of the Ribeira das Naus and the sea, the only part of the central water- confirming an attitude of willingness to re- Referrences front of the city that hasn’t been transformed search and appropriateness to the place, can • Ricci M., 2012, New Paradigm, Listlab, Trento by the conversion of the city of Genoa into a • Latouche S., 2008, Short treatise on the decline sere- establish the interrelationships between the ne, Bollati Boringhieri, Paris public space, has become the theatre for 40 environment and its resources. • Marini S., Santangelo V., 2013, New life cycles for installations that connected the industrial The architecture of this space of the land- architecture and infrastructure of the city and lan- past of the city to its contemporary touristic dscape vol.1, ARACNE, Rome scape of the Riverside river Lisbon is the re- • Lynch K., 1992, Wasting Away, Italian ed. by connotation. sult of a constructive process that in addition CUEN Bulwinkleland to being able to generate a new cycle of life • Rafkin L., 3 Marzo 2012, , The SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] was the New York Times U.S. (http://www.nytimes. for a compromised environment strongly com/2012/03/04/us/bulwinkleland.html) name of this event that was organized by the from the natural component, is also an at- • Clement G. 2013, Gardens, landscape and natural Recycle Genoa Lab of the University of Genoa, genius, Ed. Quod Libet tempt to redefinition of built spaces designed • Maniglio Calcagno A.,2010, Landscape projects for in collaboration with the Municipality of Ge- to emphasize the need for spatial flexibility. refused places, p.7, GANGEMI EDITORE, Rome noa and other private and public association1 A concept, that of flexibility, which is asso- • Trasi N., 2001, Refused landscapes, recycled lan- underneath the most representative urban dscapes: perspectives and contemporary approaches: ciated with the recyclability, understood in the abandoned mining areas in the landscape: the infrastructure of the city: Strada Sopraelevata, this case as the 'opportunity to develop an phenomenology of a design problem, p.85, DEDALO the highway running between the coast and attitude that drove the designer and users to- the historical center of Genoa. Organized in wards greater environmental awareness and occasion of the 2014 edition of the European resource utilization. The result is the revalu- Mobility Week “Our Streets, Our Choice”2, ation of a part of the historical and cultural the event thus offered the possibility to ex- landscape of Lisbon through the incorpora- perience this hidden line comprise between tion of a few simple artificial and natural ele- the land and the water in the shadow of the ments that allow you to emphasize the aspect Sopraelevata highway, aiming to sensitize the of landscape and environment of the site. citizens on the relevance of the ground in the The ordinary character of the spaces and their experience of public places and highlighting vocation to accommodate the daily rhythms the ability of citizens to imagine new uses of those looking for a simple and direct con- for urban spaces. For one day, the dream of a tact with the river Tagus have prompted de- continuous urban promenade along the city- signers to take a design approach based on coast line becomes reality. a particularly careful of the historical conditions, on a definition of vocabulary of com- SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] has been positional elements from the materials of the also thought as a call for projects open to space not built that are clearly visible. public and private entities: citizens, artisans, architects, artists, enterprises, communities, cooperative societies, informal groups, students and every form of private or public as- sociation3.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 47 Everybody was invited to participate in the Second, the place was a strategic part of a thinking architecture and the city. In fact, the construction of an urban performance with much larger vision for the city and its qual- city does not follow an unchangeable biologi- visions and proposal that would express and ity of life. Since the preparation for the cel- cal course but it has the capacity to regenerate construct a conceptual manifesto for the re- ebrations of the 500 years after the discovery itself from within, to overcome one life cycle cycling of urban spaces. This performance of America, the Colombiadi of 1992, Genoa and its decline by reinterpreting itself. This offered one day to experiment, communica- has invested in transforming the sites on the process of reinterpretation, of finding new tion, experience share and disseminate the waterfront in public spaces. The shipyards meanings and forms for obsolete or dismissed idea of a possible future. The selected propos- under Sopraelevata are the only missing part urban landscapes, has interested many Eu- als4 ranged from temporary urban furniture, to connect the east and the west of the city, ropean cities in the last decades; especially interactive installations, to social plays, urban through its historical center. SUPERELEVATA those turning from an industrial economy to performance and happening. Every group FOOT[PRINTS] explored this scenario, pre- a post-industrial one, based on tourism, ser- have realized one “Footprint Manifesto” senting a vision of a city that prioritizes its vices, culture, and information. In the case whose shape resembles the recycle symbol inhabitants and makes them protagonists of of Genoa, thinking about recycling the city, and that have been personalized using differ- this process of change. landscape, and architecture, means to look ent materials, preferably wasted or recycled Third, the installations and the whole event at the no-longer-used industrial heritage as a (i.e. textiles, gypsum, sand, chippings, plastic, set a series of possibilities for a place which potential light and ecological infrastructure, colors). Each installation was easy to trans- occupies a strategic site in Genoa but that placed in the heart of the city. The project of port, and it was mountable and demountable only has one function, which is industrial. infrastructure, as Mosè Ricci underlines, has in few hours: these manifestos became tem- City debates forecast the possibility to move until now been conceived as a medium for porary installations expressing a conceptual the shipyards elsewhere and convert all this development: necessary and sufficient con- interpretation for urban recycle. area into something else, design a new water- dition to create urbanization and improve front, and so on. A date for this transforma- metropolitan qualities7. Recycling obsolete SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] has involved tion is not set, as it is not clear yet whether infrastructure is instead a different operation; 15 Italian and International Universities5 this would be for the best, nevertheless every it requires to look at the existing conditions to working on the construction of a “Re-cycle Sunday the shipyards are not used. SUPEREL- develop new opportunities and uses for what Manifesto”, hundreds of researchers, design- EVATA FOOT[PRINTS] showed how through is already there. ers, students, associations, and people who temporal, self made, low-cost, and collective came from all over Italy to realize the installa- actions multiple meanings and uses can be at- The Recycle Genoa Lab, group led by Mosè tions, and thousands of citizens that could ex- tributed to this place. The temporary reuse, or Ricci that organized SUPERELEVATA perience a crucial part of the city that belongs actually recycle, as the area is used with a com- FOOT[PRINTS]8, has conducted a preliminary to their tradition but has always been preclud- pletely different purpose from its original, can survey to define the recycle imprint, called ed to public use. For one day the area of the be deployed as a strategy to forecast possible Recycle Footprint9. The resulting image shows Ancient Harbour and the seaside promenade futures for the dismissed infrastructure of the a collection of obsoleted industrial buildings, were finally connected, and creating one 5 km city, in Genoa in this case, but also elsewhere. infrastructures and facilities that have been long path, open to the public and closed to ve- In Genoa, as in many other city, recycle has caused by the abandonment of space, func- hicle traffic. emerged not only as a strategy for contem- tions or economic activity. This leaves the High levels of happiness could be registered, porary urban development but also as a new city with an unexpected heritage that must from any party. Although the area is private, paradigm, a way of life, to which everybody be reused. Every city has a recycle imprint the budget was minimum, and the workers can contribute. represented by the amount of areas, volumes were volunteer, we can say that all those The following paragraphs will focus on the and infrastructures that have been rejected who organized, designed, promoted, and ex- potential of adopting recycle as a collective and that can be re-evaluated trough their re- perienced the event were prevalently happy strategy for a happy urban transformation, as use. So, the theory of recycle can be a tool for with the result, and no complain has been it involves architects, municipalities, urban the city development: giving new meaning to registered6. developers, and citizens in a process of change produce new value to those parts of the city, We believe that the consensus and success of that has as an objective the giving of new (or buildings and open spaces that have already the initiative can be attributed to three main additional) meanings and qualities to existing been made but which were abandoned. aspects, three ingredients for happy urban spaces. The relevance and consistency of this A more sensible attention has to be paid to spaces. spaces and materials is something that cannot the abandoned materials of the city so that, First, the event has been realized in an area be underestimated anymore. through the activation of a new life cycle, which is usually private and industrial and will engender a new operative attitude to the that has been disclosed and opened to the Recycle Footprint urban design. The Laboratory is developing public for a short amount of time. The op- In terms of urban planning and design, re- a new development model that restore the portunity to discover hidden parts of the city cycle can be intended as a procedural strategy value of open spaces - always seen as a burden could not be missed, and increased the experi- capable of triggering a continuous reactiva- rather than a resource. ence of those who could enjoy it for one day. tion of the urban system, a medium for re- Considering them as an urban catalyst, the re-

48 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue “Asphalte à dessiner”. Installation realized by Claudia Battaino, Chiara Rizzi, Luca Zecchin, Anna Berloffa, Alberto Rossetto, Francesco Zardini, Matteo Zeni (Re- Cycle Italy UdR Trento). Photo by Silvia Pericu

search team also sets a taxonomy of scenarios, research have been included not only the not a univocal relation between the size of tactics, and conversion policies for the renova- areas already abandoned but also those areas the areas and the respective intensity of the tion of themselves and the surrounding areas. which are in a process of abandonment or footprint: small areas may have an high inci- In particular, the Recycle Genoa Lab works transformation over the next five years. Most dence of abandoned elements, or vice versa, on the recycling of underused infrastructures of the areas selected are adjacent to road or large areas have a reduced impact of them. In and industrial areas. One of the main aims is railway infrastructures and their former any case, the wide amount of abandoned her- to rethink the role of infrastructures, consid- functions were closely linked to the industri- itage emerges and it must advantageously be ering them as a relational place to engender al era, today in decline. In addition, to draw reused: a new life cycle can be imagined for new relationship between city, environment, the consistency of the Recycle Footprint, the urban materials that are already saturated landscape and ecology. research team has considered also the proj- (Recycle) or that are almost abandoned (Pre- Footprint means to investigate the condition ects approved by the Municipality and the cycle) - like the urban road Sopraelevata10. of things, but also to value the potentiali- relationship of the studied areas with the This is the image of Genoa today. The survey ties and problems, and to define the param- infrastructural, water, ecological and social and the updating of the Recycle Footprint eters of urban quality and environmental networks assets in the city. will continue even during the next stages of performance to be obtained from recycling. The footprint of Genoa is equal to 4,350,000 the research. In fact, the development of the Therefore, the footprint is a descriptive and square meters, 27.18 million cubic meters footprint is a fundamental and essential part interpretive inquiry, addressed to a vision of and 67 km of railway. It generates peaks of of the process, starting from the landscape change that coincides with the rethinking of different intensity, spread along the Geno- and overlapping levels of qualitative and the existing. In fact, during this phase, the ese territory. It is also evident that there is quantitative parameters.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 49 These guide the interpretation of the aban- ical and temporal processes over time. The response to changing patterns of socio-economic doned infrastructures according to different project of recycle therefore suggests to build organisation and lifestyles (Knox, 1984). Re- issues: size, accessibility, urban and regional visions or scenarios that become a strategy to cycle is a very contemporary attitude, that plans, materials, new centralities, mitigation test devices that may be replicated and imple- has the potential of transforming invisible and environmental compensation. Those mented, suggesting new methodologies and places into liveable urban spaces. data are substantial information that pro- opportunities offered by the existing condi- vide the basis on which develop designing tions. The site suggests a program, which is strategies and visions. At the same time, they very site specific and time related: long-term 1. Event organized by the RE-CYCLE GENOA must be updated according to the outcome frameworks can be modified through short- LAB, Department of Architectural Science, achieved from the other phases of the re- term projects; multi-scalar devices that are Polytechnic School, University of Genoa and in collaboration with the Municipality search process11. highly time related. of Genoa, Amici della Sopraelevata Finally, the construction of recycle devices Association, Professional Association of Urban Happy Mood also implies social aspects and contribution, Architects of Genoa, Recycle Italy | New Life Going back to the three possible ingredients even more than in the case of traditional Cycles for city and landscape infrastructure for urban happiness, we can say that recycle urban design projects or planning. Recycle and architecture (PRIN 2012-2015). Event implies the other two – the attribution of necessarily starts from existing conditions funded by DAAD Hochschuldialog new senses to a site, the relation to time, and that can be highly connotated in terms of mit Südeuropa program 2014-2015. 2. The European Mobility Week 2014 aimed the participation to an overall strategy and memory and identity, but also be particular- to re-evaluate the way we think about vision of change. Recycle devices are indeed ly difficult because of the degradation that urban space and to explore the relationship tactical, temporal, and site specific opera- years of not-usage lead to. Recycle is a well- between land use and quality of life. The tions, which offer an overall strategy for re- known and not-elitarian practice, that every- 2014 year’s slogan, “Our streets, our choice”, cycling urban landscapes12. body can understand, appropriate, and bring encourages people to create the city that The project of recycle implies that specific forward; a spontaneous collectively shared they want to live in. www.mobilityweek.eu. interventions correspond to specific places. practice that right know is probably also the 3. More information about the call for As Ricci puts it, we may speak of different only possible strategy for communitarian projects, the selected and realized projects, and the event are available on the tactics responding to one strategy of inter- policies and urban planning, at all levels15. following official website: https://www. 13 vention : adapting the urban and industrial Thinking about recycling devices as an over- facebook.com/superelevataimpronte, obsolete heritage to contemporary needs, all urban strategy, inevitably means to cre- superelevata.wordpress.com. improving its environmental performances, ate a relation between processes of informal 4. The projects have been selected creating social interaction and appropria- appropriation of urban space (bottom-up) by a committee of members of tion, and suggesting new economies. Tactics, and strategic visions that facilitate unusual the Recycle Research Project, the unlike plans or strategies, resemble a way of practices, mechanisms of appropriation that Municipality of Genoa, the Amici della Sopraelevata Association and proceeding step by step, giving immediate are not contemplated by general city plans 14 the Professional Association of answers to contingent conditions . Specific and that can nevertheless enrich the quality Architects of Genoa, that judged the tactics of intervention may become opera- of public space and collective experiences. best concepts and their feasibility. tional devices capable of reactivating these Guerrilla gardening, illegal orchards and 5. The event have involved students, tutors areas, even for a few months or years, im- farming, street art, or skate parks often pro- and teachers from Italian and international proving the environmental and urban qual- duce innovation within the hidden spaces of universities: Università IUAV di Venezia, ity of the surrounding and suggesting future the infrastructural shadow, testing their ex- Università degli Studi di Trento, Politecnico uses and meanings. istence and adapting to the awkward space. di Milano, Politecnico di Torino, Università degli Studi di Genova, Università degli Recycling also necessarily implies the tem- The evolution of these activities and spaces Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Università poral variable, i.e. thinking about design in can be facilitated by local actions. Recycle degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Università terms of life cycle and transformation pro- can indeed be seen a processual project of degli Studi di Palermo, Università degli cesses. For the Recycle Genoa project, the in- transformation, an operational device that Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, terstitial and neglected spaces of the city be- would re-plan Genoa’s urban mobility and Università degli Studi G. d’Annunzio Chieti- come the place in which new activities may public spaces. Pescara, Università degli Studi di Camerino, take place, emerging urban landscapes that, Urban happiness can be found in the discov- Università della Basilicata, Leibniz Universitaet Hannover, IAAC Barcelona, if connected, can make a new ecological in- ery of new emotions as well as in the sense Lebanon American University di Beirut. frastructure for the city. This infrastructure of security that familiar and liveable places 6. The short-movie “SUPERELEVATA may have “times” of activation, functioning, provide, but we believe it also has to do with FOOT[PRINTS]” - directed and edited by and transformation that are different from the feeling of being part of the process of con- Andrea Sperandio - testifies the urban traditional ones, determined by citizens’ tributing to the creation of a better place to experience and the happy impressions of wishes, by the will of the actors that can pro- live in. As the purpose of this Biennale high- the people during the event. The video is mote these interventions, by the city itself, lights, meanings attached to the built environ- available at the following link: https://www. and by the natural transformation of ecolog- ment become modified as social values evolve in youtube.com/watch?v=BeDtH9r-hkg.

50 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue 7. Ricci M., “Tre falsi assiomi.” In Infrastrutture There is not a continent, For example: the Metropolitan Park in Jed- minori nei territori dell'abbandono. Le reti dah (Saudi Arabia) situated between the des- ferroviarie, edited by E. Corradi and country or culture: the ert and the sea, has a “pergola promenade”, R. Massacesi, Arcane, Roma, 2014. agreeability in the public that provokes a microclimate for its users. 8. The event has been coordinated by Mosè spaces is a search of the One parallel river to this pergola has several Ricci, Raffaella Fagnoni, Manuel Gausa, oblique and playful passages, creating differ- Alberto Bertagna, with Sara Favargiotti, human being ent sensations for each person. Chiara Olivastri, Jeannette Sordi. And with Maria José Gomes Feitosa the support of: Beatrice Amoretti, Elisa Meanwhile, there are public open spaces in Angella, Federico Boni, Marco Fonti, Giulia shanty towns in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) where Garbarini, Giulia Giglio, Valentina Manzini, there are musical activities, dance for chil- Davide Maragliano, Silvia Pericu, Alessia Urban Regeneration dren and young people, persuading them Ronco Milanaccio, Asia Triandafillidis. The cities are not only the places where the to a healthy leisure and moving them away 9. “Recycle” is the title of an ongoing people live, work and study, basically. The from drugs. Italian research project that links 10 Italian Universities, including the must go further on. The public spaces are a concrete potential for Faculty of Architecture of Genoa, and The man is a physical and a psychic being at solution of many existing social problems in several international partners, as the the same time. He is neither only physical, our countries. Unhappily many governing Leibniz Universität Hannover. nor only psychic. The equilibrium is only do not realize them. 10. The elevated road of Genoa is one of the fetched if the human being gets to do activi- A urban or a landscaping protect adapted main travel routes of the city. As previously ties that look at these two parts. to the climate, to the culture of each city is said, it crosses the city along the coastline What would be a public space of quality able to influence the user’s perception. In and overflies the old town, the touristic and for our 5 continents in countries with sev- Beatrix Park in Amsterdam, there are differ- commercial harbours. Since many years, its future causes a controversial debate. eral cultures ? entiated places that induce the perception The Recycle Genoa Lab proposes a vision The place where each one felt well, that filled of the people who go there. For example, of a possible future through its recycling. his soul of peace and calm. there is a wooden belvedere over the river 11. See also Sara Favargiotti, “Recycle I search and I acquire the inner peace if I am when the people remain lain or stand up, Genova. From Waste to Footprint.” in a place that provokes me this. reading or meditating practically in the In Productive Grounds. Transalpine The urban space must speak of its own. The middle of the river. Trajectories, edited by Mosè Ricci and projet must be a transformer for the users. Countless leafy trees flank his banks. In Joerg Schroeder, Aracne, Roma, 2014. 12. See also Jeannette Sordi, “Recycle Devices. I enter it with a rhythm and there I slow other places the users pass through tortuous Strategic operations.” In Productive Grounds. down myself. ways with their freedom of choice, and sud- Transalpine Trajectories, edited by Mosè Ricci Then a transformer factor of the space would denly they come across a sculpture, which and Joerg Schroeder, Aracne, Roma, 2014. be the own project, that achieves the users. persuade them to think. There are so many 13. Ippolito F. Tattiche, Il Nevertheless, there are three primordial el- uncommon situations in such park, that, in Melangolo, Genova, 2012. ements of Nature: the presence of earth, air fact, it is an induced therapy, taking all peo- 14. Ricci M., "Recycle Footprint. Impronta and water. ple at a state of happiness. da Riciclo." In Recycle Italy 01. Nuovi Cicli Let’s stop to think: Why in a park do the The best practices for people achieve a level di Vita per Architetture e Infrastrutture della Città e del Paesaggio, edited by S. Marini, people go to meet water; whether a lake, a of happiness will be first inside of them- V. Santangelo, Aracne, Roma, 2013. river or a fountain? What strength does this selves. Next each person must try to meet her 15. Ricci M., “Tre falsi assiomi.” In Infrastrutture water element have, that becomes an object private way. The realization will take place minori nei territori dell'abbandono. Le reti of contemplation? in search of open spaces for the relaxation ferroviarie, edited by E. Corradi and In the same way, breathing fresh, dispolluted and leisure. Each user must fetch his own R. Massacesi, Arcane, Roma, 2014. air, each human being fetches it. These three way. All age groups should be contemplated elements are essential for the man, but they with specific spaces. A good example is Cam- need to be in harmony among them and po Grande in Valladolid (Spain). with the own man. Such harmony integrated with the aesthet- Happy cities are those where we feel well, we ic, the beautiful. Beautiful one that doesn’t want to remain forever, and would be all peri- mind having been done at a remote-past, or ods of the day, without and restriction. There the modern or contemporary epoch. is beauty, harmony personal and collective The important thing is that it integrates it- satisfaction. It would be a small paradise. self to the user and enter its essence. This state of happiness that there is in some There is not any country that have bigger cities on the world needs a continuation or smaller purchasing power and several through the will of local governments. cultures that don’t fetch agreeable leisure Such happiness that the users feel in their cit- places. ies should be planned.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 51 The public spaces can interact with children, adults and elderly person, but each one of them must have his differentiated space, in order to feel well. The own activities of each age group must be considered. I do not think that the state of happiness be a urban phenomenon, because such state also happen in the rural zone. I have had the opportunity to experience this state in the proximity of Firminy-France. There was an enormous reciprocity among the users of that small rural place and the public space was also a small place with little church and all the habitants were at a wedding being celebrated there. After they sang, danced and fraternizing among them. They were happy. One of the ways of urban expression in many countries, independently on continent is to show everyday life through graffiti on walls, under overpasses or bridges. In São Paulo (Brazil) in on degraded enough Metropolitan Park – Jeddah/Saudi Arabia area downtown, that has a long overpass de- nominated “Minhocão”, an artist has taken photos of habitants of that region and he por- traid in form of graffiti, under this overpass. When these users have seen themselves, they remained ecstatic and happy: there was the ransom of their own esteem. In Lisbon (Portugal), in Mouraria District, one has done similar: in the very small restored houses, the façades with tiles were preserved exactly with old painting of their owners. This street opened itself into a small square and there, they have created a living together space with park benches, trees and many flowers. We realized that the great question is to ransom in every culture the essential values concerning those determined people. Singapore has been experiencing its public space through the sustainability. Trees sculptures that are opened, fetch solar energy and are illuminated in the evening. They present a high technology, but at the same time they exhibit children’s drawings ex- SoundScape – Miami Beach / USA – Sculptural pergolas pressing what they think how must be the nature in their city. There is a subtle trace There are many examples in the world that Referrences of sensibility. we can register and we conclude that this • Bunchan, James. 1980, Jeddan Old and New. Sta- cey International, London. Another ransom of daily life is the street feeling of happiness which all people fetch, • Delvalhas, Fernanda. 2005. Socio-historiografia de of vegetables and fruits at the Union Street independently if the country is richest or uma categoria: as favelas e suas representações so- Urban Orchard in London and a space ad- poorest, the sensibility, the subtle perception ciais. Editora FGV, Rio de Janeiro. • Kong, Lily. 2010, Conserving the Past, Creating the dressed to teach the interested people to or more acute is the same. Future Urban Heritage in Singapore. Urban Rede- cultivate this planting for children, young The public space is always looked as collec- velopment Authority. Green City Spaces Ur- people or adults, both in the “Parc de Bercy” tive and needs to achieve the apogee, the • Uffelen, Chris Van. 2013, ban Landscape Architecture. Braun, China. Paris (France) and in Botanic Garden in Curi- happiness. • Warren, William. 2010, Singapore City of Gar- tiba (Brazil). dens. Periplus Editions, Singapore

52 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue W.W.W. Waste Worth and In 2009, the Volkswagen company gave an but activating the inhabitants to overtake award to a group of designers who invented the usual process of proxy, providing their Wellness the “world’s deepest bin”. To throw rubbish in cities with nice, interactive and recreational Gabriele Fiocco the bin instead of onto the floor shouldn’t re- compost bins with a high level of usability, ally be so hard. Many people still fail to do so. that convert citizens into managers of a great Therefore the winners presented for the Fun part of their own waste. The compost bin as a value converter Theory Award contest, an interactive rubbish The project Compostificio, since 2008, a pe- Our urban environment lately became theater bin, which made a sound the moment an ob- riod in Naples, Italy marked by the particular of a stream of disheartened, sour people, gov- ject was thrown into it. During the experiment, violence of the waste emergency, proposes since erned by caos and mostly cemented. What we in a public park, it was registered that the bin then, the realization of community compos- need instead are places of reunion, harmony gatherd 41 kg more than the usual,why? Be- ters that find their use in outdoor areas , green and shared happiness. cause they did it fun to do. The Fun Theory1 as- areas, public or private supported by the cre- One of the most evident issues regarding the serts that something as simple as fun is the easiest ative effort of artists and designers. These con- city management is waste. The waste issue is way to change people’s behaviour for the better. So tainers are thought to be attractive, with their a crucial economic and environmental chal- you are not just rewarded with a good conscience, aesthetic form, as true works of art and yet be lenge and is one of the most symptomatic ele- you also get a smile. intriguing as an open laboratory for under- ments of a good management of public affairs. We can encourage and stimulate this virtuous standing the processes of transformation of the Recycle, differentiation, waste reduction are habit in providing citizens with an aestheti- organic matter. now undelayable civic duties. The environ- cally pleasant, interactive, fun and captivating The compost must be a daily concern and ment claims it, the municipal coffers also public compost bin. Inhabitants, together, may not a commitment; with the ability to attract claim it since their increasingly emptiness and contribute with their actions, in making public and entice the disposal of the organic matter, insufficiency to support the costs of the land- spaces a better place to live in the present time with the exchange in terms of a gift in soil, fill. Collection door to door, reducing the use of and for the future, with less waste left in the seedlings and seeds. The natural elements plastic, more attention to consumption. There garbage cans and destined to the landfills. The that contribute to the transformation process, are several ways to reduce the proportion of city districts, together with the creativity of the water, the sun, the air, the leaves, the soil, undifferentiated also asking people to adopt artists and designers, may create a better space the bacteria and other micro -organisms, are compost bins. Now, if we focus on the compost, with smart public furnitures, such as public the starting point for the design of new ad- one can easily realize how this represents one compost-sculptures or gyms, where people get ditional features, but more than any other is of the missing links for the realization of the fit activating at the same time a wheel that con- the contribution of people, in terms of move- food chain in the city. Waste can become a nected with the compost bin, shakes the organ- ment, creativity and care, which completely resource, it is therefore important to remind ic waste placed in it and accelerates its transfor- transforms the composters in public gyms for people how the fruits’ peels, the rests of a meal, mation cycle. Same concept may be applied to exercise on street corners or rides for children. the residues of a pruned tree, can become an in- children’s playground equipment. (Nowadays In addition, once again, it will lighten the cen- valuable resource for the soil: compost. the former example is being tested in a public tral system of waste management, making the Thus, the compost bin under this aspect, plays garden in Milan near Gae Aulenti square). citizens more and more educated, aware and an extremely important role, acting as a value Helping citizens to turn waste into the most self-sufficient. converter, since it converts what is commonly valuable fertilizer of all for their gardens or Other examples of street furniture: an auto- thought as waste (useless material), into raw simply plant vases, means not only to lead matic plant supllier compost container that material (useful material); these are the rea- in the landfills a less amount (and therefore works with the assumption of organic waste; sons why it must be enhanced, so that people pay less), but practically giving support for carousels for children with an integrated may change their customary and consolidated an action with a very high educational value. mechanism for grinding and blending; pub- way of thinking and consequently acting. And moreover the bin itself becomes an op- lic gyms connected to a compost system; Hence nowadays, very often people find portunity to share a pleasant moment with multimedia educational points for an inter- their duties stressfull or inconvenient, not the passangers, alone or with your children active fruition of the compost container. practical and somehow tiring. And yet, ask- whom are our future and will determine the Making inhabitants responsable in part by ing citizens to add in their houses a compost one of the planet. their own, making them increasingly more bin in order to transform their organic waste cultured, conscious, creative and self -suf- (30% of the overall waste) into something Project Compostificio by Gabriele Fiocco2, a fun and ficient, taking a chance on the potentials of useful for theirselves, seems easy to say but practical response to the waste emergency. green urban areas and dismissed zones, acti- not to accept; it means to add other volume How can we get more people to make compost vating the inhabitants in the conscious con- in a private space and give another thought out of their organic waste? trol of their actions...all of this to building a to the owner of the place. As it was said before, in order to kick this better future, to seek a shared happiness. But, can we change this attitude by making goal we must flip the problem, not waiting the composting a fun activity exploiting for the district’s intervention or buying un- 1. www.thefuntheory.com public spaces? pleasant and expensive compost machines, 2. Gabriele Fiocco www.compostificio.it

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 53 Upgrading Urban Areas able conditions to improve the quality of life of spaces of Cosenza’s historic centre and can European citizens, is spreading. As also stated be replicated in other contexts by adopting as Public Green Areas to in the documents of Agenda 21 and in the Aal- actions and solutions with original charac- Promote People’s “Good borg Charter, one of the primary actions to im- teristics related to the specific places. Living” prove the liveability of cities is the diffusion of Caterina Gattuso, Philomène Gattuso green areas through renaturing cities. Cultural identity, urban green areas, Particularly in historic centres, urban spaces architectures and historic centre are unoccupied areas left after construction, A project aimed at upgrading urban public whose morphology results from the distribu- spaces situated in historic centres should Introduction tion of the buildings surrounding them. They take into account not only the physical as- In the past, urban open spaces and, in par- have formed spontaneously over time, during pects, but also the historical and environ- ticular, those lying in historic centres, were the various phases of expansion of the city mental dimension of the centres themselves. natural meeting points for people that, with- and are often characterized by remarkable ar- Dynamics, which may allow relating vari- out arranging to meet, used to gather to talk, chitectures, such as palaces or churches. ous components, should be triggered to cre- socialize, exchange information and objects. Instead of considering them as factors of ate synergies that may pursue best practices Over time, owing to more and more hectic fragmentation of the urban fabric, such scat- with a human dimension and applicable in rhythms of life and new forms of communi- tered spaces could generate an integrated everyday life. cation, such spaces have been increasingly system and allow recovering and enhancing This proposal is a sort of guideline for proj- abandoned and have become anonymous the urban identity. Actions including the in- ects of enhancement through the diffusion places without identity and value, often oc- troduction of urban green areas or of micro- of green areas, with small and effective ac- cupied by vehicles. activities of common interest should be put tions to furnish spaces, make them comfort- Recently, a new focus on such areas has been in place by involving the local community. able and thus introduce attractiveness and recorded, which is also due to the debate pro- This study illustrates an operational propos- wellbeing for the community, which is more moted by the European Landscape Conven- al aimed to enhance urban areas by creating induced to frequent them. Such actions may tion. Their importance for good urban living is a system related to the surrounding archi- also strengthen the tie of the community to being rediscovered and a new culture, aiming tectures and on the urban context of the his- its living context, thus reversing the trend of to enhance them in order to create the suit- toric centre. The proposal refers to the public abandonment.

The Churches and their location

54 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The decorations of the façades and floral patterns

The identity of a public space is strongly con- 5. Acquisition of guiding elements to grow Giudecca, in the heart of the historic centre. nected to the architectures defining it and, in the identified biological species; At present, the monastery hosts the civic mu- their turn, such architectures comprise dis- 6. Design of the urban greening intervention. seum and the civic library, which are the venue tinguishing elements that make it unique. Such a procedure allows carrying out unique for cultural events and exhibitions and are ac- Therefore, it is useful to look for correspon- and original interventions that will strongly cessed from the square in front of the Church. dences between architectures and urban spac- typify spaces enhancing them through en- The Church of San Gaetano was built in 1652 es in order to establish relationships that may joyable sensory stimuli like perfumes and by the Clerics Regular Theatines, who arrived result in mutual enhancement. With this in colours, which vary depending on the sea- in Cosenza in 1624, then sold to the Confra- mind, a few criteria to be followed to revital- sons, visual taste and tactile opportunities. ternity of Our Lady of Suffrage, in 1795, and, ize spaces were identified. They included the At the same time, architectures will be also finally, used for private dwelling. Besides the introduction of “green volumes” generated by enhanced, thus favouring the attraction of Church of San Gaetano and the Oratory of Our the floral patterns that could be easily found tourists and non-residents. Lady of Suffrage, the site also hosts the Church in the decorations of the façades of the sur- of San Francesco di Paola, Palazzo Arnone and rounding buildings. The case of Cosenza’s historic centre the Church of S. Agostino and is the venue for More specifically, the project proposes to liven In order to better explain the method, its appli- Cosenza’s most popular fair (Fig. 1). up spaces by using the floral patterns found cation to Cosenza’s historic centre is proposed. The analysis of the stylistic forms and of the in the architectures and transposing them in A study examined certain public spaces used as decorations of such buildings showed that flo- space by means of flowerbeds or small green representative examples and characterized by ral patterns were constantly present and were arrangements containing the same plants and the presence of religious buildings of which a to be considered as identity signs. After iden- flowers identified in the façades. short historical description was provided. tifying the biological species of the flowers, The project methodological approach is In a south-north direction, the Church of Santa or their closest ones, by means of the analyti- based on an analytical procedure divided Maria della Sanità is the first to stand out in the cal keys, a transposition allowed preparing a into 6 steps: urban fabric due to its panoramic position on planting project that included the creation of 1. Critical interpretation of the language ex- the side of Vetere hill, an important ancient flowerbeds containing the species which had pressed by the architectures, which is made gateway to the Bruttian city. The building, been detected. up of signs, volumes and decorations; which, according to sources, was completed This operation enables to enhance the identity 2. Detection of floral decorations; in 1481, fronts onto a square that leads to the elements found in the monuments and to echo 3. Recognition of the biological species of the conservatoire and is the location for neigh- them in reality with a view to embellishing the flowers through analytical keys; bourhood festivals. Built in 1276, Santa Chiara space and making it more pleasant and to in- 4. Creation of flowers fact files; Monastery is located in the Jewish Quarter of crease its attractiveness.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 55 As a matter of fact, the presence of flowers, Life in between buildings: perfumes and colours contributes to creating relaxing atmospheres, favouring meetings and Soft places in the saving spaces from abandonment and neglect. threshold between public To that purpose, it will be necessary to pre- and private domain pare a design scheme that may describe the Francesca Genise figurative result to achieve by identifying possible models of urban open space. Moreover, it should include adequate graphics, such as plans and typical sections, where the elements to consider in the development of the “green system” should be indicated (Fig. 2). In order to involve the community, awareness- raising and launch campaigns could be used to collect possible suggestions for improvement through discussions and debates. Finally, new activities could be planned, such as the creation of shops selling products for tourists and characterized by the identity symbols found in monuments and echoed in the public space.

Conclusions Properly analysing an urban space allows grasping a particular identity which is expressed by its history and by the architectures surrounding it. The interpretation of these components enables to derive signs useful to develop a sort of virtual dialogue that makes them hospitable and induces to reply. Actions favouring reception should be carried out in order to determine not only the historical progress of life, but also the participation of the community, which contributes to the vitality of spaces through direct management and maintenance. Furthermore, well-designed urban areas, where greenery can find its place, can help mitigate the summer temperatures, thanks to the refreshing effect of the vegetation, and create the ideal conditions for people to stop. Hence, Carel Blazer - Girl in climbing funnel this would be a further contribution to their regeneration and revitalization.

Referrences ‘….Can it therefore surprise us that in com- what does this imply, apart from a far greater • Gattuso C., Gattuso P, De Giacomo C. 2014, "Nuovi ing to terms with imagination man should all-round trust in imagination? Surely the re- sistemi di gestione degli spazi urbani per la valorizzazione delle città", in Urbanistica Informazioni have encountered the child? The discovery entry of creativity on the scene of everyday • Gattuso C., Gattuso P., De Giacomo C. 2012, Per of childhood is a clear sign that the accent life…’1. la valorizzazione del centro storico di Cosenza - IIIth is shifting from man to life, from reason to Today another form of open spaces are non- Convegno Internazionale AIES - Conference “Dia- gnosis, Conservation and Valorization of Cultural imagination….Seen in such a perspective this places in which we lost our happiness. As Heritage, Napoli, double discovery indeed wonderfully signifi- Marc Augé said ‘non-places are the real mea- Gli spiriti dell’architettura • De Carlo, G. 1992, , Ed. Ri- cant; even justifying optimism! It means that sure of our time’2, he refers to airport and uniti, Roma, • Settis, S. 2010, Paesaggio, Costituzione Cemento, Ei- children are gradually being acknowledged as railway stations, leisure parks, large retail naudi ed., Torino children; and childhood as a full-fledged form outlets, and finally the complex skin of cable • Giulia Caneva, 2010, Il codice botanico di Augusto. Ara Pacis: parlare al popolo attraverso le immagini of life, an integral part of society, physically and wireless networks for the purposes of a della natura, Roma, Gangemi ed. indispensable and spiritually inspiring….But communication so peculiar that it often puts

56 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue the individual in contact only with another reaffirm his belief in the lasting validity of form public space within the modern city has image of himself. In the concrete reality of urban archetypes; it aims to establish urban lessened in favour of a differentiation of this today’s world, places and spaces, places and coherence through a structural similarity of space: the wealth of a city is that of its collec- non-places intertwine together so how we part and whole, small and large. In the plan tive spaces, of all the places where daily life can recover our passion in being a part of a for Amsterdam designed in 1935 by C. Van goes on. Formerly in 1970 we know by H. Lefe- community? We need more human relations Eesteren, A. Van Eyck made a rule, going on bvre that urbanity evolves from networks, and more space for human relations. Prob- to design no fewer than 734 playgrounds for boundaries and differences, nowadays we ably we have to transform non places into the city. Despite the modesty of their scale also know that a soft edge in which is possible places for relations, but this changing needs and subject, the playgrounds were most sig- to find the first grade of ambiguity is on the a redevelopment of public and semi-public nificant. It’s through these playgrounds that border line of communal and private space space. Today ‘there’s one large continuous A. Van Eyck’s search for a humanistic alterna- for the simple reason that the edges of a mass outside. In this big space there are blocks, ar- tive to CIAM Modernism first took shape. The determines whether it’s possible how we can ranged well or not, and it is in this emptiness small-scale projects dedicated to the everyday stay near to the buildings. For an instance, that we move around…’3. We have to create life, were woven into the neglected holes of the concept ‘semi-public’ has a precedessor an enclosed urban space in this emptiness...’ urban fabric, formless stretches of land lo- in Dutch housing tradition in the typology not only a place where things stand, but one cated on different kind of lots, made out of of the canal house; this type of building has a where child feels at home, which it recognizes unconventional, unsophisticated materials so called ’front house’ or ‘street room’, a front as a small amidst the big one’: a playground, a found close to the site. door opening straight onto the street and a place in which everyone could be happy. In A. Van Eyck’s writings and in his play- private doorstep are the architectural ele- Since CIAM8 S. Giedion situates the new grounds for Amsterdam, the child is above ments of the interchange between the home course of architecture as a part of humaniz- all a human condition and the playground, and city life. At the beginning of the 20th cen- ing process which he observes taking place near the building, near the street, close to tury , also as a result of the influx of the com- in all the countries of Western civilization the house but open to the city, is the place ing of the automobile, the quality of the street and which he describes as ‘the return to the for social relations, is one possible place for as a place is been deteriorated considerably human scale and the assertion of the right of happiness. So, after the end of the Second and Le Corbusier described a dramatic por- the individual over the tyranny of mechani- World War, the notion of public space starts trait city-street in the article ‘La rue’, saying cal tools’4; this is an insight that ties in closely to enrich its drift going until its extreme, until that the street is a ‘narrow corridor’. However with the research into ‘the eternal present’ the sphere of private domain, skimming over at the beginning of the 20th century in Dutch he was engaged in at the time, a search for and outlining the threshold between private urban design practice the street was still alive, the original archetypes, for the primal, pre- and public realm. What is interesting regards in fact, the Berlage urban design was based on historic forms that he saw simultaneously the introduction of public space inside the the perimeter block and the street. About that re-emerging in the art of the contemporary housing block; what is new is that this type it’s important to say that the Second World avant-garde. J. Bakema drew attention, during of public space nowadays has a distinctive, War didn’t destroy the modern city , the city CIAM 8, with an inspired statement in which architectural identity that paves the way for designed by the rules of the Athen’s Charter he describes the ‘core’ concept in terms of re- a contemporary style of building and living. (1933) is been left. So the reconstruction has lations. Another open space on which it was The traditional typology of closed block cre- brought new problems and at that time the focused the attention , prompted by A. and ates a strict division between public and pri- architect had not theoretical instruments to P. Smithson, is the street and the streetscape; vate space, but the emerging tension between solve them. they conceived the street as the first level of individuality of the homes and the collective A. and P. Smithson, during the CIAM congress public association after the private sphere of of the outside world lends this new open of 1953, expressed their urge to cross over the home and they simultaneously conceived space an ambiguous character and also opens Athen’s Charter; in this occasion they showed the street as a meeting place and traffic space. up the block. Paramount here is the architec- the pictures by N. Henderson regarding the It must not be a mere corridor but a place in tural articulation of the transition between street, and the relation between the street its own right with which the inhabitants public and private. This open space is a new and the house. A renewed awareness of the can identify themselves, a place that gives phenomenon within the western tradition importance of good public space during the you the feeling that you are somebody living of residential block in several ways, in fact urban renewal of the 1970s led to the experi- somewhere. The street is capable of doing so it’s different in size, shape and architectural ments with new public or collective spaces; in if it has its own identity; another important expression. Moreover it’s new in terms of lay- the urban expansion districts of that era, the characterization regards its ability to provides out and use: it would seem that the relation same urge for experimentation resulted in the fluid connections between one place and an- between the public and the private domain is new typology of residential streetscapes. The other. In his writings A. Van Eyck starts by changing. Finally the new open space implies 1980s mark a turning point in architecture investigating how relations can take shape; fundamental changes in housing conditions and in particular in housing, the search for a he conceives of a relation as an ‘in-between’, as a whole, in the relation between the home, new urbanity also led to focus the attention a place where different things can meet and its surroundings and the city. M. de Solà Mo- on the theme of public space in relation to the unit. A. Van Eyck seizes the opportunity to rales describes how the importance of uni- composition of the façade.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 57 So the new open space can be seen as an an- itself from adjacent buildings through an from the uniformity imposed by the grid. swer to the demand for street-linked dwell- individual identity or image, which derives Strictly linked with the notion of semi-pub- ings (buildings/persons) and the search for a mainly from its architecture. In this typology lic space is the concept of the ‘net’; it defines new urban environment. the design of the transitional zone, both in- urban elements not only on the basis of the What’s interesting is the theme of the rela- side and outside of the dwellings, becomes an individual characteristics viewed within a tion between the home and the street, cou- integral part of the project. The Netherlands closed system, but simultaneously assess pled with the problem of density in the city, has a rich history of communal housing and the position of the location relative to other that is inherent to this discussion on public the communal space has always occupied an elements within a larger structure. So, each space. The articulation of the building and important role in ideas about society and the of this space is considered as part of a larger in particular the relation between the form city but what is interesting in the contempo- urban system and that implies a new under- of full and empty space gives identity to this rary interpretation of the courtyard is that standing of ‘location’ and ‘context’. Centrality space of transition. About that the court mod- the communal space is more autonomous becomes a relative concept because centrali- el could be considered as the starting point for and functions as a buffer between the pub- ties and peripheries move dynamically with- the changing rules in the block conception. lic and private. The new courtyard gives rise in the net and also centers and edges of the Its shape, dimensions and layout determine to a new architectural relationship between space are continually reinvented. The theme the character of the courtyard. The spatial dwelling and city, so the continuous urban of the net is also a design problem, because it configuration of the place between the street space constructed of blocks of terraced hous- implies the theme of a new urbanity based on and the courtyard of the hof, in the dutch tra- ing welcomes an architectural scale between altered patterns. Two complementary char- dition, determines the type of accessibility, its that of the block and the individual dwelling. acteristics of the net are: firstly ‘accessibil- ability to become part of the system of public Meanwhile some courtyards are unquestion- ity’, which describes the accessibility of the spaces and to have significance for the city ably part of the continuous public space of individual components or elements of the as a whole. This condition is clearly evident the city. So the urban living takes place in the network; the second point is ‘connectivity’, when the courtyard of the hof directly adjoins collective interior. which expresses the ability of the net to link the street, in fact in this setup the courtyard The plan for Amsterdam designed in 1935 up the individual elements of the system. In has significance for the urban space. The spa- by Van Eesteren offers a lot of reflections in the urbanized cultural landscape of the Cen- tial characterization and the fact that is able this sense, with a square-shaped block and tral European metropolitan areas the aspects to become a place in its own sense depends a side about 500m long. What’s interesting of the assemblage and the context becomes on determining factors as the size, the pro- are the deformations of the grid rules against an important constitutive element of a new portions, the layout of the courtyard, the en- monotony, that made the modern city a city urbanity defined mainly by patterns. So, trance and the architectural expression of the of alienation and of the loose of the places rather than the physical form (the morphol- connected buildings. identity. The western civilization has always ogy) of the net it’s the identification of fluxes The closed block is a classic urban element imposed a use of the grid with orthogonal that follow a new arrangement. As such, each that quickly fell from favour after the Second angle, characterized by its monotony, its ab- participant or element of the net in the city World War, especially in the Netherlands; solute absence of variations, let’s think to assemblage that organizes itself as a network in the early 1990s new blocks appeared that the romana centuratio, to the ideal cities of the potentially defines a centrality in the system, conjured up echoes of the past with the differ- Renaissence, to the plans of the Enlightne- which can be a producer of fluxes at all the ence that these blocks are publicly accessible. ment; nowadays this rigidity is clearly put levels of the hierarchy. The quality of the By going for blocks with an internal space in crisis. The biggest misconception regard- location can also be evaluated in relation to accessible to the pedestrians, it’s possible to ing the grid system is that it must inevitably the position respect the other elements of the disrupt the uniformity of the urban grid, that lead to monotony and that its effect is repres- net, so in the net the concepts of ‘scale’ and ‘hi- represents variations of the grid rule. On the sive. The grid works with extremely simple erarchy’ gain another meaning. other hand the street dimensions do display principles, it admittedly sets down the over- They do not have the form of an assumed or- a clear hierarchy, not only echoed by the all rules, but is all the more flexible when it der, but constantly receive new definitions buildings but also by sightlines. The court- comes to the detailing of each site. The tra- from the demand for accessibility and con- yard has no autonomous meaning: form, size ditional closed block of the western civiliza- nectivity mentioned above. So, relevant fac- and façade layout are determined by building tion imposed the strict separation between tors of the flow that is becoming ever more lines; it has been conceived as a link between the street and the enclosed open spaces important for the shape of our modern-day the public and the private domains that are near the buildings, the modern heritage has urban systems can only be comprehended strictly separate in the terraced house. It can brought the freedom of the building respect and evaluated in the topological investiga- be interpreted in two different ways: as part of to the block shape, so the buildings left their tion of the context of the networking, but the interior of the adjacent homes or as a spe- direct relation with the street; nowadays, not in the individual elements of the net. cial feature of the public space. In the former probably, there’s the urge to link the build- As well as wide scale planning approaches, the courtyard is part of an entrance sequence, ings to the street but also to give possible projects on a smaller scale can be important and it is an autonomous internal space with interpretation of the block form by the ar- catalysts for future development of the ur- its own identity. The courtyard distinguishes chitectural articulation of the buildings, free ban cultural landscape.

58 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue So the concept ‘public’ and ‘private’ may be building, generates an ambiguous place that Public Space as Landscape seen and understood in relative terms as a is surely something collective in which the series of spatial qualities which, differing value of being representative becomes im- Experience of Happiness: gradually, refer to accessibility, responsibil- portant. So what in the traditional block A Surprise Public Garden ity and so on . remains hidden in the open block becomes amidst Water and Large The threshold provides the key to the transi- clearly visible. In the Netherland there’s a Blocks of Woodland tion and connection between areas with di- renewal of the traditional urban block that Julia Georgi, Christos Constantinides, vergent territorial claims and, as a place in its works above all on few interesting themes own right, it constitute essentially the spa- that express a particular sensibility for the Anna-Maria Vissilia tial condition for the dialogue between areas relationship between architecture and city: of different orders; the duality between the the overall composition of the facades, the street and the private domain exists thanks articulation of the enclosed open spaces. If Public Space as Landscape Experience to the spatial quality of the threshold as a the traditional block is the constitutive unit of Happiness place where two worlds overlap. Interpret- of the connective urban tissue, the evolution Urban public space is not a phenomenon of ing the threshold as an in-between means of the block in an open one is not only that the twenty first century. It originated with concretizing the kind of provision that gives but also the constitutive unit of the urban the public parks of the mid-nineteenth rise to a certain articulation of the building space in the cityscape. century which were a considerable part of which requires space without its function ‘I hope I have told you a few things that differ the urban fabric (Chadwick, 1966). Urban being easily demonstrable. The value of this a little from what you hear so often…’5. parks and open spaces always represented a concept is most explicit in the threshold significant resource in cities and were con- ‘par excellence’: the entrance to a home. If the sidered as the best means to promote the houses are private domains, then the street is 1. ‘The child, the city and the health, longevity and comfort of their in- the public domain. Paying equal attention to artist’ by Aldo van Eyck habitants. The belief that public green spac- 2. ‘Non-places’ by Marc Augé housing and street alike means treating the es were inherently beneficial to the health 3. ‘The child, the city and the street not merely as the residual space be- artist’ by Aldo van Eyck of people arose from a theory evolved by tween housing blocks, but rather as a funda- 4. Giedion in ‘The heart of the city - towards doctors in the late eighteenth century, the mentally complementary element, spatially the humanization of urban life so-called theory of miasma. The theory held organized. Probably the value of a street is 5. ‘The child, the city and the that all disease was due to bad air, and it fos- artist’ by Aldo Van Eyck not just in its dimensions and proportions tered the belief that access to fresh air could but also in the way it functions within the reduce the incidence of disease. Open green city as whole. spaces, consequently, were looked upon About the system of public spaces in the literally as the lungs of the city, providing city A. Van Eyck referred to the concept of physical health and mental wellbeing. The polycentric net, so something non hierarchi- impact of this theory has been far reaching cal and above all never ending extensible in and has succeeded in establishing a concern relation to the growth of the blocks, of the for the design and layout of urban green building. The work of C. Van Eesteren at the areas as an important restorative environ- Department of Public Works of Amsterdam ment even to the present day proving that clearly expresses the urge of a research on the man/nature relationship is an ancient the city by means of this new ideals. What’s correlation that has always been essential new is that the block is not only considered to human existence (Carmona et al, 2003). as a constitutive unit of the urban connective Recent research studies find strong correla- tissue but also a unit in the sense of the spa- tions between access to urban green public tial, visual and formal value. The openness spaces, parks, plazas, or even pocket parks is by the spatial point of view the possible and increased levels of physical health, men- contamination between inside and outside, tal well being and happiness. Landscape front and back, private and public. A. Van space has a very real impact on how we feel. Eyck himself wrote that ‘open what is closed The most striking finding of such studies is and allow space to enter….openness precedes the fact that happiness is more strongly cor- every space-articulating activity….thus open- related to green space than socioeconomic ness is rendered measurable once it is prop- status. Also, psychologists are experiment- erly reconstituted by means of architecture’. ing with new research that discusses the way Far from doubts the contamination between landscape and aesthetics affect our decisions, inside and outside by means of the articu- emotional responses and the way we feel lation of the enclosed space shaped by the about ourselves.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 59 The pattern, shape, texture, light and color of gies will be most effective at ensuring that we toward the design of our public space, a new the landscape work together to influence how create public spaces inclusive and welcoming approach to urbanism has arisen, the so called we feel and how we perform, both conscious- for all? “biophilic” urbanism, which is based on the ly and subconsciously (Bell, 2012). Human To escape the stress, depression and anxiety of assumption that contact with nature from beings have a myriad of emotional responses urban centers, more and more urban residents trees and parks to vertical gardens and green to aesthetics and landscape space confirming take refuge in such spaces and consider them rooftops, as well as from birds to wildflow- the French writer’s Stendhal observation that: as a potent remedy to many of the environ- ers and water is absolutely essential to mod- "Beauty is the promise of happiness." Differ- mental, economic, and emotional challenges ern urban life if we want to be happier, more ent versions of beauty through the various presented by urban living. Green spaces in ur- relaxed, and more productive (Bell, 2012). It combinations of various landscape aesthetic ban centers are essential to building healthy, is becoming increasingly clear in our societ- elements employed in the landscape design livable cities. What is common across all ies that nature is not optional but essential. schemes of public spaces provide different countries today is the desire to improve qual- Many cities around the world are exploring visions of happiness and joyful experiences ity of life for residents through a close collabo- many creative ways in which urban environ- (De Botton, 2008). Landscape architects are ration of all disciplines involved in the design ments integrate nature and cultural identity, consequently concerned with basic questions of public space in order to introduce people through research and design development such as: How much and what kind of nature into new patterns of movement within the ur- and thereby creating healthy livable cities is needed in public spaces in order to nurture ban fabric, help them understand the impact which may be considered as a true mark of both mind and body? What combination of that the urban environment can have on their civilization (Sepe, 2013). natural experiences will deliver the need for attitudes, actions and lives, and engage them meaningful places to the intellectual, emo- daily to enjoy, visit and celebrate the various A Surprise Public Garden amidst Water and tional and physical development of their us- forms of nature found in the urban environ- Large Blocks of Woodland as a Model for the De- ers? What landscape design tools and strate- ment (Gehl, 2010). To address such an attitude velopment of Urban Green Space

The designed platforms close to the water and overlooking both the archipelago and the natural woodland ecosystem beyond serve as enclosed garden courtyards for stasis, relaxation and contemplation

60 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Human affection towards urban green footpaths with large blocks of woodland, cre- of small dimensions: square surfaces 4.00 x spaces emanates from our need for nature, ating therefore a natural framework at the 4.00m and orthogonal surfaces 4.00x8.00m to provide us with the reminder that we city’ s waterfront perimeter. Nature reserves in a stark contrast with the complexity that are connected with the land from the very are also located around the edge of the city characterizes the city fabric. first moments of our lives. We need to take and linked via the woodlands to man-made off our shoes on occasion, walk in the grass, ecosystems which penetrate into the urban The proposed illusionary designed natural smell the earth and feel the warmth of the fabric and encourage wildlife. It is a design place for relaxation is close to a contempo- sun. And we need the open air with room to scheme about how multi-sensory experienc- rary dense city where human beings may stretch as well. Public space has always been es can be merged with landscape architec- dwell and explore its natural ecosystems a primary measure of quality within the ur- ture in order to integrate humans into spa- of fauna and flora. It represents a series of ban fabric as evidenced through history. De- tial landscape elements creating meaningful gardens-platforms and large blocks of wood- signed landscapes are important parts of our places, and producing distinctive memo- land close to the water edge which achieve environment; they affect our experiences, rable designs which harbor extraordinary similar dislocations of space and incitements feelings, memories, and ultimately the lives experiences that promote happiness. By art- to the imagination. It is a peripatetic garden we live. Therefore, to explore the connec- fully exploring and applying multi-sensory that shares its place between the movement tion between landscape architecture and the experiences as a key design tool to the field through the natural ecosystem and the ar- human experience through geometries and of landscape architecture, designers can inte- chipelago. It is a fictional place of happiness materiality is a serious design task (Whiston- grate the mind, body, and soul into the senses made out of enclosures and openings, views Spirn, 2000). to create optimal experiences. The designed towards the sea and the natural ecosystem, The suggested ecological concept of urban peripatetic pathways and platforms are sim- large blocks of woodland, a garden path be- green space is a series of gardens by the wa- ple in architectural synthesis since it was tween the visual and the tactile. Water adds a ter edge connected through a network of limited in the use of simple geometric forms touch of magic to the scenery.

Curving pathway through the natural ecosystem of the proposed woodlands leads to the designed platforms

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 61 It reflects the many moods and colors of the Referrences Behaviour maps: X-rays sky, and its surface is patterned and textured • Bell, S. 2012, Landscape: Pattern, Perception and Process, Routledge, London New York of places indicating by the multiple landscape elements and forms. • Carmona, M., Heath, T., Oc, T., Tiesdell, S. 2003, The proposed large blocks of woodland bring Public places-Urban spaces, Architectural Press, time quality and urban immense value to the overall scheme, includ- Oxford • Chadwick, G. F. 1966, The Park and the Town, happiness ing from environmental benefits and physical Architectural Press, London Barbara Goličnik Marušić, Damjan health to the more subtle components of well • De Botton, A. 2008. The Architecture of Happi- ness being like stress levels and happiness. Urban , Vintage, Reprint edition, New York Marušić • Gehl, J. 2010, Cities For people, Island Press, Wa- woodlands may contribute to the kinds of vi- shington brant spaces that people want to inhabit and • Neimeyer, O. 2000, Curves of Time: The Memoirs of Oscar Neimeyer, Phaidon Press, London and the kinds of cities that residents can’t help but New York Introduction feel connected to once landscape architects ad- • Sepe, M. 2013, Planning and Place in the City. The paper addresses behaviour mapping as a mit and celebrate their role in creating vibrant Mapping Place Identity, Routledge, London New method and tool for analysing usage-spatial York urban environments. • Whiston-Spirn, A. 2000, Language of Landscape, relationships and as such a means to interpret Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut and measure happiness of places. It places The series of gardens-platforms and large them into a frame of time quality assessment blocks of woodland become as a result of body/ approach, developed as a concept of measur- space, feeling and felt, viewed beyond the ordi- ing quality of living environments (Marušić nary “ways of seeing” landscape and touched, and Goličnik Marušić, 2014). Thus it provides addressing the walking experience, a poetic a conceptual and practical framework which matrix of a living zone of vegetation, wood and aims to address liveability of places quite di- stone, a utopian project that may be a lesson rectly and describes it with simple everyday for the contemporary practitioner of landscape measures which are shaping our daily routines design. Colors and textures create a bubble of and which reflect on actual living situations as happiness, a tribute to science and wonder, an much as possible. earthly paradise where visitors will be able to In relation to urban happiness, this time qual- loosen the grip of the ordinary, regain faith ity assessment approach, taking into account in the human species and its capabilities and place characteristics, quality of space for cer- rediscover the mythic ways to connect with tain use (activity) and certain user (profile) via nature and ultimately our own human souls. analysis of quality of time spent for that activ- Such attributes ultimately lead to oneiric quality in a particular space or sequences of spaces ities capable to generate enchantment, magic aims to achieve well-being especially via opti- and wonders. Paraphrasing Oscar Niemeyer misation of consumption of time, optimisation statements about the meaning of architecture, of services and reduction of costs. It is based on we can argue that landscape architecture is temporal evaluation of places and is able to about surprise and the creation of sensational assess effectiveness of human environments places that offer the gift of happiness to all for living. The motive is how to come to real human beings (Neimeyer, 2000). Landscape life in certain area, real people, real economic Architecture is about reflecting on man’s exis- frames as well as spatial characteristics as close tence on earth through gentle inventions on as possible, and set up a time-place oriented the land that offer to ordinary people the emo- approach. According to Marušić and Goličnik tion of newness, a sense of delight and pleasure, Marušić (2014) the final measure of time qual- a borderland between reality and fantasy to ity assessment is time-quality coefficient KTQ, escape the trappings of the modern world and which based on previous calculations of time reconnect humanity with nature. This is what balance, economic balance and time-quality landscape architects can do, nothing more. balance provides a spatial-socio-economic background and shows whether a segment of population or certain types of users can live in certain area and how comfortable. Time balance is a category which is place and user dependent, i.e. it is possible to be established when having defined a profile and the belonging space. It shows how comfortable the time is offered to the user by his/her (living) environments.

62 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Economic balance is a category which rep- matter whether low- or high-tech recording case study sites and cities. Here lies the po- resents subject’s incomes and expenses for approach is taken. Such behavioural maps tential for using information derived from necessary and optional activities. It repre- record people’s behaviour in real spatial set- behavioural maps analysis for assessment sents a financial frame within which the tings and, by that, talk the language of re- and evaluation of quality of places, and by subject is flexible to be able to perform its search in a design manner. They offer great this addressing and interpreting urban hap- activity in a certain environment. Time- potential to represent behavioural patterns piness. quality balance is the final measure of as visual data, and as such act towards the quality provided with the proposed model. reconciliation between design and research Spatial qualities of settings and their correla- Based on spatial characteristics, taking into in the field of planning and place design. On tions to passive usage account the character of the activity and the basis of some actual behaviour maps re- Analysis of different parks shows that a cer- economic situation of the subject involved corded in two European cities (Edinburgh, tain spatial definition such as a corner or a in the activity, it classifies time spent re- Ljubljana) this paper shows how existing path with different degrees of transparency garding the activity as such as well as the behaviour maps can be used to evaluate the are not the ultimate clues to spatial occu- environment in which the activity is taking quality of existing environments as well pancy per se. Groups of trees, some promi- place as well or badly spent time. as the quality of environments to be devel- nent single trees or any other objects can Such approach elucidates backgrounds of oped in a desired way and by this represents play a crucial role. What matters is a spatial user’s expectations and affordances as well a base for interpretation and measurement articulation and a placement of uses in a as its experiences in places (via daily rou- of urban happiness. Their value for inter- place relying on a certain distance from it. tines) as such. In relation to that, a general pretation and measurement of urban happi- It is reflected, for example, in occupancies, standpoint of this paper is that quality of ness lies especially in their ability to show distanced at least 5 metres away from trans- living of any society begins with the qual- how simulations of uses can be arranged parent edges such as tree lines along path- ity of living for individuals. Therefore, one for checking the quality of proposals, us- ways of the patches, predominantly with- must bear in mind that any intervention ing principles and characteristics of usage- out trees, congregations right up against a in the environment must serve its user(s) spatial relationships learnt from previously solid edge, whether a steep slope or a bank, well. This also means that when aiming observed places. and in the areas of smaller groups of trees or for some changes or (new) development To show value of behaviour maps as a tool solitaires. The results also show that, even which should suit its future users well, it is which can provide indicators for measuring if the lawn patch is huge, if it is not articu- necessary to know these users, their habits, urban happiness, their power in addressing lated, unless any temporary articulation is expectations and most of all the abilities to usability and the spatial capacity of places available, uses such as sitting or lying down achieve well-being and consume the offer the paper discusses behavioural maps as are less likely to occur. See Figure 1A, show- of the area they live in fully. A practical and scripts of the actual uses mapped in placing empirical evidence represented on the useful tool for direct or indirect collecting es, using repeated observation at different assembly behavioural maps for Tivoli, Lju- of some of such data is behaviour mapping days, times and weather conditions. Such bljana, Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh (Goličnik Marušić, 2011; Goličnik Marušić value of behavioural maps is represented in and the Meadows, Edinburgh (Goličnik, and Marušić, 2012). empirical knowledge about dimensions and 2005). Goličnik (2005) has also found that spatial requirements, especially for some the size and the shape of lawns in parks are Value of behaviour map for long-stay active uses, such as ball games not particularly crucial for any passive oc- interpretation and measurement of in parks and skateboarding in squares, and cupancy; but they can be of greater impor- urban happiness how long-stay passive uses such as sitting, tance for informal ball games, especially Behavioural map is a product of observation might relate to them, as well as how tran- playing football. and a tool for place analysis and design at sitory activities relate to both long-stay en- the same time. It was developed by Ittelson gagements. In addition, it illustrates how When more uses take place in a park and make et al. (1970) to record behaviour as it occurs some activities can be contiguous, while new boundaries, sitting and lying, move in with in a designed setting. Accordingly, spatial some others require ‘buffer’ zones between regard to them features and behaviour are then linked in them for effective use. On this base the pa- The importance of spatial articulation re- both time and space. There are some fun- per examines behaviour maps as check-lists veals, especially in places where there are damental conditions which need to be met for quality of places. not very many different elements of spatial before any recording of behaviour can start. Repeated behavioural observation resulted definition, that it is not only physical spatial It is necessary to obtain an accurate scale in some common patterns of occupancies definitions that might direct uses in a certain map of the area to be observed, to clearly that appear to be correlated with particu- spatial occupancy, but also that the presence define the types of activities and details lar spatial layouts and details. Behavioural of other uses, to a certain degree, can perform about behaviours to be observed, to sched- maps analysis show actual dimensions of this function as well. Mainly larger groups of ule specific times and their repetitions for effective environments for one or more active participants can articulate places and, observation, and to provide a system of reuses and show how design guidance can be in doing so, create room for themselves and cording, coding, counting and analysing, no arrived at, based on the particularities of the for others (see Figure 1B).

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 63 Examples of empirical knowledge captured in behaviour maps

64 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Cumulative minimum buffer zone and relation- jump on it, slide along, and then jump off it, Place’s daily routine ships between size and shape of a patch the necessary full length of a step required The examples above show that, spatially Analysis of the parks showed (Goličnik needs to be at least 15m. The adjacent area speaking, optimal settings for sitting and and Ward Thompson, 2010) that spatial ar- before such a step should allow a skateboard- skateboarding are different, and that Bristo ticulation is the clue to spatial occupancy. er to approach it along a curve of a circular Square successfully serves both activities Activities, especially those significant for line of at least 20m in diameter, and to under- at the same time. They also show different active group games, form patterns buffered take virtually a jump-preparation journey on concerns addressing time aspects of occupan- by voids, in several quite predictable ways. it of at least 5m. Thus, a platform at least 3m cies. According to a weekly occupancy, tran- There are two significant types of buffer wide, attached to a long step, would allow sitory activities are more common to occur zones that different active, long-stay users such a minimum jump-preparation journey on weekdays than during the weekend. Time need: the buffer between an edge, whether (See Figure 1D left). differences recorded for different times of solid or transparent, and active users (e.g. When addressing usage-spatial relation- the day, reflect that active long-stay activities informal football); and buffers between a ships in more detail, a spatial configuration such as roller-skating and skateboarding, are number of adjacent active groups occupying of places becomes important. The examined usually participated in on an afternoon, no different territories (see Figure 1C left). case show that steps which merge into a flat matter what the weather, whereas they might platform, are essential elements that attract not be seen earlier in the day. The common Patch's occupancy by long-stay active uses based skateboarders; but the merged, flat area is act of observation and behavioural mapping on records from a daily pattern crucial to enable their actual use. Physical shows up as an effective way of searching for To illustrate the first type (the buffer between traces of actual activities, represented as empirical knowledge about time-usage-spa- an edge, whether solid or transparent, and graphical information on the map, elucidate tial relationship. It is a comprehensive way active users), compact groups of informal the inner structure of the effective space, re- of collecting the evidence about ‘where, how football players are likely to require a dis- flect usability and in this way, address its spa- , when, for how long and what is going on’ in tance of at least 4m from an inner transpar- tial capacity. Equipment such as boxes and a place. Moreover, mapped physical dimen- ent edge, such as a tree-lined path. Activities some other light structures, which skate- sions of uses, their temporal appearance are forming looser and smaller groups, such as a boarders brought to the stage, evokes latent seen as a potential which could inform about couple of frisbee players, are likely to occupy environments (See Figure 1D right). the design of places and could become a way a space closer to an inner edge, e.g., at least of negotiating landscape forms and as instru- 2m from a path. For the second type (buffers Further analysis shows that the square has ments to manage daily routines of places. between a number of adjacent active groups not any benches but participation in sitting is Moreover, respecting the frame of time qual- occupying different territories) the mini- remarkable. Compositions of steps are attrac- ity assessment approach, the role of behav- mum ‘common open’ area between activity tive as sitting places as well. This examination iour maps in relation to urban happiness spaces is quite difficult to define precisely in showed also that sitters’ and skateboarders’ goes beyond analysing merely people's en- terms of a surface area, since the activities actual effective environments do not over- gagement in open spaces. The focus on the taking place depend on the size, shape and lap. Sitters are searching for sheltered, back- subject depends on the viewpoint chosen and edge qualities of a green patch. However, an covered, less exposed areas, and places with a the scale preferred. When paying attention to abstract form which can describe the mini- view of either attractive landscape or actions. individuals on the street, then commuters are mum activity buffer space commonly need- Although the intensities in participation at in focus and the street represents their physi- ed between groups of activities is a circle of Bristo Square, Edinburgh in any long-stay cal environment or context. On the other 20m radius (See Figure 1C right). occupancy on a cold, windy and cloudy after- hand, when the street as a cumulative result noon (first map in Figure 1E), in comparison of single commuters is in focus, its surround- Effective environments, their structure and di- to a warm, sunny weekend afternoon (second ing becomes recognised as the context of the mensions map in Figure 1E) is lower, both maps show studied phenomena. Addressing spatial characteristics of places a similar behavioural pattern of occupancy. Beside sliding over different scales and by by their usability and by reflecting from that People sitting were mostly occupying the up- this accommodating the focus on the subject on the conduciveness of places to occupancy, per steps in the parts where broad planting to be observed, it is also possible to discuss this example of Bristo Square, Edinburgh, beds enclose the square. The distribution of how behavioural maps at one level or certain shows that a certain articulation of place has uses recorded on a nice early afternoon during scale can help to interpret behaviour of sub- stimulated its users to be there and to use it the week (third map in Figure 1E), when there jects from another related layer. For example, for their pastime. However, this certain artic- were no skateboarders around and people behavioural patterns in squares as discussed ulation in itself did not ensure optimal use. sitting there could have occupied any square before, can help to interpret liveability of The size, shape and vertical articulation of inch of the staircases, it shows a similar pat- (local) businesses in the influential area of the available space were of key importance. tern of passive occupancy with the other days. the square. Similarly, the liveability rhythm For one of the usual skateboarder’s actions, One may speculate that sitting along the east- map of such businesses is also one of the be- which consists of approaching an elevated ern edge was not evident as the skateboarders’ haviours of the square; i.e. cafés open first, fol- spatial element such as a step, in order to performance on the stage was missing. lowed by shops, crafts and restaurants.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 65 Such mapping can be applicable on the scale es: the ‘event space’ and the ‘supplementary in certain space. In such valuation positive- of a block, a quarter, or even an entire city or space’. The event space is the actual space ly signed percentage of satisfaction is trans- a town. Via such behavioural mapping it is through which the activity is installed in formed into good time; negatively signed possible to address the capacity of places by the place. It represents a position which a percentage into bad time; the rest is indif- documenting timetables of working hours, person or a group of people engaged in a ferent time in a certain environment. frequencies of peak occupancies, and the particular activity occupies in a place. The like, for both, spontaneous or programmed supplementary space is the available space Co-habitation of uses uses. Combination of different observations at hand to this person or a group of people, This indicator represents a combination of in different scales and accuracies (e.g. pat- which actually enables the complete activ- both previous indicators and refers to co- terns of people, rhythm of activities in busi- ity to happen fully. As the event space is habitation of uses, addressing also inclu- nesses and services etc.) can lead to a com- necessary for that activity to be invited into siveness, from cultural, inclusiveness of im- prehensive simulation of a place and thus the place, its supplementary space address- paired people, to compatibility of land uses addresses urban happiness as thoroughly es its satisfactory staying in a place. Both shaping and defining city life. as possible. Even more, data or information spaces together form the effective space of In this respect happy cities are cities with that influences behaviour of a certain place an activity. The same is true about spaces minimum time waste for their users. They is not always directly visible. Non-spatial for playing football and spaces for sitting. represent places where residents and other data, which backgrounds a certain place, Therefore, it is important to understand the users are able to qualitatively spend their such as money flows behind the business spatial articulation as a necessary but not time. Furthermore, such cities must enable in a place, can also be mapped and therefore sufficient condition for some kinds of use. as broad spectrum of users as possible (e.g. spatially expressed. However, such abstract In this respect, the examination of places considering peoples’ age, socio-economic sit- descriptions of places reflect some physical through the distribution and physical di- uations, ethnic groups, impaired people, etc.) characteristics of places which can be ex- mensions of behavioural patterns in them, to fully fulfil their needs and expectations. pressed or measured by behavioural maps. has enabled a discussion about what the ef- The point is that the behavioural mapping fective environments are and how to imply approach enables us to visualise primarily their importance and relevance to design non-spatial data (e.g. detailed parameters practice. of users in places, economic efficiency, frequency of cultural events, etc.) on the maps Quality of time spent Referrences and can reflects also on time quality dimen- This indicator uses time as the universal • Goličnik, B. (2005) People in place: A configuration of physical form and the dynamic patterns of sion of places. expression and measure of quality of liv- spatial occupancy in urban open public space. PhD Behavioural maps as scripts of behaviour ing. It reflects the assumption that quality thesis. Edinburgh College of Art. Heriot Watt of any studied spatial phenomena are espe- of time spent indicates quality of living en- University. Edinburgh. • Goličnik, B. and Ward Thompson, C. (2010) cially effective within the GIS environment vironments; and that quality of time spent Emerging relationships between design and as it is a tool which can convey data refer- depends on that what a person can afford, use of urban park spaces. Landscape and Urban Planning enced to different scales and enables organ- and that a common denominator for evalu- 94 (1): 38-53. • Goličnik Marušić, B. and Marušić, D. (2012) Be- isation of data, its visualisation and analy- ation of quality of living environments havioural maps and GIS in place evaluation and sis. These characteristics of GIS place it as is a measure of good/bad time (Marušić design. In Alam, B. M. (ed.). Application of geographic information systems. [Rijeka]: InTech, pp. a highly valuable source and environment and Goličnik Marušić, 2014). According to 113-138. for spatial simulations and therefore also Marušić and Goličnik Marušić (2014) there • Goličnik Marušić, B. (2011) Analysis of patterns tool for measuring effects of urban change, is no absolute measure of quality of living of spatial occupancy in urban open space using behaviour maps and GIS. Urban design internatio- including urban happiness. space. Quality of one space may be defined nal, 16(1): 36-50. in relation to another known or defined • Ittelson, W. H., Rivlin, L. G. and Prohansky, H. Urban happiness indicators quality. Parameters of quality depend on M. (1970) The Use of Behavioural Maps in Envi- ronmental Psychology. In: H. M. Prohansky, W. The paper concludes with speculation purpose of space (urban amenities) and/ H. Ittelson and L. G. Rivlin, (eds.) Environmen- about possible indicators of urban happi- or space user(s). Something that is impor- tal Psychology: Man and his Physical Setting. New ness in public spaces related to time-usage- tant for one user may not be as important York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, pp. 658-668. • Marušić, D. and Goličnik Marušić, B. (2014) spatial relationships and suggests three key for another or may not apply for other user Model for valuation and simulation of quality aspects: effective environments, quality of at all. User’s time spent in certain space is of living environments. International journal of innovation and regional development, 5(4/5): 405- time spent and co-habitation of uses. valuated as good (the best), bad (the worst), 428. or something in between. Accordingly, sat- Effective environments isfaction with time is valuated with scale Referring to the above examples from chap- from -100% satisfaction (complete dissat- ter 2, examining the effective environments isfaction) to +100% satisfaction (complete for skateboarding in more detail, it has satisfaction), where 0% satisfaction would shown that it consists of two adjacent spac- mean that user is indifferent to time spent

66 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue All just for fun nothing for direct emotional encounters with the spaces with fantasy, and creating spaces for kids and of the earth, sea, and sky or with built and cre- free spaces. Sport should be a game, not only fun. A bridge contest in ated spaces». a show (often racist and violent like football). Piazza Maggiore, Bologna Many urban squares (piazze) have their own Happiness is typical of a kid who plays games Luca Guardigli, Stefano Lamborghini, identities that come from history, especially with other kids, in a community. The square in old European cities. In good quality squares is his oasis. The idea of game is related to the Luca Venturi a general condition of comfort or pleasure is one of contest, competition: architecture and permanent. Architecture has had a role in cre- construction perfectly follow the rule of com- ating these comfortable places, first of all gen- petition. Quoting Huizinga: «When a prize is Happiness from playing games in erating a well dimensioned and concluded offered for the best plan for a town hall, or a public spaces space: the space of an historic square has usu- stipend for the best student in an art-school, If we agree that the opinion of the people is ally dimensions that can be reported to a hu- it would seem that the desire to stimulate fundamental in evaluating the quality of ur- man scale. Squares are conceived for walking invention, to detect talent and to obtain the ban design, we must accept the idea that the and gathering. In that relies one of the keys of best result, is enough. Nevertheless behind all judgement comes from a personal sensory the success of a square. Enormous plazas are these practical objectives there always lurks experience, not always filtered by a sophisti- not always successful for human activities; the primordial play function of the contest as cated architectural culture. Nevertheless, the rather, they are functional just for military such. It is impossible to decide, of course, how place experience of the people is fundamental parades. Besides, as architecture is most of the far the sense of usefulness has outweighed ag- in giving success to a public space. A success- time the result of transformations, the suc- onistic passion in certain historical instances, ful space is a place where people are happy cess of a place needs time to be accomplished. as when the city of Florence, in 1418, orga- or, at least, comfortable to go, with the aim of Most contemporary architecture has created nized a competition for the cathedral dome doing some actions at specific times and days. suggestive spaces, sometimes very complex which Brunelleschi won out of fourteen con- The sensory experience effects their opinion spaces through nice looking artifacts, but testants. But we could hardly ascribe this glo- of the place. these objects are not always capable of gener- rious work to functionalism.» In the last years many urban actions in the ating life and activities by themselves. Is there anything serious (controlled, orga- world were concentrated on promoting initia- Regardless the architectural conformation of nized) related to the idea of an architectural tives that would change the perception of the a square and the quality of its surrounding ar- game? The saying “All just for fun nothing space. If the goal of urban designers is to cre- chitecture, it is necessary to stimulate actions for fun” means that the result of a game, con- ate successful places, the aim of the projects and activities to improve its quality. The spa- ducted under decency, lead to a structured should be to alter the experience of that space. tial context and architectural scene should re- social message that is shared by a community Moreover, in order to give a more detailed and main the background where these events take of people, living the same experience. From qualitative interpretation of the city, the anal- place and happiness can be generated. Never- this point of view, a place which assumes a ysis of a place should not be circumscribed theless, as squares are typical urban spaces for good standard of quality is a location where to its aesthetic essence, which derives from people gathering, under happy or unhappy this social message has the potentiality to be its physical geometry, but rather carried out circumstances, there is time for happiness better delivered. The stronger is the message, through the understanding of its functional and time for grief. Both sentiments are not the stronger is the quality of the place. Clearly, and symbolic factors. As the promoters of the durable but cyclic. From this point of view, there is a certain control by a structured soci- workshop on “Happiness in urban spaces” squares have only the potential to become ety in the delivery of the message. underline, the signification of a place changes places for momentary happiness; in other This paper aims to present a case study, that with the society. The meanings of a built envi- words, they are places where people act, and consisted in the organization of an event in ronment are modified as social values evolve in acting transform a generic state of comfort the main square of Bologna, Piazza Maggiore. in response to changing patterns of socio-eco- into a momentary sense of joy. The event, made possible by some of the au- nomic organisation and lifestyles. What is happiness, and how is it related thors of this paper, was a one day contest for These experiences can be very different from to games? Happiness is that feeling distin- the construction of a series of temporary card- one place to another. As Relph (1976) asserts, guished by spontaneity and fullness which board bridges in the square. «Perceptive space is a space of action centred bring children, lovers and mystics together. on immediate needs and practices, and as Three extremely different experiences, which The historic use of Piazza Maggiore such it has a clearly developed structure. (...) converge in the realm of play. According Piazza Maggiore has fully demonstrated the This structure can clearly be in no way un- to Fink the game is the “oasis of joy”. In this ability to include different meanings and derstood as objective or measurable - rather perspective, the goal of architectural design significations over the centuries. It started distances and directions are experienced as should be educating to play, avoiding the in 1200 as platea maior, or platea communis, a qualities of near or far, this way or that, and standardized games that don’t bring joy. This market place where people could gather to- even when these are made explicit as paths or is accomplished keeping the practice and the gether. The square was the result of one of trails they are known with their special mean- spirit of game at every age, introducing the the most important urban interventions in ing. (...) Perceptive space is also the realm of techniques of Rodari, which consist of playing Medieval Bologna.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 67 The aim of the intervention was to give im- the square is characterized by a singular was already considered a space for decorum portance to the place where the government elevated platform named “il Crescentone”, and respectability: “Volendo […] provedere buildings were placed: the comune bought built in 1934, when the square was full of al dishonesto abuso, qual con poco honore e ris- some small poor houses and demolished traffic and hosted the tramway. The visible petto del Signore Iddio da alcuni mal creati, e them to make an empty space. The square, damage of some stones of the platform was dishonesti huomini è posto in costume, in Orin- as it appears today, is the result of many provoked by an American tank on 21st april are, e anco scaricare il ventre dinanti la facciata transformations that started in the XIII cen- 1945, day of the liberation of the town from della Chiesa di S. Petronio verso la Piazza […]. tury, with the aim of increasing this physi- the German occupation; the pieces of stones Vietando similmente, che non si possi giocar suso cal and also symbolic centrality. A centrality were never restored because they were con- li murelli di detta Chiesa, così dinanti detta fac- that is still preserved today. sidered an historic proof of the war. The re- ciata, come dalli lati, ne meno attacarli Agnelli, Piazza Maggiore is probably the biggest moval of the Crescentone has been the ob- Capretti, o altri animali per scorticarli […]”. So, meeting point in Bologna, under the statue ject of recent debates, but it is still on place. it is possible to play, but with decency. If we of Neptune and in front of the façade of S. In the XIX century and the early XX century remind the actual actions of the comune Petronio, the Basilica dedicated to the pa- the aim of giving a monumental appear- against some gutter punks that live with an- tron of the city. The square is now surround- ance to the whole system of squares and sur- imals in piazza Verdi, in the University quar- ed by the most important buildings of the roundings, lowered the quality of the space. ter, it is easy to understand that not much city. The oldest is the Palazzo del Podestà, For instance, the act of detaching Palazzo has changed in these centuries. from 1200, which occupies the north side of Re Enzo from Palazzo de’Banchi – the two To exemplify the interaction in the trans- the square; it is dominated by a tower (Torre were connected – , diminished the sense of forming terrain of the square between popu- dell’Arengo), with the sound of its bell. A enclosure; the Crescentone itself was never lar life, business life political life and show few years later, the palatium nuvum was built a convincing solution. In the 80s the square life it is worth mentioning the music drama next to it, when it came out that the govern- of Neptune was paved with a diagonal grid, by Camillo Cortellini, “decano dei musici della ment needed new spaces. This building was according to old documents, that showed Signoria, sonatore di trombone in quest’ultimo called Palazzo Re Enzo and the Palazzo del a different configuration of the surface; complesso e in quello di S. Petronio”, organized Podestà became the Palazzo Vecchio. In front the intention of the architect Costantino for Porchetta Festival on august 24th, 1627. of Palazzo del Podestà there is the uncom- Dardi was to redirect people to Piazza Mag- A well known table from Insignia degli pleted gothic facade of the Basilica of San giore, enhancing the connection of the two Anziani Consoli illustrates when the show Petronio. The west side of the square is oc- squares comes to life. The table shows a giant screen cupied by the Palazzo Comunale, known as The quality of the Piazza derives not only with a big depicted landscape, over an oce- Palazzo d’Accursio. To the east side it is pos- by its buildings, but directly by the place anic crowd of people: «L’essito di questa festa sible to find Palazzo de’ Banchi, the palace of experience of the people. Toady the square non lo registro sovra il presente foglio, perché il gi- the bankers. Its façade, that closes the square is always full of people during important udizio di quello va lasciato all’universale. So che like a wing. was designed by Vignola and re- funerals and commemorations. In history la plebe più bassa sodisfatta, si per le prede fatte alized at the end of XVI century; it served to the square was used for every kind of event. con gran sollazzo de’ riguardanti, degli animali elegantly mask the poor constructions that In order to establish its centrality for the in larghissima copia dispensati, tanto di terra e were facing the square, respecting the exit social and administrative life, in this place d'aria, quanto d'acqua; si per l’abondantissima of the small streets of the ancient roman stages for capital execution were erected quantità de’ vini, che pioveva da molte bande part of Bologna. The continuation of Palazzo and witches were condemned and burned. della montagna, ha per molti giorni continuato de.Banchi is Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio (“il On the other side, fairs and tournaments un mormorio d'affettuosi applausi. So bene che Pavaglione”, from the mispelled word padi- of the knights were organized from 1150 to provocando questo negozio moltitudine di fores- glione), that originally hosted the University the end of the XVIII century. In these situ- tieri notabile, e reputazione ed utile considera- and the silk market. ations balaustrades were built on the stairs bile ha recato alla nostra città. So che la nostra The final shape of the square was outlined of S. Petronio for the women and under piazza e palazzi che la circondano non si sono in the XV century; it is an L-shaped space, the palazzo del Podestà places for men. An mai fatti più bel teatro di quello che si fecero quel where Piazza Maggiore is only the rectangu- unforgettable circumstance is represented giorno, si per quantità, come anco per la qualità lar part in front of S. Petronio; in the other by the visit of the emperor Charles V, who di persone». part, in front of Palazzo d’Accursio, a statue came to Bologna between 1530 and 1531 to The square was definitely designed as a the- of Neptune was placed by the pope in the be crowned by the pope and attend a con- atre set. This predisposition of the square XVI century. From 1860 to 1943 Piazza Mag- vention that lasted many weeks. The bolog- to host events in persisted for centuries. A giore was titled after the king Vittorio Eman- nese people prepared a wooden bridge that giant crowd is reported by a movie of the uele II, when the equestrian monument of connected Palazzo d’Accursio and the parvis Istituto Luce during the famous speech of the king was moved to Giardini Margherita. of S. Petronio, so that the emperor, the pope Benito Mussolini for the Decima Legio on For two years the square was Piazza della Re- and the dignitaries could move without be- October 24th 1936. In that occasion a huge pubblica (di Salò), and, after the war, became ing bothered by the population (populazzo). white stage with Fasci was built and giant Piazza Maggiore again. The central part of In fact, four centuries ago the main square writings were erected on Palazzo de’ Banchi.

68 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The Longest Bridge Contest, april 12th, 2015

Temporary architecture was used to com- The Longest Bridge Contest an ecological area for recycling. The bridge municate the power of the regime. Many Urban environments are increasingly de- is evidently a symbol of interaction and dia- other speeches followed in the last decades. signed to be distinctive, trying to create mem- logue. The idea was to play a game: promoting Unfortunately, architecture for the square orable sensory experiences and give happi- a contest for bridge construction (the Longest was not always successful, especially per- ness for the people who use them, so that the Bridge Contest). The square should become manent one. In fact, Piazza Maggiore and its place can be remembered in a pleasant way. a space for action, centered on immediate surroundings are also the place of architec- The urban environment of Piazza Maggiore needs and practices. The event was organized tural failures: the recent nice little pavilion has a clear architectural distinctiveness that by Rosetti Association, in collaboration with behind palazzo re Enzo (“le gocce”) by the comes from history; like other urban spaces other institutions, including the University of architect Mario Cucinella failed after two in the historic center, the place does not need Bologna. Another main goal of the operation years of life and was removed. Regardless other permanent design features to help cre- was, in fact, the fund raising for young people its architectural quality, what was failing ating memorable sensory experiences. Nev- that suffered injuries and need help and as- was the idea of making a new entrance to ertheless, temporary installations can help sistance. The bridges had to be placed inside subterranean spaces near the square. What improving the general sense of comfort and a rectangular area of 12x5 meters, located in was inadequate was not the construction creating momentary happiness. the central elevated platform of the square itself, but the type of experience that was The square has been a permanent place for (Crescentone). The rules of the competition conceived behind it. The same can be said temporary constructions for a long time. were to build the bridge with the longest span for the Crescentone: the design of a new The idea of building temporary bridges in in 6 hours, using a maximum of 300 card- pavement for the square is out of question at the square came out within this framework. board strips (100x6x1 cm of size) and hot glue. the moment, because it does not bring any The cardboard, a recyclable and easy to play A rope was also furnished. change in the way the square it is experi- material, was selected for the construction. All types of bridges were accepted in the com- enced. It is useless and possibly meaningless The experience of cardboard is also connected petition: beam bridges, truss bridges, arch to promote such a change in the open space to the idea of ecological action: at the end of bridges, cantilever bridges, suspension bridg- of the piazza. the event all the material should be taken to es and cable-stayed bridges. Given the dimen-

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 69 sion of the working lot of 12x5 meters, the Is Britain’s emphasis fensible space primarily focusing on natural maximum potential span was set by the di- surveillance and territorial division; two as- agonal of the area, approximately 13 meters. on safety and security pects that both are found in some of the most The successful event took place on April creating an unhappy common Danish residential buildings and in 12th 2015. What were the factors which in- society? estates developed on behalf of secured by de- fluenced happiness from the urban and/or Simon Andreas Hansen signs guideline. Although the same theories socio-economic point of views? The event can be used as describing how Danish and was organized in the hearth of the town British estates are designing a safe environ- because of the centrality of the person and ment, the approaches are miles apart. was based on team work, collaboration, and Introduction This essay investigates Denmark’s and Brit- commitment. The action was not to satisfy a Since 2010 a growing interest in western ain’s different approach to security, espe- mere functional need, but to demonstrate to countries to investigate the happiness in socially in residential areas, to see whether or be present in helping the people who needed cieties has evolved. Denmark has from the not they promote social communities, trust this help. The last letter of Robert Baden Pow- first evaluation of nations’ happiness and in strangers and a decrease in the fear of ell, founder of the Scout movement, is prob- well-being, the “Eurobarometer” in 1973, crime which all have an impact on the soci- ably a very simple, but possibly a very good always been considered one of the happiest ety’s happiness (The Institute of Happiness, interpretation of happiness in a public space: countries in the world. Professor Chirstian 2014). Furthermore this essay will examine «One step towards happiness is to make your Bjørnskov says that one of the main reasons especially how using artificially added mea- self healthy and strong while you are a boy, so the Danes are so happy is their trusting na- sures as cameras, fences, locks and gates af- that you can be useful, and so can enjoy life ture in people they do not know (The Insti- fect people’s happiness. when you are a man. Mature study will show tute of Happiness, 2014). Trust is one of the you how full beautiful and wonderful things main ingredients in creating a happy society Literature review God has made the world for you to enjoy. Be (The Worlds Happiness Report, 2013), and In The Life and Death of Great American Cities contained with what you have got, and make has a great influence in our fear of crime and (1961) Jane Jacobs describes the street, a vital the best of it, look on the bright side of things how safe we feel (Minton, 2009). organ of the city, as a key element in provid- instead of the gloomy one. But the real way to Safety is found in areas where there are ing a feeling of safety. Assuring ’eyes on the get happiness is by giving out happiness to many people around us (Jacobs, 1961), in street’ or ‘natural surveillance’ is one of the other people». spaces where the owner/ guest relationship main aspects in making streets into safe envi- Urban Happiness is not durable but should be is clearly defined and where a norm of be- ronments. Natural surveillance is carried out continuously stimulated. havior is evident (Newman, 1973). The archi- by all of us while our eyes always unknow- tectural design and character of these places ingly are watching out for others, promoting are either attracting or discouraging people, a sense of trust. either defining clear territorial divisions in a According to Jacobs, safety occurring with Referrences friendly or hostile manner, which has an im- natural surveillance works best casually • Carducci G. 1924, Nella piazza di San Petronio pact, not only on how safe we are, but also when people are enjoying themselves with- (Dalle Odi Barbare, Libro I). In Poesie di Giosue Carducci 1850-1900, Bologna. in how we behave and how safe we feel. The out realizing that they are ‘policing’. Since • Goethe J.W., Viaggio in Italia, tr. it. by E. Zanibo- architecture thereby plays a great part in cre- most of the streets occupants are strangers, ni, Firenze 1925. ating a happy society. she emphasizes that it is the strangers who • I Fioretti di San Francesco, a cura di A. Sodini, Mi- lano 1926, c. V, pp. 247 e sgg. In the UK there is a great emphasis on safety are the main actors granting the streets safety. • Huizinga J. 1938, Homo ludens, tr. it Einaudi and security to create a safe environment for Jacobs describes three things equipping a city 2002. the public and lower the risk of crime. One to handle strangers, turning people we do • Raimondi E. 1988, Letteratura e paesaggio, L’Ip- pogrifo, a. I, n. 1 of the leading schemes is called “Secured by not know into a safety asset. First, there must • Relph E. 1976, Place and placelessness, Pion Limi- Design”, which is a part of the Association be a clear boundary line between public and ted, London • G. Roversi G., ed. 1984, La piazza Maggiore di of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). It provides private space. Second, there must be eyes on Bologna. Storia, arte, costumi, Bologna a guideline on how to create a space that is the streets belonging to natural inhabitants, • Secchiaroli G. 1979, Andiamo in centro?. E lo psi- able to defend itself; Design out crime. Differ- which include buildings being orientated to- cologo: Ma cos’è il centro?, Bologna incontri, a. X, n. 9, settembre 1979. ent councils has added a paragraph in their wards the street to insure the safety of both • Sorbelli A., Bologna negli scrittori stranieri, Ed. by planning policy about new estate’s need to the residents and strangers. Third, there must G. Roversi, Bologna 1973. including a focus on incorporated security be pedestrians and other users fairly continu- • Vianelli A. 1984, Le piazze di Bologna, Roma measures in the design (Stratford-on-Avon ously occupying the streets. District Council, 2006, Southwark Council Natural surveillance as a key aspect of pro- Website, 2014) making the secured by de- viding a safe environment is also described signs guidelines close to actual regulations. in the American thinker, architect and The secured by design scheme is heavily in- town planner Oscar Newman’s book Defen- fluenced by Newman’s (1973) theories of de- sible Space: People and Design in the Violent City

70 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue (1973). Based on investigations of high-rise and removing climbing aid is described. classic building structures in Denmark, the estates in New York City, Newman suggests The guideline states that by using their sug- Københavner Karré. The text describes the that it is possible to decrease the risk of crime gestions it is possible to reduce the risk of origin and the basic ideas behind the archi- by creating an appearance of a social commu- burglary with 75%, vehicle crime with 25% tecture. nity that is capable of defending itself. Using and criminal damage with 25%. Some of the architecture and planning as the tool to avoid main measures seen as providing a safe en- Defensible space - The Københanver crime. The main aspects in the designing of a vironment with a reduced risk of crime are Karré and gated communities defensible space are assuring natural surveil- fences, gates and locks, which are all features Trusting in the strangers around us our fel- lance and clear territorial divisions. in the gated communities. low citizens and countrymen, the tourists Newman argues that obtaining natural sur- Rowland Atkinson’s and John Flint’s paper and immigrants has a great impact on our veillance is creating a safe environment, Fortress UK? Gated Communities, the Spatial fear of crime and well-being. Denmark is ac- while criminals tend to work in places where Revolt of the Flites and Time-Space Trajectories cording to the report from the Happiness Re- the likelihood of detection is low. Designing of Segregation (2004) revolves around the seg- search Institute The Happy Danes (2014), one estates in a way that the buildings always regation and seclusion in the city that comes of the most trusting countries in the world, have windows facing the adjacent streets and along with a fenced of estate. They found that which impact their happiness. This essay use spaces will reduce the risk of crime in the es- the motivation for moving into a gated com- examples from Denmark which corresponds tates since there always is a possibility of be- munity is mainly the attributed security and with Oscar Newman’s theories of defensible ing watched. exclusion from the society that comes with spaces and compare it to the developments The territorial division involves defining an the development. Even though the gated promoted by secured by design, to find out obvious line by creating barriers that clearly communities are enclaves that offer techno- whether there is a link between the residen- separate the city space into; public, semi-pub- logic security deployed around the estate to tial constructions, the lifestyle and the senti- lic, semi-private and private. A clear separa- insulate the residents from the ‘dangerous ment they bring forward. tion between the public realm and the pri- outsider’, Atkinson & Flint (2004) stated that Looking at Copenhagen from the top it be- vate ground can be created with a symbolic it does not necessarily reduce the resident’s comes clear that there is one certain way of or actual barrier. Newman states that an or- fear of crime. constructing residential buildings in the dinary person with no agenda in a residential The fear of crime and the concern about se- Danish capital. Almost every single estate area will feel repelled from by crossing a bar- curity is reaching a higher level than seen from the inner city of Copenhagen to the rier which it clearly signalize the transition before in the UK in spite the actual crime suburbs is characterized by a quadrangle es- from a public to a private space. He also sug- level is lower than it has been in years. In her tate with a shared space in the middle. This gests that a clear zone division provides resi- paper Fortress Britain, (2009) Anna Minton estate design is called a Københavner Karré, dents with a feeling of expanded ownership argues that secured by design’s ideas, pro- and is not only found in Copenhagen but all towards their spaces, increasing the aware- moting fences, gates and CCTV cameras, are around Denmark. ness of suspicious behavior. one of the main influences on this matter. The Københavner Karrés can be classified into Even though Jacobs (1961) and Newman One of the reasons is that material security three types; the original karré [OK] from the (1973) both argues that natural surveillance measures cannot provide the same guardian late 1800, Storkarrréen [SK] from the 1920’s and clear definitions between public and figure as the caretakers they are replacing. and the accessible open karre´ [AOK] from private space are creating a safe environ- Through interviews she reaches the conclu- the 1930’s. The Københavner Karré was first ment by lowering the risk of crime, Anna sion that “knowing people”, whether it be constructed around the 1850-1880’s. It was an Minton describes in her book Ground Control the caretakers or each other, is vital for the up to 6-floor overbuilt estate with a narrow (2009) there great difference between their residents to create trust that correlates with stone-paved courtyard running through the ideas. Minton suggests that their approach- fear of crime and well-being. Minton argues middle used for residential purposes, crafts- es towards strangers are poles apart. Jacobs that besides not being able to provide the manship and small industries. In the 1920’s perceive strangers as guardians of the city feeling of safety and a trusting community, the first ‘Storkarré’ was constructed provid- whom is worthy of trusting, while Newman which the security measures are promising, ing more daylight and space by an expansion view them as intruders to residential areas the secured by design guidelines leads ar- of the courtyard turning it into a garden as and a source of danger we should be suspi- chitects towards designing fortress like con- seen with Kay Fisker’s ‘Hornbækhus’. The cious about. struction, making the city feel more hostile. estate was designed with living rooms facing Newman’s defensible space theories have The classic Danish estates follows the same the street and kitchens and bedrooms facing been adopted by secured by design, and have defensible principles as suggested by the the big courtyard, a yard inaccessible for oth- become the basics behind the gated com- secured by design guideline. In Gyldendal’s ers than the residents. During the 1930’s the munities mushrooming all over the UK. In Danish encyclopedia Den Store Danske, Ar- estate was no longer completely enclosing secured by designs architectural guideline chitect Karen Zahle and museum inspector the residents shared space and became easily Secure homes 2014 (2014), security measures Poul Otto Nielsen has written a piece, Dan- accessible for the public as seen in Poul Bau- from how to design windows and adjacent mark – boligbyggeri (2009) on Danish estates manns ‘Storgården’ from 1935 (Zahle, K. Otto spaces, to lighting parking lots, pathways through time including one of the most Nielsen, P 2009).

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 71 All of the Københavner Karré follows New- man’s guidelines towards creating a defensible space. A clear definition between the public streets surrounding the estates and the shared courtyard in the middle is created with either a symbolic or actual barrier. In both the OK and the AOK, the courtyard was originally, and still is in some of the estates, accessible for all, but as their symbolic barrier clearly signalize the transition from a public to a private space, persons with no agenda is repelled from entering, creating a safe environment and a feeling of community (Newman 1973). The symbolic barrier usually consists of a change in the walking surface texture or a narrow entrance to the space, constructed as a small gap between two buildings, a opening in a wall, placement of bushes, small walls or similar. Most of the OK and AOK’s still only have a symbolic boundary line working as a territorial division, while others has been gated off to create a more intimate environment. The SK has always been closed for the public with an actual barrier by only having entrances to the courtyard from inside the estate or through a gate in the facade facing the street. The zone division does not stand out as one passes by the estates, while it is naturally created through architecture and is build into Copenhagen’s friendly character. The semi-private or private courtyard of the SK and AOK is often equipped with playgrounds, sports fields, benches, herb gardens or grills promoting a social lifestyle for the residents. Different fencing for residential areas in North London. As the courtyard is occupied throughout the day, especially in the summer, the natural sur- By all accounts the Københavner Karré natu- Gated Communities veillance provided by the estate is enhanced rally creates a living space which feels secure, The Københavner Karré is an example of a (Newman 1973). The trust among the people leading to trust and a low fear of crime. popular Danish building type that follows living in the estates is found in the way they The Karrés in Copenhagen are considered a Newman’s defensible space territorial ap- share and take care of the equipment and the national treasure and still serves as inspira- proach. By contrast, in the UK a different ap- shared space. tion for new estate. The ‘8-House’ by the Dan- proach is taken. Since all the Københavner Karrés has living ish architect Bjarke Ingels, owner of the office Secured by design tends to favor the sort of rooms facing the road and kitchens facing the BIG, is an interpretation of the classic Køben- cul-de-sac that leads to gated communities, courtyard the residents staying indoors con- havner Karré that won the World Architec- UK’s respond to a residential construction tributes to the protection of the people walk- ture Festival 1st price for the best residential with a defensible zonal division. Secured by ing in the streets and the residents occupy- building (World Architecture Festival, 2011). design has created architectural guidelines to ing the private space (Jacobs 1961, Newman BIG is also the architectural firm behind, W57 help developers create a secure and safe envi- 1973). The Københavner Karré promotes the on Manhattan, a cross breed between the ronment. According to Secured by Design’s use of courtyard as a meeting place for the Copenhagen perimeter block, Københvaner website (2014) it is a flagship, UK police ini- residents. Engaging in social activities with karré, and a New York skyscraper. It is going tiative, to design a way out of crime. other residents getting to know the people to be Manhattan’s biggest rental complex con- Designing out of crime is becoming mandato- around you can enhance the feel of safety taining a classic Copenhagen urban oasis in ry in some councils new developments (Strat- (Minton 2012) resulting in mutual trust and form of a courtyard inspired by Central Park, ford-on-Avon District Council, 2006, South- greater happiness. providing security and intimacy. (BIG, 2012) wark Council Website, 2014) making secured

72 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue by Design Website, 2014). Gates, fences, locks and CCTV cameras are all contributing to the high level of security. However, people who becomes used to living under these conditions develops a greater fear of crime (Atkin- son & Flint, 2004) and becomes scared when they are facing situations without them (Ja- cobs 1961, Minton 2009). The trust in strangers through time is diminished, intensifying the fear of crime, jeopardizing the inhabitant’s happiness. The degree of security guided by secured by design vary according to the crime rate in the neighboring community. A police officer is negotiating the needed level of security in new schemes taking the risk of crime in the area into account. Minton (2012) describes the emphasis on barriers, in especially high crime rate communities, are creating fortress like estates with high fences, small windows and gates generating a militarized feel to them. In opposition to the Københavner Karré the fences and locks in the gated communities illustrate an artificially created hostile way of inclosing and securing an area that instead of naturally inviting people to draw the conclusion of acceptable behavior and usable pathways, is forcing a certain perception. The conclusion is that gated communities are tearing a rift in the joint trust increasing inhabitant’s fear of crime and artificially creating an almost hostile appearance towards the neighboring communities. Since gates, fences, locks and CCTV cameras are all add- Different fencing for residential areas in North London. ons to a design they can be considered artificial measures to create a feel of safety, which by design guidelines a rigid set of rules. The While every Københavner Karré consists of a by all means does not seem to lower the resi- scheme is also backed by insurance compa- vast diversity of people, the gated communi- dents fear of crime. nies, and preferred by multiple developers ties in the UK is usually compost of the same It is seen that the architecture in the Dan- (Minton, 2009). Their guideline New Homes types (Minton, 2009). There is nothing that ish and British approach to territorial divid- 2014 (2014) approach to achieve the territo- leads to the assumption of a mixed commu- ed space is different and has an impact on rial division most commonly involves actual nity. One of the reasons can be that the main developed fear of crime, trust and thereby artificially created barriers in form of fences motivation for moving into a gated commu- happiness. or gates as seen in the gated communities. nity is not only to live in a highly secured en- The gated communities use these barriers to vironment but also to be segregated from the Natural surveillance and the cul-de-sac keep out strangers, as they look upon them public (Atkinson & flint 2004). Segregation Gated communities are the extreme ver- as intruders endangering the resident’s safety. and social behavior are two opposites, and as sions of the residential estates promoted Jacobs (1961) described the fenced of estates the social behavior is seen as developing trust by secured by design. The milder version is as ‘Turfs’. ‘Turf’ is an expression originated in others (Newman, 1973), segregation leads the cul-de-sac. Here is natural surveillance from the gang environment in New York and towards a distrust in the public, followed by a the number one priority, incorporated with describes an area where only members from tendency to be less happy. windows on every façade facing the neigh- a particular gang are allowed. Gated commu- According to secured by design, inhabitants boring environment and visually open nities basically functions the same way. Only of a gated community following their guide- roads and pathways designed to encourage certain people are allowed inside and it is easy lines, lives in an environment where the risk usage providing more eyes on the streets to spot people that do not belong. of crime is decreased with up to 75% (Secured (Jacobs, 1961).

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 73 Using lighting as a safety measure, insuring to keep to symbolic barriers, which have a ing the inhabitants trust in the public and adequate light on doors, cars and the shared natural feeling to them, as a way of telling through time inflicts a fear of living without space, and strategically placing green remov- people where they are and illustrate a change the security measures (Minton 2009, Jacobs ing climbing aid, (Secured by design, 2014) in norms. On the other hand the social bond 1961, Atkinson & Flint, 2004). is all measures that generates a safe, natural that follows with natural surveillance is en- Secured by design promotes artificially secu- living environment. As stated through the hanced in the British design. rity measures; gates, fences, locks and cam- investigation of the Københavner Karré, nat- It is hard to determine whether or not the eras, that lead to fortress like architecture urally created, safe, living environments are architecture behind the cul-de-sac created (Minton 2012), the people are unnaturally leading towards a greater trust in the com- through secured by design measures are, as forced to an acceptable behavior. This cre- munity, creating a happier society. the gated communities, generating a fear of ates environments that can feel hostile and The natural surveillance in the cul-de-sac crime and distrust in people. Because even custodial and is on the basis of this essay’s is supposed to make criminals feel anxious though strangers are looked upon as some- investigations seen as the main reason that about being watched, and caught. Therefore thing that should be handled with care, the such living spaces are not promoting a hap- if a private pathway is wanted it needs to social bond created through natural surveil- py environment. be gated off. Unnecessary ways through the lance is the main factor, not fences and locks, As the biggest different in the two coun- housing area should be avoided to decrease (Secured by design, 2014) in creating the safe tries approaches is the architectural way of the number of strangers or intruders walk- living space. obtaining Newman’s (1973) defensible and ing inside the estates perimeter (Secured by safe spaces, it is clear that the architecture of Design, 2014). The saying ‘do not tempt a Conclusion a place plays an important part in people’s desperate man’, is a way of saying that not all In both Denmark and the UK there are resi- happiness. A naturally created environment can withstand doing something they want to dential estates following the principles of seems friendly and leads to a space where if they are presented with the opportunity, defensible space brought forward by New- people are trusting in each other not fearing even though they know it is wrong. It is a man (1973). However, through this report crime. While artificially added security mea- term that secured by design guidance works light has been shed on how different the ar- sures that does not seem to be a part of the upon, if there is an opportunity for a thief to chitecture in the two countries is in terms of estates architectural expressions leads to un- break in, he will with all likelihood grab it. designing an environment that generates the natural restrictions that diminish trust and Cul-de-sac estates are one of the most com- feel of safety. As happiness involves aspects through time enforce the fear of crime hav- mon ways to construct housing areas in the as feeling safe, trusting in other people and ing an impact on the resident’s happiness. Danish suburbs. These are designed without not fearing crime, the estates has been evalu- By all accounts, UK’s emphasis on safety and fences in the small pathways. The pathways ated on how they handle these aspects, creat- security seem to tear away the bond between running through the neighborhood are cov- ing breeding ground for happy residents. the people creating a less caring, less trusting ered by high bushes on every site hiding In Denmark natural living environments community and a public with a greater fear the pedestrian from the casual surveillance are created without fences, locked gates of crime, leading to a more unhappy society. of the residents. There is no prevention to and CCTV cameras, but still following the deny strangers to pass on their way from theories behind defensible spaces, includ- one part of the city to another, in fact walking territorial division and natural surveil- ing through the Cul-de-sac’s small footpaths lance seeming to create a social bond within Referrences are more common than using the main roads the neighborhood and increase the trust in • Atkinson, R. & Flint, J. 2004. Fortress UK? Gated Communities, the Spatial Revolt of the Flites and around it. To indicate to strangers that they strangers, which leads to a sense of safety Time-Space Trajectories of Segregation. Universe- are walking into a residential area a sym- and a low fear of crime. ty of Glasgow, UK, Carfax Publishing bolic barrier is applied by having a change The UK’s emphasis on safety and security in • William C., Webster R., Toepfer E., Klauser F. R. & Raab C. D. 2012. Video Surveillance – Practices in the walking surface and often some kind the face of CCTV cameras and Secured by De- and Policies in Europe. Netherlands, IOS Press BV of cycle barrier in the beginning of the path- sign measures are designed to create a safe en- • Jacobs, J. 1961. The Death and Life of Great Ameri- can Cities way. A Cul-de-sac has the ability to create a vironment with a low risk of crime. Howev- . New York, Random House • Minton, A. 2009. Ground Control: Fear an Hap- social community between the residents of er, the fear of crime is still growing amongst piness in twenty-first-century city. Penguin group the houses with the shared space in form of the public (Minton 2009). This is happening • Minton, A. 2012. Fortress Britain. Working paper for new economics foundation (nef) semi- parking lots and garbage disposal where the concurrently with the grant focus on visible nar, residents occasionally run into each other. security measures, reminding us of insecuri- • Newman, O. 1973. Defensible space: People and The main difference in the Danish and the ties. The interesting thing about our fear of Design in the Violent City. USA, Macmillan Com- pany British approach to a Cul-de-sac is the way crime is that it is not connected to the actual • Orwell, G. 1949. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Martin they look upon strangers; as guardians of numbers of crimes or the fierce character of Secker & Warburg Ltd the streets or dangerous intruders, showing the crimes committed but corresponding • Wiking, M. 2014. The Happy Danes: Exploring the Reason Behind the High Levels of Happiness in in the way the public are allowed to walk with the trust that exists amongst us. Liv- Denmark. The Institute of Happiness through the estate, the trust in the average ing in a segregated, high-security residential • Secured by Design 2014. New Homes 2014. UK, person. Once again the Danish design seems area as the gated communities is endanger- Secured by Design

74 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue • Zahle, K. & Otto Nielsen, P. 2009 Danmark – Being happy outside the ings of the author. In our conclusion, we call Boligbyggeri. Den Store Danske – Gyldendals not to isolate transport networks modeling encyklopedia traffic jams: Moral climate • World Architecture Festival 2011. World Archi- from the social context of the cities in gen- tecture Festival Winners 2011. World Architec- and its impact on transport eral, and the issues of moral climate within ture Festival, Website network modeling within urban communities in particular. • BIG 2010. W57. BIG, Website • Helliwell J., Layard R. & Sachs J. 2013. World the cities after state Happiness Report 2013. USA, Sustainable Deve- socialism Theoretical background lopment Solutions Network As transport network may be regarded as a • Travis, A. 2014. England and Wales crime falls to Mark Kleyman lowest level in 32 years. UK, The Guardian kind of technological system, the idea of social • Barret D. 2013. One surveillance camera for every construction of these systems provides a theo- 11 people in Britain, says CCTV survey. UK, The Guardian retical groundwork of examining these issues • Bowcott, O. 2008. CCTV cameras has failed to Introduction (Bijker, Hughes and Pinch 1987). On the other slash crime, says police. UK, The Guardian While including nearly any structure which hand, Henri Lefebvre’s idea of social construc- • Doctorow, C. 2009. Why CCTV has failed to deter criminals. UK, The Guardian permits either vehicular movement or flow of tion of space provides a framework for under- • Stratford-on-Avon District Council 2006. Plan- people, transport network may be regarded as standing the way social behavior and the built ning and Community Safety: Design and Crime an inherent part of built environment within environment are interconnected (Lefebvre Reduction. Stratford, Stratford-on-Avon District Council the cities. As a result, the question of how the 1974, Schmid 2008). Following Lefebvre’s idea • Southwark Council 2014. Crime Preven- characteristics of transport networks may im- of ‘the right to the city’ (1968), every socio- tion Advice: Designing out Crime. Website, pact on memorable sensory experiences and spatial group should have and wants its say Southwark Council give happiness for the people who use them on the issues of urban development, includ- is increasingly becoming a mainstay for city ing transport network modeling. Conceiving planners around the world. On the other the city as a mosaic of socio-spatial configura- hand, one may increasingly observe how the tions (Marcuse 2002), car owners may hardly consumerist culture may impact on these be regarded as an only social group develop- processes worldwide. For instance, despite ing visions for the future of urban transport the anti-Western rhetoric of the authorities of networks. The concept of the ‘negotiated city’ Russia, Venezuela or Iran, to mention among (Kesteloot 2002) could address these challeng- others, Western patterns of life and consump- es, using the socio-spatial order of the city in tion increasingly embrace many people in order to unveil conflicts and institutionalize the developing countries, and, as a result, car them into negotiations that potentially fulfill boom leaves Moscow, Caracas or Tehran in the right to the city. Social cohesion, in this one big jam. In Lewis Mumford’s sense, this context, should be more understood as capac- situation provides an evidence of the substi- ity to acknowledge the existence of different tution of the idea of good life by that of goods’ social and territorial groups presented in the life (Mumford 1989). However, socio-psycho- city, their diverse and sometimes contradic- logical factors, which impact on transport tory interests as well as the capacity of these network modeling, have thus far remained groups to organize themselves and for the city underexplored. to create milieus in which these groups can The article aims to examine the effect of the confront each other and discuss about the city commonly shared ideas on the ways of being future, for instance, about the perspectives happy on structuring transport networks of transport network modeling. At the same within the post-socialist cities. Firstly, it dis- time, city may be considered as a result of the cusses the term ‘moral climate’ in relation ’vertical relationships’ (that are geographical to its effect on the ideas of how to be happy and ecological) connecting urban neighbor- within the particular place, with the special hoods to the specific resources of the land, emphasis on the issues of social construction and of the ‘horizontal relationships’ (of eco- of technological systems. Secondly, the arti- nomic kind) connecting people, urban areas cle concentrates on discussing the methodol- and activities (Dematteis 1985). The proposed ogy of the case study of the city of Ivanovo approach relies on the well-known concept of in Central Russia. The subsequent section is ‘social capital’ (Putnam 2000), by which net- devoted to an analysis of changing patterns works of relationships structure the social of transportation in the case city, on the basis space and the built environment regarded as of the analysis of secondary sources, in-depth an inherent part of this space. As the key is- interviews and face-to-face questionnaires sues of social capital concern the role of socio- generated quantitative and qualitative find- psychological characteristics with respect to

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 75 their impact on interpersonal and social rela- of heavy automotive use often do not make Setting tions, the concept of ‘moral climate’ may pro- people happy, because they contribute to a The empirical analysis is based on a case study vide a useful tool in enhancing learning and dramatic increase in the rate of accidental design, examining the effect of moral climate understanding of these processes. Sociolo- death, social isolation, the disconnection of on transport network modeling in the city of gists and psychologists tend to use the term community, the rise in obesity, the generation Ivanovo in Central Russia. ‘climate’ in reference to a concept of aggregate of air and noise pollution, urban sprawl, and a Being currently a home of 431,721 residents mood within a society, by analogy to weather waste of time due to the traffic jams. (Ivgoradm 2013), Ivanovo has traditionally and temperature (see, e.g. Tajfel 1979). One The concept of moral climate may thus be been called the textile capital of Russia. Be- component of culture is what some theorists crucial in examining the symbiotic relation- cause of its textile manufacturing industry, call the ‘moral climate’ (Victor and Cullen ship between cities and transport networks the city earned the sobriquet of the ‘Russian 1988; Novikov 2003). Moral climate may be within them, while transport networks are Manchester’ during the 19th century. By the considered as the shared perceptions of how considered as an inherent part of a built envi- early 20th century, it competed with the Pol- moral issues should be addressed and what ronment providing important local intersec- ish city of Lodz (being also a part of the Rus- morally correct behavior is. Just as personal tions where economic, political and social sian Empire at that time) for the title of the ethics often affects what an individual will do relations are revealed and played out. primary textile production centre in Europe. when faced with moral dilemmas, a moral cli- In fact, however, the proposed model may be As the workers’ living conditions were appall- mate guides what a social group, for example, regarded only as a theoretical background to ing, the strikes were frequent, and Bolsheviks urban community, and its constituents will provide an explanation of the effect of moral gained a mass support in the city. As a result, do when faced with issues of conflicting val- climate within urban neighborhoods on after the 1917 Revolution the Communist au- ues. Moral climate includes both contents, transport network modeling. In this context, thorities were trying to turn Ivanovo into a namely ‘the shared perception of what con- path dependency approach is most appropri- model of a socialist city, or a ‘city of the future’. stitutes ethical behavior and the process of ate for examining these issues, since it allows Hence, the outcomes of the Soviet model of how ethical or moral issues will be dealt with’ different theoretical positions or even no ex- urbanization in Ivanovo were perhaps more (Victor and Cullen 1988: 101). Since most ur- plicit theoretical approach. From the path de- obvious in comparison with many other Rus- ban communities may be regarded as ‘open pendency approach, the need to ground city sian cities and towns. systems’, affected by and affecting the exter- transformation processes in the discourses The results of these processes were the op- nal environment, moral climate defines these and strategies of the key actors has gained im- posite. On the one hand, nine institutions communities in both its internal and external portance (Pickvance 2002, 196-197). of higher education were established in Iva- relationships. In Foucault’s sense, moral cli- In this context, cities throughout Central and novo, and the city has become one of the big- mate is tacit knowledge, meaning that people Eastern Europe provide a particularly interest- gest centers of higher education in Russia. But, judge their surrounding world according to ing backdrop for examining those processes. on the other hand, the structure of the local a certain regime of truth, which tells them The attempt to establish the egalitarian cities economy has not been considerably changed, right from wrong, good from bad or ours from throughout the former Eastern bloc countries while being based mainly on the textile in- theirs (Foucault 2000). Referring to the con- resulted in providing extensive, frequent, and dustry. During the Soviet era the extensive cept of civic epistemologies of Sheila Jasanoff, cheap public transport services, but since the development of this industry required many one may define this tacit knowledge as com- early 1990s the situation has changed drasti- low-skilled workers. Therefore, the homog- monly shared ‘images of objectivity’. Jasanoff cally. enous social structure, which resulted inthe suggests that ‘just as any culture has estab- Like in other countries throughout Central predominance of the low-skilled workers’ lished folkways that give meaning to its so- and Eastern/Southeastern Europe, the cities lifestyle, considerably impacted on the moral cial interactions, […] modern technocratic cul- in Russia experienced the processes of rapid climate within the city. tures have developed tacit knowledge-ways post-socialist transformation in the 1990s. In the post-Soviet era the crisis in the local through which they assess the rationality and But, unlike in the most of the countries of mono-structural economy led to high unem- robustness of claims that seek to order their this region, at the beginning of the 21st cen- ployment rates and tremendously deteriorat- lives; demonstrations and arguments that fail tury their development started to be impacted ing social conditions (Baldin and Semenenko to meet these tests may be dismissed as illegit- by Putin’s model of state capitalism founded 1996). However, since the mid-2000s the city imate or irrational’ (Jasanoff 2005, 255). in the Chinese experience in mixing the ele- has experienced the improvement of the eco- In this context, moral climate within urban ments of market economy with many attri- nomic situation resulted from the peak oil neighborhoods can provide a distinct set of butes of the Communist ideology and poli- prices and the steady increase of the living ideas about the ways of being happy, but the cies (Åslund 2007). In this context, the case of standards in Russia as a whole. At the same question is whether such ideas could produce Russia demonstrates a strange mixture of the time, Putin’s persistence in chanting the So- happiness in reality. For instance, while being growing hostility to the West, as well as of the viet mantras, like that about ‘the leading role impacted by the consumerist culture, moral attempts to restore the Iron Curtain, with the of the working class’, alongside the spread of climate often motivates people to regard a predominance of the Western patterns of life capitalism tout court in every sector of pub- motor car as the main attribute of happi- and consumption (Robinson 2009, 6). lic and private life, resulted in maintaining ness. But in reality the modern consequences the traditional identity of the ‘textile cluster’

76 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue of Russia (Mah 2012). But, unlike in the So- Method Data analysis viet era, the most of fabrics is produced in According to Gillham (2000), the questionnaire The main question focused on analyzing the numerous small sweatshops attracting pre- survey is a comparatively easy research tool to factors impacting on transport networks us- dominantly low-paid workers, whereas the apply and administer, as it can yield information ers’ preferences, with the emphasis on their large factory buildings are turned into enor- from a large number of people quite quickly. interconnectedness with the moral climate mous shopping malls. As a result, people The objectives of this survey aim to answer the within Ivanovo. For this purpose, the re- are increasingly moving to other regions following questions, using Ivanovo as case city: spondents were asked to specify by writing of Russia, especially to Moscow to seek for 1. What factors impact on transport networks in details the factors that motivate them to higher paid jobs. users’ preferences? use particular modes of transport. Hence, the The history of the city impacted on the 2. Do these preferences depend on urban results not only of quantitative, but of quali- characteristics of its built environment. dwellers’ attitudes towards ‘morally correct’ tative, content analysis of data reported were Ivanovo was created in 1871 by merging behaviour and the distinct ideas about the obtained (See Figure 1). many towns and villages, for instance, the ways of being happy? Most of the respondents expressed that they old flax-processing village of Ivanovo (first The questionnaire targeted by polite invi- preferred using particular modes of transport documented in 1561) with the industrial tation to participate in the survey of every because of their social status. The respon- town of Voznesenskiy Posad (until 1932 second pedestrian passing by after the inter- dents, who expressed the positive attitudes the official name of the city was Ivanovo- viewer had completed the questionnaire. This towards using of cars, tended to consider Voznesensk). As a result, regarding its spa- survey sampling strategy was the most effi- them not as a mode of transport, but rather as tial structure, Ivanovo may be considered as cient at maximizing the survey sample size. a status marker of krutoy, e.g., a person who a polycentric city with the entire urban area The survey was conducted in May and June of owes a luxurious dwelling, visit prestigious covering around 105 km2 (Ivgoradm 2013). 2013 face to face in three locations in Ivano- billiard clubs, restaurants, and the like. They In comparison with the neighboring big cit- vo (Bimart shopping mall, Revolutsii square reported that this way corresponded with ies of Vladimir, Kostroma and Yaroslavl, Iva- and Stantsionnaya street). Totally the survey the commonly shared stereotypes about the novo presents much more characteristics of yielded 198 completed questionnaires. ways of being happy within urban neigh- the socialist city, such as, for instance, less After the face to face questionnaires had been bourhoods, and, as one of our collaborators inner-city density resulted from liberal use undertaken, in August 2013 thirty-two infor- (male, salesperson, 28) wrote, ‘in Ivanovo of space in planning (Szelenyi 1996). As a mal, in-depth interviews were conducted of you cannot be happy, if you do not look like result, the need of effective transport net- individuals whose roles gave them particular your neighbours’. At the same time, though, works in Ivanovo is crucial for sustainable insight into the development of transport net- in reality, one may see many female drivers in development of the city. works in Ivanovo. In addition, useful relevant Ivanovo, the majority of the respondents (68.3 Addressing these issues, the Communist information was provided from secondary %) additionally noted that cars are symbols authorities emphasized the development published sources as a result of analysis of ma- of male (muzhik) dominance, while relying of public transport systems. In 1926 the terials available from locally produced Internet on stereotypes produced by the traditional bus routes started to be operated. The tram resources. Hence, when taken in aggregate, the machismo. As one of the car driver in Ivanovo system was launched in 1934, and in 1962 research procedures included an amalgam of (male, administrator, 32) reported, ‘though the first trolley-bus line was started. In the qualitative and quantitative analytical tech- wasting time in traffic congestion is a serious post-Soviet era, however, the crisis of local niques that permit to provide illuminating an- problem, you cannot attract a pretty girl un- mono-structural economy impacted heav- swers to the main research questions. less you drive a top-notch car’. ily on public transport systems. The tram network in Ivanovo was shut down in 2008. Municipal bus and trolley bus fleet are becoming increasingly ageing; for example, the most of trolley bus fleet were produced in the mid 1980s. This situation made it absolutely impractical to commute without the help of privately run marshrutkas (rout- ed taxicab) at all. At the same time, like any other post-socialist city Ivanovo witnessed the skyrocketing rise in using the private cars. The number of cars grew rapidly from around 55,000 in 2005 to more than 200,000 in 2011 (Zimnikov 2013).

Factors motivating people to use different modes of transport in Ivanovo

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 77 Overall, 52.4 percent of cars’ users in Ivano- On the contrary, 36.4 % of them regard cars This article has limitations, as the analysis vo reported that they purchased their cars as a cause of air pollution and of traffic con- was built on the results of pilot testing of the mainly to avoid stigmatization, often far be- gestion. 43.2 % of the students support the proposed research methods. As a matter of yond their economic means or actual trans- idea of giving public transport priority and fact, there is the need to undertake primary port needs. To show off their wealth and restricting private cars use. 24.6 % of them research to be based on more representa- prestige, 62.3 % of car owners prefer to drive reported that they would prefer to use bicy- tive and statistically reliable data in order to their cars everywhere; even they very likely cles to move around the city, but the predom- deepen the insight into the process of social would be stuck in traffic jams. inant traffic attitudes are not favourable for construction of transport networks within On the other hand, 73.5 % of public trans- that. As one of cyclists (female, student, 22) the cities after socialism. This contribution port riders in Ivanovo expressed that they reported, ‘when you attempt to move along has to be considered as a necessary prelimi- did it because of their low incomes. 44.6 % the roads, car drivers try to hit you, and if you nary stage providing analytical framework of public transport system’s users (predomi- move along the sidewalks, it is resulted in a for further research in this field. nantly retired people reported that this sys- negative attitude between pedestrians and tem is poorly coordinated and subject to fre- cyclists’. quent breakdowns. At the same time, route taxis, buses and trolley buses are increasing- Concluding remarks Referrences ly stuck in the traffic congestion generated The analysis of the current trends of the • Baldin, K.E. and Semenenko, A.M., 1996. Ivanovo: Istoriya i sovremennost [Ivanovo: Past by the skyrocketing car use, as there are no emergence of moral climate and its impact and present]. Ivanovo: Ivanovskaya gazeta. bus lanes and traffic signal priority for pub- on transport network modeling in Ivanovo • Bijker, W., Hughes, Th., and Pinch, T., eds., lic transport. 45.7 % of public transport users may support that the ‘car culture’ as an 1987. The social construction of technological systems: New directions in the sociology and hi- reported that they would use cars instead of inherent part of the consumerist lifestyle story of technology. Cambridge, MA and Lon- public transport if they would earn enough maintained by traditional mechanisms of don: MIT Press. Le metafore della terra. money. Only 6.3 % of public transport’s rid- social control, when everybody knows about • Dematteis, G. 1985. La geografia umana tra mito e scienza. Milano: ers reported that this system is convenient for everybody, and everybody knows that. In Feltrinelli. riders. At the same time, 86.4 % of pedestri- this context, the ‘car-friendly’ patterns of • Foucault, M., 2000. The birth of social medicine. In: P. Rabinow, ed. Power: Essential ans reported that though walking is the most transport network modeling may be consid- works of Foucault 1954-1984. New York: The convenient way for them to move across the ered as an obstacle for promoting the ‘right New Press, 135-156. city (mainly due to the short distance from to the city’ for every socio-spatial group to • Gillham, B., 2000. Developing a questionnaire. New York: The Continuum International home to workplace), it is often not so easy, turn Ivanovo into a ‘negotiated city’. Publishing Group. especially in the winter, when sidewalks are Nevertheless, the fact that the students in • Ivgoradm, 2013. Istoriya goroda [The history slippery and snow-drifted. At the same time, Ivanovo demonstrate less ‘car-friendly’ at- of the city] [online]. Available from: http:// www.ivgoradm.ru/history/teritory.htm [Ac- the most of cyclists in Ivanovo reported that titudes than the respondents in total may cessed 05 October 2013]. they are often treated as beings of low so- be is relevant to searching for the way of • Jasanoff, S., 2005. Designs on nature: Science cial status. Though the authorities started constructing the more human-oriented and and democracy in Europe and the United States, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. to provide the conditions for leisure cycling environmentally friendly transport net- • Kesteloot, C., 2002. Urban territorial policies (predominantly in the parks across the city), works. In this context, while attempting to and their effects at the neighbourhood level, Ur- bex series 21, Amsterdam: AME there are still no opportunities for utility cy- restructure the local economy to develop • Lefebvre, H., 1968. Le droit a la ville. Paris: cling. The predominant attitudes expressed the knowledge-based industries, the local Anthropos. by the respondents are more or less relevant authorities should address the problem of • Lefebvre, H., 1974. La production de l’espace. Paris: Anthropos. to those reported by individuals whose roles social capital creation crucial in attracting • Mah, A., 2012. Industrial ruination, communi- gave them particular insight into the de- creative professional to the city. Hence, there ty, and place: Landscapes and legacies of urban velopment of transport networks (namely, is a clear need for decision makers in the key decline. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. • Marcuse, P., 2002. Of states and cities: The transport companies’ owners and officials). policy areas, including transport policy, to Partitioning of Urban Space. Oxford: Oxford The interviews of those people may dem- relate their day-to-day business to bottom- University Press onstrate that they rely, first of all, upon the up, grassroots initiatives. As a result, the • Mumford, L., 1989. City in history. London: A Harvest Book Harcourt. development of the car roads, whereas they moral climate within the city would become • Novikov, V.V., 2003. Sotsialnaya psikholo- regard alternative means of transportation more favorable to promote the better qual- guiya: Fenomen i nauka [Social psychology: Phenomenon and science]. Moscow: Institu- as those of the less importance. ity of life and thus the sense of happiness. te of Psychotherapy. At the same time, unlike the sample in total, In any case, an integrative, interdisciplinary • Putnam, R., 2000. Bowling alone: The collapse the students who live and study in Ivanovo and horizontal approach incorporating civil and revival of American community. New York: Simon and Schuster. (25 respondents), demonstrate much more society, economy, ecology and governance, • Robinson, J., 2009. The post-Soviet city: identity positive attitudes towards the development alongside the technical reconstruction of ex- and community development [online]. Availa- of alternative modes of transport. 72.2 % isting transport networks, may be central in ble from: http://www.cityfutures2009.com/ PDF/89_Robinson_Jill.pdf [Accessed 25 Sep- of them reported that pedestrian zones and providing the ‘right to the city’ regarding, for tember 2012]. bike tracks should be developed in Ivanovo. example, transport network modeling.

78 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue • Schmid, C., 2008. Henri Levebvre’s theory of the Gross Urban Happiness for many issues that affect our lives. It is able to production of space. Towards a three-dimensional decide at the basis of direct democracy. Kahne- dialectic. In: K. Goonewards, S. Kipfer, R. Mil- grom, and C. Schmid, eds. Space, difference, the Global City man, continuing the work of Jeremy Bentham everyday life. Reading Henri Lefebvre. New York: Alessandro Marata and Cesare Beccaria, redefines the concept Routledge, 27-45. known as the Enlightenment principle of • Szelenyi, I. 1996. Cities under Socialism – and after. In: G. Andrusz, M. Harloe and I. Szelenyi, public happiness. Where it participates more eds. Cities after socialism: Urban and regional The paradox of happiness people declare more satisfaction. The philoso- change and conflict in post-Socialist societies. Cam- bridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 286 – 317. Half a century ago Richard Easterlin gave the pher Philip Pettit strengthens this argument: • Tajfel, H., 1979. Individuals and groups in social definition of his famous paradox that, beyond the two classical concepts of freedom it adds psychology. British Journal of Social and Clinical a certain threshold of wealth and well-being, a third (negative freedom, I can do everything Psychology 18: 183-190. • Victor, B. and Cullen, J. B., 1988. The organizatio- the level of happiness of man stops increas- that the law does not prevent me, for example, nal bases of ethical work climates. Administrative ing. Indeed, by the paradox, happiness begins be rude, positive freedom, I can not do every- Science Quarterly, 33 (1): 101-125. to decrease. The causes are to be found in a thing I want although not a crime, but some • Zimnikov, S., 2013. Skol’ko mashin v Ivanovskoy oblasti? [How many cars are there in Ivanovo number of factors that are inherent in the of the things I want). The third concept of region]. Argumenty i Fakty [online]. Available complexity of life and mind of man. freedom is the possibility of participation in from: http://www.vlad.aif.ru/number/number/ Ten years have passed since overtaking the public life. number_id/531 [Accessed 04 October 2013]. • Åslund, A., 2007. Russia's capitalist revolution: city of man on the campaign. Today more Why market reform succeeded and democracy than half of the inhabitants of planet Earth Ethical issues failed. Washington, DC: Peterson Institute for International Economics. live in urban areas and the phenomenon is The German philosopher Hans Jonas, in his growing fast. Among a few decades two thirds essay The principle of responsibility. Ethics for of the world population will be people and technological civilization, watched as the man will live in large numbers in urban areas of he had become more dangerous because of large metropolis with frayed borders and un- the nature of what nature was for him. Jonas defined. stood in the middle of the principle of hope of In many cases the urban metabolism, of Ernst Bloch and the principle of despair Gun- which we are the cells, proves to be very ill. ther Anders: in this way trying to combine Pathologies seem, at times, incurable: traffic, in a single model universalist ethics and the air pollution, widespread crime, new forms of political-economic realism. anti-social. And these are only the most obvi- Umberto Galimberti writes, in Ethical issues. ous diseases. As regards the traffic remember New behaviors, that today, in the age of tech- some significant data and, once again, appar- nology, act and make are very important ently paradoxical. Vehicles can get to occupy, words for the destiny of ethics and the fate of in the most dramatic cases, more than half of man. The technological man is less and less urban open spaces; the majority of the car is able to react and take actions in view of a pur- parked and only a small part is in motion; the pose chosen by him. E 'increasingly required average use is of a maximum of two hours per to perform the actions described and pre- day; almost always the only seat occupancy scribed, of which may not even know what is to the driver; the average speed of displace- the aims and, in the case know them, he does ment, given the time for the search of the not however be liable. In this way those who parking, is very low, so as to be comparable, work is only responsible of the conditions of on paths of medium length, to that of the bi- his work, not its purpose. This mode, which cycle; the cost is much higher than that result- is defined by the technological culture button ing from the use of public transport. In many pushing, subtracts the ethical principle of per- cases, traveling on foot, by bicycle, on pub- sonal responsibility. When asked "How did he lic transport, is not only healthier, but also feel when you dropped the atomic bomb on cheaper and faster. It is no longer then only a Hiroshima?" the pilot replied: "Nothing. That matter of philosophical view of life; It is a fact was my job." which translates into greater efficiency. And The jurist and philosopher Norberto Bobbio greater happiness. observed that, with the passing years, his writings were increasingly characterized by some- The principle of public happiness thing that could be described as a curvature The economist and Nobel laureate David of ethical thought. In his essay In Elogio della Kahneman, about homo tecnologicus, re- Mitezza remembered as Aristotelian ethics, minds us that happiness depends not only understood as a discussion of the virtues, had wealth, but also the possibility to decide on almost completely disappeared today.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 79 Gross Urban Happines

Bobbio drew then the ethics of Kant, emi- and to reflect on the environmental limits Avishai Margalit in his essay The Decent nently ethic of duty. In the contemporary such as diminishing resources, waste dis- Society, argues that contemporary society, world the ethics of duty has become synon- posal, the progressive and rapid increase of even before that right, must avoid to hu- ymous with ethics of rights and rules. the sources of pollution. miliate and embarrass its members. It must The modern concept of sustainability bases If Jonas defends the right ethical nature, be so, even against those who are not yet, its foundation on the ethical concept of Serres does more. In his book The natural but it will be, holders of rights. rights and duties to the point that its defini- contract he give nature the status of legal tion more concise and effective states that entity: if we want life to continue, we must Towards a sustainable and ethical sustainability is achieved when we are able reverse the traditional anthropocentric urbatettura to satisfy our needs without diminishing perspective and take a natural contract, in The issue is serious. Obesity or, at best, the the ability, for our children , to meet them. which the two subjects are man and nature. overweight, a problem that is worrying, in That is to say, it is our duty to act without These are the basics of deep ecology that different ways, almost all of the so-called limiting the rights of others, present and wants to establish rules, rights and du- industrialized countries. The question is future. ties. The important thing is that this base obviously ironic and perplexing, consider- will not give in to the sirens of the anti- ing the persistent imbalance at the dawn of Sustainable issues humanism and anti-modernism. Italy has the third millennium, the distribution of Finally we reached the age of what we a profoundly unscientific and therefore the the resources of the planet. This fact means might call an operational alliance between danger is real. No coincidence Umberto Ve- that even today, in many parts of the world, nature and technology. Environmentally ronesi has proposed an Alliance for Science the main daily problem is to have a proper sustainable technologies, working for the and a European Authority. nutrition, to have little to eat. Many re- environment and not against it, starting to Willard Quine said: attention, tradition, searches are warning that continuing with be considered finally a cultural value. To sometimes, provides values that allow you the current rates, within a few decades the understand this type of thinking we need to avoid having to decide. majority of adults in developed societies to consider the architecture according to This fact, combined with the traditional pass from simple overweight to obesity, a holistic view of an organization whose italic Akrasia, the weakness of the will (Ar- which is no longer simply an aesthetic fea- whole is a whole greater than the sum of its istotle again), that drives us to make, some- ture of our body, but it is a metabolic dis- parts, which is able to recognize, metabo- times, choices at odds with what we think ease and social. And what is worse is that lize, empathize with the environment and is good for us, has caused and continues to it is sure that this phenomenon also affects its resources and that helps us to be aware cause a lot of damage in Italy . children.

80 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The comments on the increase in body five senses are involved and they are with tons to its inhabitants by 2008. The objective weight combined with those on laziness in- human rhythms. The dynamic perception of is not so strange when you consider that the duced by lifestyle, lead us to be able to say space has written very well and the French theme of 'Obesity, malnutrition and overnu- that we live in obesogenic environments. philosopher Paul Virilio, to describe this trition, it has become one of the hot topics The sedentary lifestyle that characterizes new concept coined the term dromology. And in the electoral programs of the American the hours dedicated to studies, leisure and Zygmunt Bauman, in his description of the primaries. In London it is proposing to set up work lead us to think that you get fat not liquid society, explains accurately the effects cooking classes in elementary schools and only in relation to what and how you eat. of the increasing speed of the factors that to cut free care to those who are obese for The discouragement of physical inactivity characterize modern life. The polish sociolo- too much food. They were even established could then become a priority in the design of gist shows that these effects impoverished, prizes to those slimming. Medical treatment public spaces and private. The slim city we slowing it down, the sedimentation process for diseases caused by overweight are, in fact, recently read in the print media and on the of understanding, learning and development a significant cost to the community: one internet is nothing more than a model city of our experiences. The subsequent result is might suggest the slogan that people get fat that stimulates, promotes and facilitates the a general impoverishment of the stratifica- also depletes you. In London it is also born movement. It makes, therefore, happier. tion of our wisdom, which tends to remain a new figure who provides advice on alter- However, as often happens when you want to superficial. native pedestrian paths; It cost ten million promote a concept objectively dense of posi- About slim city, you can find some interest- pounds, but did fall by twelve percent car tive and interesting, you can fall into the trap ing example, because somewhere something use and increase of thirty one bicycle: money of oversimplifying solutions and propose has been done. There are cities like Oslo Nor- well spent. In Europe, including Italy, they trivial things or, at worst, real errors: propose way, Germany's Munster, the Swedish Malmo are valuable programs and the promotion of narrower streets and wider sidewalks, hous- offering, with success, models that go in this VeloCity. In Trento, the Archdiocese has pro- es without elevators, less remote controls, direction. The case of Malmo is particularly moted a waiver Lenten car, a sort of ecologi- televisions, air conditioners and fast food. symbolic, because in 2000 he built a great cal fasting. A religious act when viewed from Not only with the promotion of small good neighborhood where the car is banned in ev- the perspective of the distorted reflection on practices that you can fix it. We will not live eryday life and it is mainly for well-defined the social role of the car, but also ethically if better demonizing the conveniences that needs arising from the emergency and to the aimed at promoting best practices useful to the progress we make available. This prac- transfer of goods. In this place, the term sus- safeguard the environment in which we live. tice can at best reach the aim of making the tainability has been declined in all its many Happiness in the sacrifice. city, but not to fix it. The good practices are virtuous aspects: environmental, social, eco- It seems incredible, but there is also the other important from the point of view of quality, nomic and, we might add, metabolic. side of the coin. There is a part of the blogo- but often insignificant from the quantitative The buildings have been designed and man- sphere called fatosphere. It 'a community point of view. ufactured to the highest principles of bio- that claims the thought fat positive arguing Better design spaces of the city would im- climatic architecture for which they have a that the overweight hurt. Puts, of course, also prove the quality of life of the average citizen. limited energy consumption so they do not questioned the assertion, proposed by all the The quality of life which tend not only the need to connect to public networks. Some media advertising, that being thin means be- physiological, but also psychological. A really produce more energy than they consume. ing more beautiful. It seems that this activity important first step would be to remove, as far The separate collection of household waste counter is steadily increasing. The human as possible, the car from our life. Certainly it is is through a collection system pneumatic being is really fun and unpredictable. not possible for everyone: it is obvious. All the underground. The purification of water is My innate optimism leads me to say, to con- considerations on which we are thinking is achieved through phytoremediation. Roofs clude these brief considerations, that man based on a statistical basis. Nothing personal. and facades are solar collectors and photovol- has always solved its problems and then will There is no doubt that the pedestrianization taic cells. The outdoor areas, all pedestrians, do it again. The remedies described can have of urban spaces produces welfare from multi- are perfect in every detail and offer citizens a a significant effect in the solution of the is- ple viewpoints. Aside from the obvious incen- great deal of places to stop and talk, walk and sue of overweight in any case, at present and tive of the movement, it induces sociability jog, play: in a word, to socialize. An urban in the light of what is observed, it seems to among individuals, reduces air pollution and paradise that is the dream of every architect continue its relentless rise? The problem the phenomena of petty crime; if combined who puts as priority values of professional of obesity is likely to be solved, but I'm not with the small retailers also promotes the di- ethics and environmental sustainability. so sure that the roads are indicated as effec- versification of trade. They are unfortunately not able to provide tive, although they are useful and should be data on the weight of the population. I watch pursued with tenacity, determination and se- Pedestrianize space can also help character- and wonder: Malmo is certainly a slim city, verity. I tend to think more realistically that ize the Ecological Footprint in a positive en- but its inhabitants are leaner than average? obesity will perhaps defeat, in most cases, vironment in which we work, live and play. In Oklahoma City, one of the twenty cities chemically: a pill colored with miraculous Walk or bike means having a perceptual fattest of America, the mayor said that one powers. We can not forget that man is the experience of the world really complete: all of his goals would be to lose four hundred only animal bad, envious and self-defeating.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 81 And it is certainly very dangerous, for one- Urban regeneration the various plans at various levels. self and for others. It is capable of being in- The main French urban tool is the PNRU, dividually very smart, but also statistically and liveability trough a Programme National de Rénovation Urbaine, es- very stupid sometimes to solve a problem it sustainable approach and tablished by an Act of August 1, 2003, which creates others. a new system of public is a higher-level tool to territorial plans that In this regard, about the correlation between spaces operates in about 500 districts to standardize vice and virtue and happiness: did you know the National territory. It attends on housing, Assunta Martone, Marichela Sepe, that the increase of overweight is inversely public buildings and urban development to proportional to the reduction of tobacco use? Serena Micheletti level social differences especially in the most disadvantaged areas. These kinds of areas include the ZUS, Zone urbaine sensible, which are Introduction characterized by low urban quality, few urban Referrences The process of urban renewal, underway for spaces, isolation, lack of facilities and a high • Aime Marco, Cossetta Anna, 2010. Il dono al about twenty years in Europe, concerns ar- concentration of families with economic and tempo di internet. Torino, 2010. 122 p. ISBN 978-88-06-20130-2 eas abandoned by productive activities that social difficulties as a result of disproportion • Balibar Etienne, 2012. Cittadinanza. Torino, therefore host residential, commercial, cul- between residents and occupation ( www. 2012. 178 p. ISBN 978-88-339-2269-0. Ed. orig. tural and service functions. anru.fr; www.onzus.fr; www.ville-melun.fr). Citoyen Sujet et autres essais, Paris, 2011. • Bartolini Stefano, 2012. Manifesto per la felici- The complexities of projects that are to be By 2004, French ZUS are 751, comprehensives tà. Roma, 2010. 308 p. ISBN 978-88-07-88289-0 implemented require a strong integration of 4,4 millions oh inhabitants, 7,5% of popu- • Bauman Zygmunt, 2012. Cose che abbiamo in between the different modes of implementa- lation, and they are subdivided in ZRU - Zones comune, 2012. 212 p. ISBN 978-88-420-9922-2. Ed Orig. 44 Letters from the liquid world. Cam- tion. In place of Brownfield are built new pub- de Redynamisation Urbaine - presenting high bridge, 2010. lic spaces that enhance or create new urban inoccupation, few degrees, few potential tax- • Bauman Zygmunt, 2003, City of fears, city of hopes, London, 2003. 168 p. ISBN 1-904158-37-4 landscapes, and allow the re-appropriation and ZFU - Zones Franches Urbaine - that have • Droege Peter, 2008. La città rinnovabile. Guida of the city by residents (Landry, 2000, Zukin, the same characteristics of ZRU but with Completa ad una rivoluzione urbana. Perugia, 1995). Through these processes, the cities are more citizens (8500) which need more strong 2008. 304 p. Perugia, 2008. ISBN 978-88-89014- 70-7. Ed. orig. The renewable city. A com- trying to overcome the challenge of competi- actions as tax incentive for companies settled prehensive guide to urban revolution. Chice- tiveness, by creating attractive environments in the territory. One of PNRU’s objectives is to ster, 2006. that are able to set up new economies (Florida restore the ZUS, established in 1997 and end- • Landry Charles, 2009. City Making. L'arte di fare la città. Torino, 2009. 534 p. ISBN 878-88- 2005). Certain European examples are sig- ed in December 31, 2014. In January 2015 they 7578-136-1. Ed. orig. The art of city making. nificant and it is possible to draw lessons and have been replaced with 1.300 Quartiers Pri- USA, Earthscan, 2006. good practice, and although still ongoing, it oritaires (QP) (M. C. Bonnet-Galzy, 2014 www. • Koolhaas Rem, 2006. Junkspace. Macerata, 2006. 124 p. ISBN 88-7462-112-4. Ed. orig. Bi- is possible to identify key issues and critical onzus.fr) gness or the Problem of Large. The Generic aspects (Sepe, 2009; Sepe 2013; Sepe, 2014a- To ensure the implementation of PNRU, an City. Rotterdam, 2001. • Neuwirth Robert, 2007. Città ombra. Viaggio b). Like French cities that pay attention on agency was established with an act of Au- nelle periferie del mondo. Roma, 2007. 286 p. liveability, sustainability, participation and gust 2003. The ANRU - Agence Nationale pour ISBN 88-89674-18-0. Ed. orig. Shadow Cities: A public-private partnership, as key elements of la Rénovation Urbaine manages public-private Billion Squatters, A New Urban World. USA, 2007. regeneration (Martone, Sepe, 2011). fundings and tends to the integration through • Nussbaum Martha C., 2011. Non per profitto. Since 20 years, France is involved by an inter- employment. The board of directors has 36 Perché le democrazie hanno bisogno della cul- esting urban regeneration process which im- members representing the State, technicians tura umanistica. 168 p. ISBN 978-88-14942-8. Ed Orig. Not for profit. Princeton, 2010. proves the quality of life in terms of econom- and organizations that are interested in social • Ricoeur Paul, 2013, Leggere la città. Roma, ic, social and environmental sustainability. housing. ANRU objectives are the integration 2013. 146 p. ISBN 978-88-7615-933-6. Furthermore, France has decided to decrease of disadvantaged neighbourhoods in the city, • Rykwert Joseph, 1977. La casa di Adamo in pa- radiso. Milano, 1977. 252 p. ISBN 88-459-1720- by 2050 its emissions of greenhouse gases, the creation of social mix and a functional 7. Ed. Orig. On Adam's House in Paradise. New enacting some laws to reach this purpose, in- mix everywhere integrating public spaces, York, 1972. Strat gie nationale de d veloppement • Saramago José, 2005. Questo mondo non va cluding: « é é housing, schools, social structures and shops. bene, che ne venga un altro. Roma, 2005. 132 p. durable» in July 2003, «Plan climat» 2004, (www.anru.fr) ISBN 88-7981-306-4 «Loi de programme fixant les orientations de The urban planning office provides for each • Sassen Saskia, 2002. Globalizzati e scontenti. Milano, 2002. ISBN 88-428-0763-x. 284 p. Ed. sa politique énergétique», 2005, confirmed in development agency the elaboration of a orig. Globalization and its Discontent. Chica- 2007 with laws Grenelle I & II. In order to illus- PSO (Projet Stratégique et Opérationnel), which go, 1998. trate the process of regeneration, an overview should bring the agreement state strategies • Sen Amartya, Il tenore di vita. Venezia 1993. 144 p. ISBN 88-317-7111-6. Ed. org. The stan- of the French planning tools is necessary. and territorial documents. The PSO is based dard of Living. Salt Lake City, 1992. The SCOT (Schéma de cohérence territoriale) is on the guidelines of the planning tools and • Virilio Paul, 2004. Città panico. Milano, 2004. the departmental document that coordinates it organizes actions to be taken in next years 132 p. ISBN 88-7078-898-9. Ed. orig. Ville Pani- que. Ailleurs commence ici. Paris, 2004. the different territories and programs a joint regarding housing, the timetables, operation development, ensuring coherence between to carry out, etc.

82 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue This guide is divided into two phases. The first The description of the process of regeneration The most interesting projects of metropolis is mainly an analysis of the territory and lists will focus on the main areas and peculiari- NCA are adjacent to the city of Nice, precise- long-term commitments to frame the strate- ties of the operation still in course, including: ly in East zone and Plaine du Var, that in few gies. The second is an operational plan in the mixed use areas, éco-exemplarité, and ZUS years began an area of innovation and eco- medium term to further actions, locations, op- (Zones Urbaines Sensibles). nomic power, in which the most interesting erations and projects (EPA, 2014b; EPA,2014c; project, regarding sustainability, is the Éco- www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr). The munici- The Nice Côte d'Azur territory Vallée. Plaine du Var, created in 2007, is the pal planning is regulated by PLU- Plan Local Nice Côte d'Azur (NCA) metropolis is placed most important OIN - Opération d'Intérêt Na- d'Urbanisme - integrated by PADD - Projet in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) tional - based on sustainable development. A d'Aménagement et de Developpement Durable- to French region, that is in Alpes Maritimes de- place becomes an OIN if local project is coher- preserve and improve the landscape and the partment. It was constituted in January 2012 ent with National guidelines, on which it has environment. PLU replace local plans and de- with the law n ° 1563/2010 with the merger a strong economical and ecological impact. fine standard design: building areas, rural ar- of 49 municipalities, including 550.000 citi- They have special legal regimes which do not eas, buildings’ dimensions and forms, reserved zens to integrate also disadvantages areas assess administrative divisions but consider zones for future public buildings, future paths in urban regeneration. The territory of me- a unique territory, also regarding biodiver- and alternative transportations. Areas that tropolis is formed by 1400 Km2, enclosed sity, environmental sustainability and urban have not PLU are the oldest of the city. They are the area between Alps and the Sea that the transports (www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr). 15 the heritage of the city and have PSMV - Plan de administration intends to promote both municipalities and 116.000 inhabitants are Salvaguarde et de Mise en Valeur - because they with tourism and as a sustainable excellence. included in Plaine du Var, occupying 10.000 only need to be preserved and valorised, with- (EPA, 2014c; www.nicecotedazur.org). hectares of territory which 4,5% are building out design improvements (www.logisneuf. The headquarters of the NCA Metropolis is (EPA,2014c). The main purposes of Éco-Vallée com; www.nicecotedazur.org). Nice, 71,92 km2, which is the fifth largest city are restore, preserve and promote the envi- Starting from these premises, aim of the paper in France, with about 348.000 citizens (2007) ronment, develop sustainable projects and is to illustrate the emblematic case of Nice Côte (OTC NICE, 2013). In its territory, there encourage economic and social metropolitan d'Azur, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, are present 72.000 km2 of green spaces, 278 dynamics (EPA, 2014b). which represents a best practice of sustain- natural spaces and 171 parks and gardens, Proposals in Éco-Vallée aim to preserve the ex- able regeneration. enough to can compete for the title ville verte isting areas, to regenerate what were deleted Nice Côte d'Azur metropolis, trough many de la Méditerranée. Since 2008 green spaces and to include biodiversity in development’s urban projects devoted to improve liveabil- are added at 50 hectares thanks to green circuit, becoming the main experimentation ity and sustainability, is investing strong projects, also in the city centre, such as for territory for urban planning. The main pur- energies in order to become the ville verte de example, Promenade du Paillon, but also to poses of this area are sustainable technolo- la Méditerranée. The idea is to transform not green operations as «1 arbre-1 enfant» (www. gies, health, green develop. The general proj- only the city centre but also suburbs. The petites-affiches.fr). The PLU of Nice was ap- ect of Èco-Vallée values 30 years and is divided purposes of urban renovation is to “Diversify proved by General Council of the Metropolis in two phases. The first, during 15 years, in or- and improve the supply of housing, open the in December 23, 2010, and modified in 2012 der to begin the main project, and the second neighbourhood and redevelop public spaces, and 2013. The purpose is to affirm Nice as an to end them. The aim of environmental and reinvest the existing urban fabric to fight international metropolis, expecting, among social sustainability in Éco-Vallée is important against urban sprawl, promote social and eco- others, the construction of about 2.000 resi- to become one of the 13 French ÉcoCité. nomic integration of the inhabitants of these dences, of which 50% of Social Housing In Plaine du Var the projects, including Grands neighborhoods.” (MNCA et Al, 2015a). (MNCA, 2010). Regarding this purpose, PLH Arenas (International Business District), In this first French metropolis five urban re- - Programme Local de l'Habitat - was edited for Technopole Nice-Meridia, La Baronne-Lingostière generations were activated by ANRU, in four the period 2010-2015, to decrease disadvan- (agribusiness hub), Saint Isidore (eco-area), neighbourhoods, intervening on 6.000 hous- taged housing, to increase residences with Pasteur, L’Ariane, Vieux Nice, Les Moulins, the ings, implicating 49.000 people. The regenera- affordable prices, to promote sustainable projects of Parc des Expositions, îlot 3.5 (in Grand tion is inspired to sustainable development houses adapted to the needs of all social lev- Arénas), Allianz Riviera stadium, Promenade du model regarding social, environmental and els reducing the social gap. The approach is, Paillon, Gare du Sud station, are coordinated by economical themes (MNCA, 2010). also for this case, economically, socially and Jose Lluis Mateo, David Mangin e Adriaan Gi- In all the city is applied the PLU. Only the an- environmentally sustainable. ose architects. cient parts of the town- old city and ancient Metropolitan area is divided in 7 pôle de la As an important aspect, citizens are well pre- port- have a specific plan approved in 1993 and proximité (macro-areas) - La Cagne, Centre, pared to new trend to put humans as pro- modified in 1996- PSMV (Plan de Salvaguarde Est Littoral, Nice, Vésubie, Tinée, Ouest Var - to tagonists of urban contest because the im- et de Mise en Valeur)- as result of their strong unify near zones with similar characteristics, provements obtained by changes highlight identity given by place’s historical sense which to manage them more consciously regarding the positive trends both for the city and for take necessary exclusively architectural rede- themes such as road maintenance, cleaning, people (also the economy takes advantages, velopment (MNCA, 2010; www.nice.fr ). waste, etc (www.nicecotedazur.org). as consequence).

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 83 The switch to more sustainable new lifestyles with a public consultation and the end in universities and partners. The institute that (sustainable in threefold sense of the word: 2017 with the delivery of firsts buildings and promote the innovation and start-ups is the economical , social, environmental), includ- the construction of the tramway (MNCA & IMREDD (Institut Méditerranéen du Risque, de ing travels, housing and public life, is the EPA, 2013; EPA, 2012; MNCA & EPA, 2014a; l'Environnement et du Développement Durable) result, and in the same time is the author, of www.ecovallee-cotedazur.com). led by the University of Nice Sophia Anti- urban regeneration based, as the last purpose, In the neighbourhood of Grand Arénas, the polis (www.presseagence.fr). The energy sys- on the satisfaction of human needs, with par- Parc des Expositions project is the most signifi- tem, called Smart Grid, was optimized with ticular attention to the psychological and so- cant because attracts tourists from all over considerable savings for users. New start-ups ciological. the world, thanks to the events carried out and relationships make the Technopole as the In the following, the most important areas in 65.000 m2, of which exhibition spaces for most important creative city of the area, giv- and aspects of the regeneration project will 35.000 visitors and the execution of interna- ing strong identity. There is a building capac- be illustrated. tional exhibitions emerge. In the area there ity of 347.000 m2. There will be 3.600 m2 of are 20.000 m2 of hotels, 15000m2 of offices eco-campus, 117.000 m2 of residences divided The regeneration process and housing, 40.000 m2 of shops, public fa- in 2.100 dedicated to researchers, students Mixed use areas cilities and equipment. The works started in and local workers, 58.000 m2 of offices and A large part of urban regeneration projects 2012 with a public consultation and will end companies, 17.000 m2 divided into hotels, ser- with the purpose of providing mixed func- in 2020 with the delivery of the centre, after vices and shops, 38.000m2 for research labo- tions are in the Plaine du Var area. Mixed the expropriations provided for 2017 and the ratories, sports and recreational facilities and uses, including residential, industrial, tour- redevelopment of tramway (MNCA & EPA, green spaces. It is a place well connected with ist activities, are present to increase employ- 2013). the rest of the area as Grand Arénas neigh- ment, housing and social life. The new strat- Among the projects coordinated by the EPA bourhood and the international airport, with egy is to decrease vacant areas performing in the Éco-Vallée is notable the Technopole the help of the East-West tramway. In the differentiated activities in different moment Nice-Meridia, adjacent to Moulins neighbour- years 2012 - 2013 there was the Design of the of a day (MNCA, 2010). hood and Allianz Riviera stadium. It is spread urban project and in 2015 there will be deliv- This neighbourhood unites the existing com- over 26 hectares of metropolitan territory, ering of the first buildings. There is a collabo- mercial district of 10 hectares with the new can be expanded up to 200 hectares, which ration between public and private but 60% part of 51 ha which will have multimodal is coordinated by Christian Devillers urban of territory is managed by public authorities hub, Parc des expositions, housing and shops. architect in collaboration with groups of and works create about 4.000 employments In NCA metropolis, in the Éco-Vallée area, as- engineers, sociologists, and other profession- (MNCA & EPA, 2013; EPA, 2014a; MNCA & sisted by EPA, urban regeneration is found, als. The geography of the place modifies the EPA, 2013b; www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr; among others, in Arénas neighbourhood urban project dividing the area in macro- www.nicecotedazur.org; www.presseagence. extension, called Grand Arénas. It is located blocks. Christian Tordo, EPA Plaine du Var fr). between Route Grenoble (North), Var river President, remembered that environmental- (West), Arénas neighbourhood (East) and air- ly sustainable model, mixité of functions and Sustainable projects by the éco-exemplarité pro- port and Promenade des Anglais (South). The economic growth given by collaboration be- cess project, concerning 51 hectares, is coordi- tween instruction, research and production Green technology is only one of the tech- nated by J.Lluis Mateo (Mateo Arquitectura) are the three purposes. In the natural blocks niques to have environmentally sustainable architect and urban planner, even if every are present residences, offices, shops, and projects. Indeed, it is also necessary to pay at- area is designed by different architects who every service useful to citizens. The techno- tention both to existing landscape and waste have to support the main idea. The place was pole is the place of training centres, high-tech management, energy and water consump- shaped to the establishment of companies, business incubators, start-up incubators. As tions. This process, called Éco-exemplarité, including internationals, thanks to the strate- result, the space, moreover the public, is de- established 13 Écocitès in France. The main gic location near the Nice Cote d 'Azur airport signed with co-working spaces, digital can- purposes of Écocitès are an energetic certifica- (second in France for number of travellers) teens, central squares, long promenades and tion to built and management, installation and the Mediterranean Sea. These character- big parks to aid interpersonal relationships, of shippers for electric cars to encourage and istics, including sustainability, make it the improving the search-industry contacts and improve the use of them and increase the right place to companies intent to expand encouraging creativity and recreational ac- number of public spaces for a better socia- in southern Europe. It will include 150.000 tivities. In France this is the first technologi- bility and to use them as urban laboratory m2 of housing subdivided in 1350 residences, cal park inside the city; others are in suburbs. to find solutions against heat of the Mediter- of which 50% in social housing conditions In this area, defined smart city, a lot of char- ranean zones. One of which is in NCA Me- to strengthen the social dimension, 400.000 acteristics for a good city such as high envi- tropolis, formed by 3000 hectares located in m2of offices, 110.000 m2 for equipments, of ronmentally sustainability performance, the southern territory of Plaine du Var, situ- which 65.000 m2 for the Parc des Expositions, health, education and green technology will ated between Baronne-Lingostière (North) and 100.000 m2 of shops and services. The works’ be present. An important economic and ur- the airport and Saint-Laurent du Var (South). calendar provided the beginning in 2012 ban growth will born by synergy between In the Écocitè area, led by the EPA, there are

84 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue 12 projects, some of which are Grand Arénas, hood is divided in blocks, including stand out sustainable principles: social (strongly used Nice Méridia and La Baronne-Lingostière. Four the îlot 3.5 near Renée Cassin Avenue. It is de- by all citizens), economic (with a strong im- purposes of 12 Écocitè projects in Nice Côte signed by Dominique Perrault, composed by provement of tourism) and environmental. Azur regard a responsible urbanisation- with, 18.000 m2, which 8.000 m2 offices and shops The park has a strong impact on the territo- among others, intelligent urban manage- and 10.000 m2 by hotel. It received BREEAM ry as result of different spaces and activities ment – a suitable transport system with an Excellence energy certification. Environmen- to carry out as art and music exhibitions in increasing of tramway and development of tally sustainable techniques of design and addiction to 3000 m2 of water mirrors with electric cars system, a future energetic auton- management reduced consumptions about water jets, sounds, lights and sprinklers to omy using thermodynamic and geothermal 30-45%, using solar panels, control systems create a high visual and emotional impact, sea centrals and the objective to will be the of lighting and temperature and heat pumps and wooden toys for children that are pres- intelligent city of the future (MATEO et AL that use groundwater. The works are sched- ent. These are the main purposes that make 2012; www.ecovallee-cotedazur.com; www. uled in years 2014-2018 (www.pss-archi.eu; it a place of wellbeing and with one of high- ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr; www.dialogue- VdN & NCA, 2008). est quality of public spaces. In the past there ecocite.fr). In the same neighbourhood was designed, by was an usual street covering Paillon river that La Baronne-Lingostière hub is situated in mu- the will of Nice City, the Allianz Riviera Stadi- it was substituted by the green space, opened nicipalities of La Gaude and Saint Laurent um by Wilmotte et Associés architects et Vin- in 2013 (www.nice.fr; www.touringclub.it; du Var, near Var River, and the future MIN ci Concessions. The aim of this project was to www.tpf-i.fr). Cote d'Azur (Marché d'Intéret National). The show that it is possible organize low-environ- The South station renovation - Gare du Sud- purpose’s project is mainly economic. The mental impact events and distractions. The in the Liberation neighbourhood, at city cen- project expects an extension of 60.000m2 metal and wood structure decreases of 3.000 tre of Nice, expects the Ecolabel environmen- in 25 hectares, with possibility to extend in tons carbon dioxide emissions; geothermal tally sustainable certification. ING Real Estate order to begin the most important agrifood energy , natural air conditioning and water Development (Reichen e Robert & associate and horticulture hub. The idea is to increase recovery are present. The excess of energy architects) images an high quality of public quality’s local agriculture and improve logis- can be reused in the Saint Isidore neighbour- spaces achieved by ancient station redevel- tics. La Baronne design has continuity with hood. There are also present, besides stadium, opment (1892) and new architectures. The natural and urban Lingostière neighbour- entertainment including shops, restaurants project aims to preserve and enhance the hood’s landscape which is located on the and national museum of sport (www.nice.fr; historical sense of the area with some devices other side of river. Part of the project reuses www.nicecotedazur.org). such as a library included in the old building existing buildings to integrate them into new Among the projects not regarding entire dis- (opened in 2013). Redefinition gives versatil- projects. The works are scheduled for 5 years tricts, but important for the redevelopment, ity to spaces permitting to use them for a lot (2012, the year of consultation, 2016, the de- there are three in the city centre of Nice: Place of activities in every hour of the day to reno- livery of food platform) (MNCA & EPA, 2013; Messena, Promenade du Paillon, and Gare du vate all neighbourhood Bioclimatic design is www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr; www.nicecot- Sud. The program PNRQAD (programme na- provided by use of solar panels, roof gardens, edazur.org). tional de requalification des quartiers anciens dé- and a minimal impact of yards. Underground Saint Isidore is a neighbourhood in Éco-Vallée, gradés) that organized this urban renovation, parking lots (700 on 1000) do not impact near Allianz Riviera Stadium, extended on operative since 2012, expects an improve- negatively on landscape. The building area 8 hectares, designed primarily for environment of housing (in accordance with OPAH- is 25.600 m2, of which 3.370 m2 are used for mental purposes (éco-quartier). Every proj- RU) during 5 years, more public spaces, revi- shopping centre, shops, restaurants and su- ect considers housing, services and shops sion of traffic, and pedestrianisation of some permarket, 1.670 m2 of indoor market, 10,500 designed with sustainable technologies as areas. m2 of public space and 167 student residences natural light, recyclable and low-impact ma- Urban renovation about Promenade du Paillon (equipped with public spaces provided for terials, geothermal energy, roof garden, etc. redeveloped the area connecting old and new them), and 98 housings including 44 socials Also private partners must respect protocols town of Nice, reaching to the waterfront des and some experimental devices designed for of the plan. An example is IKEA which will Anglais. The contractor of project is Métropole disabled needs (www.nicecotedazur.org ). open the mall in 2016 abandoning the classic Nice Côte d'Azur, that have among the partner format to use glass, wood and underground Péna & Peña as landscapist, as result of rel- Zone Urbaine Sensible parking to impact as little as possible on the evance on entire metropolitan territory. This In France some disadvantaged areas, defined environment and landscape. This urban reis an urban park that extends for 12 hectares ZUS (Zone Urbaine Sensible), are present and generation makes the place so recognizable through various neighbourhoods, using dif- supported by the PRU (Projets de Rénova- that the investment will be guaranteed by ferent woods to get blooms all year, thanks tion Urbaine), with the financial help of the commercial tourism, also from Italy (www. to the Mediterranean climate that permit ANRU. In the Alpes Maritimes territory there ecoblog.it; www.nice.fr). the planting of different species, 50, with are 5 ZUS, three of these are located in the In addition to these neighbourhoods, there about 60,000 of plants, trees and shrubs. It city of Nice, one is divided between Nice and are a lot of projects regarding architectural is a place designed as buttonhole of urban Saint-André, and the last is located in Vallau- regeneration. The Grand Arénas neighbour- regeneration of Nice because it solves three ris (http://sig.ville.gouv.fr).

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 85 In Nice, the neighbourhoods of interest to the fr/; www.nice.fr; www.nicecotedazur.org;). vices, places for training activities for residents case study are Ariane (borders extend in vari- Vieux Nice area (old town) is the historical and external customers. The regeneration of ous municipalities) and Pasteur, that are in the and touristic heart of the city. It is delimitated the district aims to make the place attractive, east zone (www.insee.fr). by the sea at South, and the covered Paillon at to improve management and to restore social The neighbourhood of Pasteur is a ZUS area West. Here an independent plan by PLU’s Nice habitat and relations (www.nice.fr; www.nice- situated in North-East of the city, near West is active, the PSMV (Plan de Sauvegarde et de cotedazur.org; www.acteursdelhabitat.com; side of Paillon river. It was the first included in Mise en Valeur), approved in 1993 and modi- www.anru.fr). PNRU (Programme National pour la Rénova- fied in 1997. The area includes administrative tion Urbaine) by ANRU in 2005. It has 5400 buildings. There is a strong interest in urban Conclusion inhabitants and urban regeneration tends to redevelopment to improve the quality of life. The renovation process which has been improve the quality of life and reduce the so- It is a neighbourhood with a lot of shops, res- presented in the paper concerns the Nice cial differences through actions of building (79 taurants and cafes, moreover for the entertain- Côte d'Azur (NCA) metropolis, placed in the housings), redevelopment (50 units), demoli- ment of tourists, but also it is the place to carry Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) French re- tion (250 apartments) and reconstruction (151 out recreational activities of citizens. The area, gion. Aim of NCA is become the ville verte de homes). The demolition is necessary when the densely populated - 17,500 inhabitants in an la Méditerranée. Although the process is still redevelopment, which must have sustainable area of 70 hectares- has considered a ZUS as in course the projects which are planned and features, is economically disadvantageous. An- result of overcrowding which raises the real those which have been completed give the other aspect identified to exalt the quality of estate value, but decreases quality, comparable possibility to identify it as a best practice with life of citizens, is the redevelopment of the Pail- to social housing. Again, the concept is to im- respect liveability and sustainability topics. lon riverfront with bike paths and pedestrian prove residences renewable and demolish ram- Citizens are well prepared to new trend to areas, and the Maccario square that includes shackle, replacing them with environmentally put humans as protagonists of urban con- relaxing and play areas. sustainable buildings. It is necessary increase test because the improvements obtained by In the North-East zone of Nice, in the Plaine du the commercial economy and improve places changes highlight the positive trends both Paillon, the Ariane neighbourhood is located. It and public services. The terms of project are in urban and social point of view (also the has 12.000 inhabitants. 34% are young people expected in 5-7 years from 2012 (http://www. economy takes advantages, as consequence). to encourage to not go away from the area. nicecotedazur.org; www.wikipedia.org ). The switch to more sustainable new lifestyles In agreement with the ANRU since 2007, the The Moulins neighbourhood is a ZRU (Zone de (sustainable in threefold sense of the word: Ariane PRU (Projet de Renovation Urbaine) has a Redynamisation Urbaine) and even if, as in other economical , social, environmental), includ- strong influence on this area so it was decided cases, has a mixitè of uses that make it a liveable ing travels, housing and public life, is the to divide it in two phases. The first- from 2007 place, social factors are the most considered result, and in the same time is the author, of to 2012- aims to increase the value of the neigh- (people is the priority). The area is located in urban regeneration based, as the last purpose, bourhood which is a ZFU (Zone Franche Urba- the Éco-Vallée, between the centre of Nice and on the satisfaction of human needs, with par- ine) with 862 companies located in 2003, incor- Val du Var, including 12.000 inhabitants and ticular attention to the psychological and so- porated in a broader urban regeneration of East almost 3000 social houses. The project is coor- ciological ones. zone. Redevelopment included principally îlot dinated by STOA that collaborate with other The metropolitan area is divided in 7 pôle de Saint Pierre and its streets annexed. The second professionals. It is so influential place, because la proximité (macro-areas) - La Cagne, Centre, phase of PRU began in 2012, the sides of the it is in proximity to projects as Grand Arenas, Est Littoral, Nice, Vésubie, Tinée, Ouest Var - to Paillon River were adapted to the project, the Technopole-Nice Meridia, Multimodal MIN hub unify near zones with similar characteristics, residents evicted were rehoused and works of , that the works of demolition, construction, to manage them more consciously regarding the first phase were finished (MNCA& CGAM, renovations and openings are expected to 20 themes such as road maintenance, cleaning 2011). Generally urban projects regarded the years. They began in 2010 with the agreement and waste. redevelopment of public spaces and renova- of the ANRU and charte de partenariat for hous- tion of housing which fulfilled the objectives ing. This last is signed in 2012 (for the years The most interesting projects of metropolis of the PLH (Programme Local de l'Habitat) to 2012-2016) by the mayor of Nice and other 37 NCA are adjacent to the city of Nice, precisely increase social development and improve the partners to support accessible residences and in East zone and Plaine du Var. quality of life. 454 residences were demolished, few prices to develop the territory. The realiza- The general idea is to transform not only the 351 were redeveloped and 373 built. In 2003, tion is expected in years 2013/2017 by projects city centre but also suburbs with an approach some lands were expropriated to build Social of the contest of 2011. The project is divided in based on sustainability and liveability. Partic- Housing to sale or rent to people with small two phases, the first regards the improvement ular interest is posed on disadvantaged areas, incomes. Among Public services designed, li- of the housing while the second part concerns defined ZUS (Zone Urbaine Sensible), such as brary, post office, Palace of Justice, shops, pub- public spaces. Every house built has had the Ariane and Pasteur, where the aim is to im- lic spaces, sports centre and stationing of trans- improving of the energy class. It is necessary to prove the quality of life and reduce the social port were found (ANRU & Al, 2007; MNCA& improve commercial areas, for more services, differences through actions of building, rede- CGAM, 2011 ; VdN & NCA, 2008; http://www. employment and facilities such as Business Ho- velopment, demolition and reconstruction. logementfrancais.fr/; http://www.logisfamilial. tel, community centres, sports and public ser- Another aspect identified to exalt the quality

86 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue of life of citizens, is the redevelopment of the • EPA, (2011). Projet de territoire de l’ Éco-Vallée. bruary, 2015. Paillon riverfront with bike paths and pedes- Établissement public d’aménagement de la Plaine • MNCA & EPA _ MÉTROPOLE NICE COTE D'A- du Var. Principes stratégiques d’aménagement et ZUR & EPA, (2014a). Signature de la promesse de trian areas, and the Maccario square that inde développement durable de la Plaine du Var. Ac- vente des terrains de l’îlot 3.5 du Grand Arénas cludes relaxing and play areas. cess of March, 2015. dans l’Éco-Vallée. Access on March, 2015. An interesting aspect of the operation of • EPA, (2012c). Nice-Méridia, une technopole urbai- • MNCA & EPA_MÉTROPOLE NICE CÔTE D’A- ne pour une ville intense. Concertation préalable à ZUR & EPA (2014b). Un territoire exceptionnel en transformation is the technology used for la création de la ZAC Nice-Méridia. Du 28 septem- pleine mutation. Access on March, 2015. Access waste management, energy and water con- bre au 31 octobre 2012. Access on June 2012. on March, 2015. sumptions, called Éco-exemplarité, which • EPA, (2014).Réussir ensemble l’Éco-Vallée, con- • Nijkamp P., Perrels A.H. (1994), Sustainable Ci- certation sur le projet stratégique et opérationelle. ties in Europe, Earthscan, London. established 13 Écocitès in France. The main Synthèse des apports de la concertation. • OTC NICE, (2013). Destinazione Nizza. Grandi purposes of Écocitès are two. First, an energetic • EPA, (2014a). Au cœur de la Métropole Nice Côte Progetti. Cartella stampa 2013. Access on februa- d’Azur, avec les premières réalisations d’envergu- ry, 2015 certification to built and management, instal- re du Grand Arénas, nouveau centre international • VdN & NCA_VILLE DE NICE & NICE-COTE lation of shippers for electric cars to encour- d’affaire, et de la technopole urbaine. Access on D'AZUR (2008). Projet de Rénovation Urbaine du age and improve the use of them. Second, the February, 2015. quartier de l'Ariane. Access on February, 2015. • EPA, (2014b). Réussir ensemble l’Éco-Vallée: le • Sepe, M. (2009), “Creative Urban Regeneration increasing in number of public spaces for a projet statégique et operationnel. Access on June, between Innovation, Identity and Sustainabi- better sociability and to use them as an urban 2015. lity”, International Journal of Sustainable deve- laboratory to find solutions against heat of • EPA,(2014c). Opération d’Intérêt National. Éco- lopment, 12 (2-3-4). Vallée Plaine du Var. Projet stratégique opération- • Sepe, M. (2013), "Urban history and cultural the Mediterranean zones. Four purposes of 12 nel. Partie 1: Diagnostic. Access on June, 2015 resources in urban regeneration: a case of cre- Écocitè projects in Nice Côte Azur regard a re- • EPA et Al, (2014). Metropole Nice Cote d’Azur. ative waterfront renewal", Planning Perspectives sponsible urbanisation – with, among others, Échangeur de la Baronne. Communes de La Gaude Journal, 28 (4), pp. 595-613 et Saint Laurent du Var. Access on June, 2015. • Sepe, M. (2014a), "Urban transformation,socio- intelligent urban management – a transport • Florida R. (2005), Cities and the creative class, economic regeneration and participation: two system with an increasing of tramways and Routledge, London, New York. case of creative urban regeneration", Internatio- development of electric cars system. • G&C_GARES & CONNEXIONS (2014). Nice- nal Journal of Urban Sustainable Development 6 Thiers, pole d'échanges multimodal. Access on (1), pp.20-41, Finally, among projects not regarding entire March, 2015. • Sepe, M. (2014b) "Preserving, reconstructing districts, but important for the regeneration • Landry C. (2000), The Creative City: A Toolkit for and enhancing the place identity: identifying Urban Innovators, Earthscan, UK. principles of urban sustainability with Pla- process, Gare du Sud is one of the most inter- • MARIE-CAROLINE BONNET-GALZY, (2014). ceMaker method", International Journal of Su- esting. The South station renovation – Gare Observatoire national de ZUS. Rapport 2014. Ac- stainable Planning and Development, 9 (2) pp. du Sud – in the Liberation neighbourhood, in city cess on April, 2015. 277–300 • MARTONE, A., SEPE, M. (2011) "The revitali- • Zukin, S. (1995), The Culture of Cities, Blackwell, centre of Nice, expects the Ecolabel environ- zation project on the banks of the Garonne: a Cambridge, MA. mentally sustainable certification. ING Real case of urban, economic and social regenera- Estate Developpement (Reichen e Robert & tion/ Il progetto di rivitalizzazione delle rive Sitografy della Garonna: un caso di rigenerazione urba- • www.acteursdelhabitat.com associate architects) images an high quality na, economica e sociale", Urbanistica n. 148 • www.anru.fr of public spaces achieved by ancient station • MATEO et Al, (2012). Nice Côte d’Azur labellisée • www.batiactu.com redevelopment (1892) and new architectures. ÉcoCité. Access on February,2015 • www.dailymotion.com • MNCA_ MÉTROPOLE NICE COTE D'AZUR, • www.dialogue-ecocite.fr The project aims to preserve and enhance the (2010). NICE. Ville verte de la Méditerranée. Plan • www.ecoblog.it historical sense of the area with some devices Local d’Urbanisme. Access on February, 2015. • www.ecovallee-cotedazur.com • MNCA& CGAM_ MÉTROPOLE NICE COTE • www.ecovallee-plaineduvar.fr such as a library included in the old building D'AZUR & CONSEIL GÉNÉRAL DES ALPES • www.gares-connexions.com (opened in 2013). Redefinition gives versatil- MARITIMES (2011). Rénovation Urbaine du • www.gralon.net ity to spaces permitting to use them for a lot quartier de l'Ariane. Access on March, 2015. • www.insee.fr • MNCA et Al _ MÉTROPOLE NICE COTE D'A- • www.lesopah.fr of activities in every hour of the day to reno- ZUR , 2012. Le quartier des Moulins se transforme! • www.wikipedia.org vate all neighbourhood. Bioclimatic design is Rénovation Urbaine des Moulins. Dossier de presse. • www.meet-in-nice.com provided by use of solar panels, roof gardens, Access on April, 2015. • www.nice.fr • MNCA et Al, (2015). METROPOLE NCA, DE- • www.nice-premium.com and a minimal impact of yards. PARTEMENT DES ALPES MARITIMES, COM- • www.nicecotedazur.org MUNE DE NICE. Enquête publique. 22-01-2015. • www.nicematin.com Access on June, 2015. • www.onzus.fr • MNCA et Al, (2015a). PNRQAD-Programme • www.outil2amenagement.certu.developpe- national de requalification des quartiers anciens ment-durable.gouv.fr Referrences degrades. Dossier de presse. Access on June, 2015. • www.projets-architecte-urbanisme.fr • ANRU et Al, (2007). Projet Urbaine du quartier de • MNCA et Al, (2015b). PRU du quartier de l’Aria- • www.pss-archi.eu l'Ariane. Phase I. Convention. Access on Februa- ne. Dossier de presse 2015. access on June, 2015. • www.sig.ville.gouv.fr ry, 2015. • MNCA& CGAM_ MÉTROPOLE NICE COTE • www.touringclub.it • Carta M. (2007), Creative city, LISt, Barcelona. D'AZUR & CONSEIL GÉNÉRAL DES ALPES • www.ville-melun.fr • CCNCA_ CONSEIL COMMUNAUTAIRE NCA, MARITIMES (2011). Rénovation Urbaine du (2009). Délibération n6-schéma-directeur du rése- quartier de l'Ariane. Access on March, 2015. au de transport urbain a l'horizon de 2030. Séance • MNCA & EPA _MÉTROPOLE NICE CÔTE D’A- du 4 décembre 2009. Access on February, 2015. ZUR & EPA, (2013a). Catalogue produits. Access • CNAPPC_ Consiglio Nazionale degli Archi- on February, 2015. tetti Pianificatori, paesaggisti e conservatori, • MNCA & EPA_MÉTROPOLE NICE CÔTE D’A- (2012). Piano Nazionale per la Rigenerazione Ur- ZUR & EPA, (2013b). Nice Méridia, an urban bana Sostenibile. Access on may, 2015. Technopolis for Nice Côte d’Azur. Access on Fe-

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 87 The Re-appropriation of acts of protest as sit ups, marches, riots and the straight roads who promoted consume occypations2 a number that confronts only and the dissociation of the functionalities Public Space as a passage with period of Italian May 1967-1977), to- which created cities-dormitories. to happiness gether with the theoretical approaches of The evolution of the (totalitarian) city Nicolas Mitzalis David Harvey and Alfredo Bonanno in a (Amoros, 2009) is in step with the evolu- commutation way in order to respond and, tion of the architectural/urban design, even at the same way, to formulate the seguent in different times in some cases. The latest, The unseparate spatial and social relations, question: How public urban space is mutated besides, are not equivalent between them. the interconnections between power and from bottom up practicals and more specifi- But the basic procedures of urban change space in the city and the relation that space cally: how the mutation of the urban space is and design coexist in the various realities have with the social stratification and in- a political fact that drives to the rupture, to and so we can detect “family similarities” equality, are basic for the spatial sciences the subversion and to happiness. in every historical time as even ‘deviances’. and essential on clearify the relation be- These ‘family similarities’ were formulated tween ‘happiness’ and urban space. If, accordingly Corboz, we can describe the usually by the theoretical planning models The particularity of contemporary Greece, marks/imprints of changes that took place who either were serving the interests of ev- who seems that of Italy’s, consists in the from the succession of generations by ob- ery dominant system or were aiming at the fact that the social groups don’t compete serving the layer of the modern urban am- establishment of new forms of power and for political power or -as Gramsci (Gramsci, bient as a palimpsest, nowadays, observing imposition, abolishing the old ones. 1971:57) was writing- for domination over the urban pattern of the cities we can de- Of course, I can’t agree either with the to- antagonistic groups, but principally for tect the intense presence of the dominion’s tal or the partial design’s de-politicization. public space. It’s an anti-hegemony of space plan. But, is there a city non authoritarian? Choay, for example, who sustains the clear whose importance increases if we consider The experience responds negatively, with separation between pro-urbanism and ur- that the wider institutional strategic of the the exception of Marinaleda in Andalusia banism, and the detachment of the latter repression includes labor parties and syndi- which, with its imperfectness, constitutes from the political attachment of the former cates and aims not only to suppress all forms an example that may derive from the fu- (Choay, 1973:27), overlooks/passes over the of protest but to implementate the desirable ture. Any historical retrospective on the fact that planning remains the authoritar- (for power) consent, the enemy of social city’s evolution can easily indicate the com- ian instrument of those (State, elite, privi- emancipation (joy) and a “quiet” homog- mon and diachronic characteristics that the leged social groups) who seek their spatial enized public space (sadness). dominent social groups have imposed on dominance/control over others. It is commonplace, but worth to be men- the shaping of urban space using architec- I will not agree either with the perception tioned, that city admits multiple readings ture auxiliary. The agora and the court, the of the ‘unintended planning’ (Jolly, 1985, and decodifications (Bourdieu, 1984, Cas- church and the government house, the pris- Torres, Llobet, etc) that the dominant class tells, 1996, Foucault, 1993, Gottdiener, 1994, on and the barracks were buildings-symbols incorporates to its repressive logic, ex post Harvey, 1973, Lefebvre,1991, Massey, 1984b, of the structures of the various powers with facto. Urban planning is the multifaceted Wright, 2000, Urry, 1996). piazzas being the main source of the public regulation of the changes (population, With the present paper I try to draw out how order. land-use, production of built space) that public space and its planning, from disci- In the Hellenistic city for example, the inflict environment and consequently the plinable instrument for the obligated1 mass- gymnasium, the palestra, the stadium, the living condition of all social groups of the es can be transmuted into a field of multiple hippodrome and even sudsidiary buildings city. A regulation that comply with a spe- forms of resistance, capable to mutate the as “korikeion” or “konistirion” materialize cific, predetermined strategy that contains enforced hierarchy and play a crucial part the militarization of the society, are inter- evaluations, hierarchies and priorities. In for the self-emancipation of the social per- connected with specific social status and other words, planning is not only a bundle son, i.e. his happiness. embed the propaganda of monarch’s/ty- of procedures but principally a political act As salient point I was based on the consider- rant’s/emperor’s worship. Their urbanistic (system of practises) that reflects spatially ation that history is an open field of forging/ composition, which was responsibility of the existence and the fuction of the various moulding and transformation of the social the parliament (which was constituted by dominant forms. From Haussmann’s grande relations through social conflicts that al- the elite), connected them to the sanctuar- croisée de Paris, to Soria y Mata’s Ciudad ways manifests on public space. Now, accord- ies, the ambries and the armouries, keep- Lineal and Howard’s ‘city-bank’ (Doglio, ing Feyerabend’s principle of autonomy, the ing specific prescriptions and ritual obliga- 1985:34) or even Le Corbusier’s Ville Con- facts subsists independently from the possi- tions. The same stands for the roman city temporaine, and New Urbanism’s neo- ble theories that can interpretate them only with the rational ortogonial articulation rationalism, urban space remains a ‘brutal by overlaying and not necessarily in contigu- of the imposed military camp/fort or for condensation of social relations’ (Lefebvre, ity with each other. Like so, I considerate the Renaissance city which presents itself as a 1991:227), reflecting power relations and a massive protests, marches, riots in Greece harmonic ensemble or even the modern in- place of dispute, challenge, domination and (between 2002-2012 in Greek occurred 3.244 terwar city with the powerful trade centre, subordination.

88 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Law School of Athens, occupation during the massive riots of December 2008, caused by the unjustifiable murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos by a police officer in Exarchia, Athens. The appropriation re-entepratate the notion of mis-justice

Joy, the passage to happiness the purpose of consummation, homogenized that the buildings embed with the urban space At this point delves Alfredo Bonanno’s notion and neutralized, a ‘dead pit’ (Amorós, 2009:8) and the other architectures. of joy which is –for him- the passage to hap- accompanied by the built-up area and its iso- piness. The latter is not a human invention as lated parts (a place of total disconnection). Harvey and the three spatial entities Nietzsche sustains, (Nietzche:1882) strongly The search for joy is therefore an act of will, a Harvey, combining materialism with dialec- connected with the Other (συναμφότερον), firm refusal of the fixed conditions of capital tics, makes a clear dissociation between abso- but a state of mind that needs a little of ‘mag- and its values, a vital impulse that search the op- lute, relative and relational space on the capi- ic’ according Giorgio Agamben (Agamben, posite to the alienation and madness of capital: talistic outline that always seek to discipline 2005). This ‘magic’ for Bonanno is Joy, the the playfulness of the appropriation of public geography to its logic: this of the conspicuous uncontrollable force and at the same time a space. In other words, a deliberated pursuit of accumulation. communitarian act that multiply the creative other values and needs, a struggle against capi- • Absolute space is a determined entity impulse of the subversion. tal and it’s delimited, neo-liberal, urban space. that possesses a structure which can be Presupposition for is that no real joy can be But how this struggle is achieved through used for the recognition and the indi- obtained from the rational mechanism of the appropriation of public space as the lat- viduation of limited phenomena that capitalist exploitation but only a ‘false con- ter is already defined from power’s planning happens at the frame that she ordains. It sciousness’ (Engels, 1893, Plamenatz, 1970:23, and the imposed architecture? The answer is the space of individuality, of the stabil- Gurevich et.al., 1982:26, Bleicher, 1980). Joy passes through David Harvey’s tripartition ity, of the eternal and usually is presented does not have fixed rules to catalogue it. Even notion of space. as pre-existed and fixed measure that can so, we must be able to desire joy (Bonanno, Time coexists with space in his general theo- be typically measured. Geometrically co- 1977:30). Otherwise we would be lost. Lost rization of relative space. The topological re- incide with the Euclidian space and con- in “the depths of any of the various recitals of lations, at the moment that are established, sequently with the cartographic space, the capitalist spectacle” (Ibidem) where pub- according Harvey, transform relative space in while socially is the space of private prop- lic space is reduced to a passage, used only for relational, as they intervene in the relations erty and other delimited territories.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 89 • When space is defined as absolute, prac- ed with matter, but not with the mode ture of the phenomena. P.e.: absolute space tically is treated as if it poses an entity re- of the theory of relativity where time can be suitable for matters of property sub- gardless the existence of the objects that was bending according the over passing divisions while relational space is appropri- embeds. It is perceived in this way, as an matter. He sustained that the relational ate for matters of public open space (Harvey, external resultant of materialistic things theory presuppose that space and time 2006:17-34). and relations, an unaltered container of are found in the process that determine As Harvey puts it, “there aren’t any philo- facts and procedures. However, as Leib- them. The processes so, don’t happen in sophical answers to philosophical questions. niz sustains arguably, has no meaning space but determine their own spatial There are human practices where we can (Rynasiewicz, 2000). Since absolute frame. The internal relations are the found the answers“(Harvey, 1973). space is supposed to exist between the foundation stone of the relational ap- material things, by definition doesn’t proach with the external influentions Neoliberal urban space and resistance exist. The distance maybe cannot exert to internalized in specific processes or Time is very important in relational space friction, something that only substances things through time. In this way, an and change becomes its essential component. can, but this would happen only if we event or a thing in space cannot be per- Marx was arguing that labor is the one who don’t examine absolute space separately ceived only with what exist at this spot. insert the concept of time in the world. And but on the outline of a relative and rela- It depends from everything happens this because the procedure of labor incorpo- tional approach. around it. A vast range of different influ- rates the three components of time: past, pres- • Relative space is the result of the rela- ences of the past, present and future are ent and future. In labor we take something tion between objects that exist only concentrated on to one specific spot (p.e. that already exists, that has a past and we because the objects exist and relate be- in a court chamber) to define the nature work on it (present) in order to transform it tween them. Space is relative in a double of this spot. into something else (future). sense: there are multiple geometries While Newton and Clarke were arguing that The same happens and for the conversion of that someone can choose and contem- a moment in time is the same everywhere, space in relational: the topological relations porary the spatial frame depends mainly as the spatial expanse of time doesn’t alters the moment they occur, with the intervention from what is related and from whom. the unity of space (Ariew, 2000), Leibniz, of specific social groups, transform relative Einstein, teached that is impossible to considering that space isn’t substance but space in relational as they intervene to the understand space independently from cognitive reality, sustained that space is rela- relations that buildings embed and have with time and introduced the term time- tional because time is an order of things and other architectures. Likewise, at the moment space in the vocabulary of many sci- sequences. For Leibniz, absolute space does that this appropriation of the unbuilt urban ences by substituting the words space not exist. Only relational space exist which space happens – either this space is public or and time. Relative space is defined as the is nothing else but distance and timing rela- urban voids – such space is transformed into distance between material objects, dis- tions between corpus and coexistent situa- a platform of reclaim and protest altering its tance between points of production and tions (Rynasiewicz, 1996:297-300). initial relativity that was determined from its markets. It is constituted from objects as In this way Leibniz adverts that an object ex- initial use. The same stands for the built space without them there is no space. More- ists only if embeds and represents relations which interacts with the adjacent unbuilt. So, over it doesn’t minus to these objects with other objects (Roberts, 2003:553-573). the moment that p.e. is taking place a march, and to their particular attributes but are Of course this doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t or a massive entrance in a road, transform (configured) co-reckoned the properties incur in space but would appertain or to one such space into a place of claim, altering its of the different surfaces on which the of the mentioned categories, or it wouldn’t initial relativity with the merchandise routes things are transported. It isn’t though have any sense. or the consuming use that was characterizing important the distance but the nature of This subdivision between absolute, relative it. The same issues for open plazas. The impor- the surface on which people are moving and relational space, on which Harvey re- tance of the free open spaces is above those of and the made of the required energy for lies on, isn’t used in order to give ontological events in closed spaces (absolute space) be- this movement. answers to the question of what space-time cause through this visual event are amplified • The relational concept of space is usu- is. Space can be one of these categories or those who are related with the action. The ally identified with the name of Leibniz become all of them contemporarily. The relative space though, p.e. of a plaza which who reacted to the absolute conception property relations, for example, create abso- may represent the wealthiest social groups, is of space-time (Harvey, 1996) and ob- lute spaces in which the monopoly operates. also relational according the use of buildings jected to the Newtonian visual which The movement of people, goods, services and (the use of whom determines and the adjacent supported that the space’s reality pre- information happens in a relative place be- public soace). With the inrush of the protest- exists of the things and that space and cause requires money, energy and the tran- ers the correlations change. The appropria- time exist of their own as neutral hold- scendence of distance, while relational space tion of space causes the appropriation of the ers independently from what is in them become important for the social practice in relational space and of the surraround build- (Newton & Cohen, 1999). He sustained the relation of the house let. The decision for ings, even for the limited chronically period contrarily, that space was always relat- the use of each concept depends from the na- of the occasion’s length and is an action of

90 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue transforming the hierarchy and the meaning park, into a place of personal expression and Furthermore, I must stress the fact that while of urban space in for the protesters. In that living as it hosts at night homeless. Is the evi- in the non-capitalistic societies of all kinds the way is carried through the urban space the dence of the unpredictable dynamic that the classification of time socially was never sepa- desirable message-request. social process acquire when they evade from rated from the essence of the social activities, Characteristic paradigm is Bunker Hill the institutional prosecution. The political ut- under capitalism time seems to be separated (Flusty, 1996:334-346), an area in Los Angeles terance that they synthesize is social and with from matter creating the idea of vacuum time. with towers of offices, hotels and habitations clear anti-authoritarian characteristics. They In this way, time, as a clear duration, discon- of high-payed company staff that crouch contest the property right of the state and nected from the materiality of the experience, around a large public space who remains companies on nature and city by occupying is perceived as real, ”objective” time, as money. “empty” all day except the hour of the lunch the last one. The free space presupposes the We must understand that the effective time break. This piazza, even though is public, sequent reasoning: I can live everywhere, but management is vital in capitalistic concur- seems to address only to the 5.000 wealthy in- I can live nowhere if I can’t live in this space rence independently from what is produced, habitants of the around buildings and not to (Skiftoulis, 2006:14). and that the same logic is applied in space. In the Mexican and Latin youth who come from Returning to the process of space conversion this way, places even they have a different val- the overcrowded eastern and western neigh- into relational, the city, perceived as architec- ue of use -habitation, labor, entertainment-, borhoods that like to skateboarding there ture, as aggregation of architectures possesses as products are equated between them ac- as the partial closeness of this space and its two basic constants: housing and artifacts. cording the values that can be made out from split-levels provide an ideal skate park. In the The artifact as a constant and primary city’s these different activities. Terrific is the Rober- periphery the only places suitable for skating element is related dialectally with its develop- to Saviano’s description in his book Gomorra are the old industries that are demolished. ment process, a fact important for the deter- of the modification of the houses which are However, the dust and the sand are enemies of mination of the hierarchical map of powers adjacent the port of Napoli into storehouses skating as they corrode the wheel joints. The in urban space. So, I must stress that the road for the more effective management of space protests were focusing on the noise pollution choice of a march is related directly with the based on profit: and the black marks that the skates leave at symbolic space. In buildings as Prefecture, the “…They removed everything in order to free space. the flagging and as a result a private compa- Court house, the Embassy and generally in In the houses shouldn’t be anything: nor closets nor ny charged to surveil the space. The skaters, the primary city elements, the perceptional beds, neither paintings, nor even walls. There should used of the prohibitions just from the eighties and symbolic spaces are coinciding. The opti- be only space, space for the packages, space for the when architects on their try to cut them off cal image of the protesters constitutes prac- immense cart closets, space for the merchandise. […] were emplacing stanchions on the benches or tically for its receivers an experience, a fact Every house was transformed into a deposit without were coursing the cement surfaces of the pills, that reflects the problems of the influenced- walls. I am not capable to explain how the building decided to adopt the tactics of the “pavement protesters and which can become a potential in which I was working was remaining on its feet. commando” reclaiming (especially the night element of creation of urban uniqueness. Many times we were demolishing walls knowing hours) the only space they had. Are changing in this way the usual activities that were structural elements. However the space Even though the skater behavior is rather a and as a result the primary city elements and was necessary for the merchandise and against the play (Blake, 2001) doesn’t desist criticizing many times is achieved the claimed request. conservation of the products there isn’t any cement city’s architectures on their everyday use, Let’s not forget the labor acquisitions and equilibrium that can be kept. […] Rented buildings. treating urban space as an ocean of elements rights that were gained in the road even from Without foundations. Garages that were commu- like steps or curtain walls where they could interwar years or the massive worldwide nicating, basements full up to the ceiling with mer- use for surfing. movements against G8 and Iraq’s war. These chandise. No one was daring to protest. Sian had Skaters practically oppose to the stable or na- claims are expressed clearly by the routes of paied them all. Rent and compensation for the un- tive meaning of architecture and feel free to the marches that are specific, are following necessary demolitions. Thousands of packages were reinterpretate it, reversing social relations central axis and are focusing or to reclaiming ascending in a lift that has become elevator. A cage and meanings and creating a kind of hetero- poles (habitations of politicians, public build- of steel, nailed in the buildings in a continuing move- topic or better relational spaces. ings) or in crouched poles (labor centers, in- ment”. (Saviano, 2008:24-26). Skaters don’t alter only the existent mean- dustries, theatres and halls and plazas) always Capitalism tries to adjust the geographies to ing of spaces but intromit a specific meaning in the formed spatial hierarchies. his needs, in other words to the accumulation: there where before was nothing. A character- The interaction between social practice and gradual abolition of space in order to accelerate istic paradigm is Paranoid Park at Portland urban space mutates the last as the power of the circle of capital flow through infrastruc- which became film from Gus Van Sant. The the social groups is expressed collectively in tures and exploit the productive advantages space under an elevated stradal node, next to the heart of the capital which according Har- through the construction of infrastructures train rails, a non-space, a space that doesn’t vey, has a determined role in the production like ports, airports, towns, industries. At the appertain neither to the heterotopias of crisis of space. So, with the diverse use and colloca- same time creates geography of social infra- nor to the deviant heterotopias of Foucault, tion are altered the factual concepts and the structures that include government systems an urban residue, has been transformed from definitions of space and time made by the for abating the risk, intensify exchange and sta- its own users into a self-managed, free skating dominant capitalistic policy. bilize the labor relations.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 91 As Jean-Francois Tribillon, was writing in the into an absolute space who will continue the sovranity is impugned seriously in public neoliberate city (Tribillon, 2003): conversion of the Fokionos Negri’s pedestrian space. The big private malls, the eschewing 1. Urban space is constituted by equitant road into a space for consume with cafeterias on putting benches in public spaces and pla- markets (real estate market, housing on either sides. The public space di front of zas, the cameras that surveil streets and side- market, labor market, capital or services the building acquires a different substantial- ways, are part of this revancistic policy. (Bod- market) collective services (transports, ity and esthetically as symbolically, and in nár, 2006:16-9). In this way, the economically police, administration) and urban rules. combination with agora’s building ensembles upper classes even they can’t exercise incon- 2. The social groups are collocated in urban a system of meaning as is differentiated from testable domination on the urban space, do space, in the places that are been conced- a basic external area. have the accoutrements for limitating their ed to them by the socioeconomic dynam- The tendency for privatization of the public dependence from public space. Their mov- ic or by the exploit and the oppression spaces, and the measures for their surveillance ing out derives mainly from their belief for procedures that are submitted to. can be seen as another expression of politics public space which is considered dangerous, 3. The urban space is sparsed by infrastruc- of exclusion in urban space. In USA, the first annoying and uncontrollable and conse- tures of the global economy: headquar- teacher, the measures of reduced liberties and quently as an expense that aggravates them ters of big companies, hotel complexes, public space are characteristic: According a re- (Bodnar, 2001; Ellin&Blakely, 1997:13; Flusty, international bank groups, all feuds of search (National Coalition for the Homeless, 1997:48-52). In accordance with the above is global economy that constitute a city in 2006) in 224 USA cities revealed that the 39% the murder in Exarhia’s area in central Ath- the city. Autonomous and prepotented. of them banned vagrancy in specific public ens of the young boy by a police officer, a ten- So, a power increasingly concentrated and spaces while the 16% banned it totally. Cit- tative of penalization urban space through globalized is settled on the selected places ies like Seattle have even modificated urban the terrorization of its users and the massive of the world cities. The concretization of the laws in order to facilitate police in excluding, riot that followed. neoliberal model transform urban space into with the pretest of deviancy, people from pub- In response of the state withdrawal from an arena of contrasts and antithesis for the lic and private spaces. Elsewhere, judges and public sphere and the tend of promoting “right for the city”, the right of the citizens to authorities demand from specific categories politics in for the economic upper classes, appropriate and consume collective spaces. of citizens to stay away from specific areas of the resistances and the urban movements Is the field in which is shaped the urban con- high risk in order to combat the rising sale of emerge putting the frame for specific modes science, the way that people understand their alcohol drinks while in other neighborhoods of comprehension, interpretation and re- relation with space and the other people. Phe- is forbidden the entrance as they are char- claim of space throughout a variety of strat- nomenically transparent, according Lefebvre, acterized as “drug-areas”, “Stay Out of Drug egies that include the use of jurisprudential this space has nothing innocent (Lefebvre, Area” (SODA) or “Stay Out of Areas of Prosti- tools and activist interventions. 1977:305). Is also a product, in accordance to tution” (SOAP) (Davis, 2008:45-50). While many (Chatterton, 2002:1–7) qualify the interests and the aspirations of the “pro- The violation laws are spread out not only to squatting, as a collective and creative use of ductors”. A product of the monuments and the mode, like camping, sprawl of shelters the urban space in a way that gives the possi- architectures that are erected for surveilling made of cartboxes, sitting and lying on public bility for radical social change, others (Harvey, and intimidating. spaces (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2001) insist to the urgent need of the social The unbuilt, practically seeks a spatial code 2006:10) but even to time. For example there movements to address too people with wider different from the dominant one through ur- are prohibitions for people while moving in politics. And this is possible as it shows the ex- ban events that are focusing on the knocking spaces for long time periods. This happen periment in Argentina imprinted in the film down the invisible barriers, for example, be- since the person is informed through writen The Take, 2006, by Avi Lewis and Naomi Klein. tween private and public. Thus, the event of messages and sound forewarnings. The next The children of former industrial workers the occupation of a building, beyond the great stage is the arrest. In Seattle, someone can and employees that were eating before at the importance that has for the building itself be arrested if is found after 11p.m. in a park USA’s fast-foods now were searching in the with the alteration of its initial use and shape as all parks are closing this hour, or i.e. in garbage as their parents were trapped in the –like p.e. the banner of a protest that covers Hawaii where is forbidden to the homeless unemployment as many industries were clos- the face of a building and tries metaphorically stay in beaches or parks. Moreover, the legis- ing up. With the 50% of the population under to recant the building as a symbol of power– lation authorizes police to displace immedi- the poverty limit, a new economy emerged in operates and to the adjacent unbuilt one, that ately persons that have committed small law Argentina, a result of the National Movement occupies informally. Such an example is Kip- violations as littering or i.e. possession of an of Occupied Factories. Workers with the mo- seli’s Agora in Athens where was for 7 years a open bottle of alcohol and to forbidden the tive: Occupy-Resist-Produce, occupied the aban- close and abandoned space. With its occupisa- entrance for time periods that can be even a doned industrial spaces and refunctioned tion and self management functions as “open whole year. them without bosses applying the principle Kipseli’s Agora” used not only for alternative The above, in combination with the emer- of participatory democracy by transforming political and cultural events, but also as an gence of the private gated communities is a them in public spaces. The result: enterprises objection to the plans of its gentrification that clear expression of the economic powerful like the ceramic factory Zanok with 300 work- want to transform her into a close bar-café, social classes and the acceptance that their ers, Brukman industry with 58 modistes, the

92 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Communications Institute or Medrano clin- the reinvention of the public spaces and the is focused partly on the builting up of ic to work regurarly. Exactly the same hap- auto-organization. All these article a “militant the skills of negotiation, concession and pened in northern Greece in 2011, with the particularity” that happens where the ideals redression of the entrenching between recuperated self-managed chemical factory are forged by the experience of solidarity in a winners and losers. Moreover, emphases VIOME in Thessaloniki who still struggles place and have the power to be generalisized to the importance of the recognition of to keep its autonomy. and function as a model for a new society that the many value systems that is on the With the same logic, the movements of will benefice the whole humanity. Is what stake between city’s spaces and times. housing squatting in Amsterdam, Berlin and David Harvey calls as “global ambition”. Para- Planners must not only facilitate the rec- London during ‘80’s, and in Italy, Spain, Ger- phrasing Latouche, the purpose isn’t the cre- ognition of all these but must use their many and especially Greece (with hundrends ation of some kind of oasis in the urban desert design to build a new terrain of relational squats) in the last 15 years, used the aban- but the progressive expansion of the network sources always related with other rela- doned houses -kept in such condition for spec- of healthy free spaces in order to fertilize the tional networks. ulation purposes-, in order to respond with Generic City’s desert. Moreover, as Zygmunt An incurraging paradigm is the study Metro self-management and direct participation to Bauman was writing, “the public spaces are Cable of the Urban Think Tank team, at the the needs for housing and autonomy. Such a the critical points where the future of urban- poverty neighborhoods of Barrio San Augus- stance showed the path to a realistic escape: ism and of our convivation will be adjudicat- tin in Caracas that managed to connect more The one of confrontation with the logic of the ed” (Bauman, 2005:57). than 40.000 people with metro network by capitalistic market through the occupation of More is tottered the systemic character of the the design of an aerial transport system. In the economic most appealing buildings and predominant values more radical will be the contrary to other politics that were propos- the concretization of a solution that neither reconstruction and the orientation to a de- ing the creation of roads passing through state nor the market was in grade to give. accretion society (Latouche, 2008: 224, 251). Barrio by demolishing numerous favelas, The encroaching can become an effective me- In this effort, urbanism must reunite the lost this intervention accepted the given reality dium for revealing the historic and ephemer- city’s triadic tangibility: urbs, civitas and po- of the deviant constructions and incorporat- al nature of the systemic laws. Evokes in this lis, in other words, its natural and functional ed them to the city. The study recognized the way the possibility to transform and produce structure, the society and politics. qualities of the urban space and worked with situations “beyond place”, challenging the However, the relational planning is possible them and not against them. Similar inter- predetermined spatial order and the mode of when is emphasized by four interrelation vention is the Favela-Bairro project in Rio de power’s apportionment. points that can translate into direct proposals Janeiro, made by Mario Jáuregui and Flavio With the same way the power of the un- for the planning practice: Ferreira and was focused on 200 communi- built space challenges authority who tries • Fist: Planning must treat relations and ties with over 2.000.000 people ameliorating to control it by surveillance or by building procedures more than objects and the infrastructures the public spaces and set- it. As a result the built, under specific condi- shapes. Emphasis must be made to the ting the basis for their incorporation to the tions can act as an instrument of gentrifica- embodiment of the multiple differences rest of the city fabric without marginalizat- tion and imposition. –without altering them– with ploural ing the collective identities. and culturally sensitive estimation of the In conclusion, I must stress the fact that the Epilogue. Reterritorialization and relation between social procedure and ur- unbuilt in combination with the relational Relational planning ban shape. space can become the “space of hope” (Har- In front of the “local devouring” of the “cos- • Second: the planning practice must stress vey, 2000), the beginning for city’s retrieval as mopolis”, in other words the bulimia of a the multiple renditions of time-space. a common good. (Salzano, 2008). Common, concentrate urban model that devours space This necessitates particular attention in means to belong to more than one people is imperative for us to work for a place’s re- the politics’ representation and the time- related by identity and solidarity. Means that birth and a re-territorialization (Magnani, period’s expression. the sharing of a common plan and manage- 2003:38) that leeds to happiness. The last • Third: Planning must represent places as ment of the common good satisfies an im- one starts when is ripristinated the complex multiple levels of relational products and portante collective need. For all the above is dimension (i.e. the environmental and terri- sources that inevitably create a distinct needed, as Harvey was writing, “the sclerosis torial systems) that the territory possess as a geometry of powers on the territory. It of our cities not to expand in our brains”. (Har- vital subject. We must react to this “lobotomy must be recognized that the preference of vey, 1993:18). We must resist to the multiple of local spirit” (La Cecla, 2002) whith which a space-time experience can undermine degenerated utopias –of the malls or those of power signals the fracture with the vital en- other interests, equally important but the commercialized utopias of the New Ur- vironment. with minor power. banism’s suburbs– and realize that the liberal However, as it is impossible to bring down • Finally, planning must recognize the way collective urban space isn’t solely a platform the capital’s dominium with heads on, we that the relations within and through of protest or rights reclaim, but the field for have at least the obligation to show our dis- the multiple levels of the geometry of creation of our rights. agreement. The crucial issue therefore is the power negotiate via communication and defense of the unbuilt, the reappropriation or interpretation. In this way the attention

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 93 Referrences • Magnani A., 2003, La Project local, Mardaga, Spri- • Agamben, G., 2005, Profanazioni, Ed. Nottetempo mon Taif Municipality’s Steps • Amorós, M., 2009, La Città Totalitaria, Nautilus, • Massey D., ‘Philosophy and Politics of Spatiali- for Happier, Healthier and Torino ty: Some Considerations’, in: Power-Geometries • Ariew, R., G. W., 2000, Leibniz and Samuel Clarke. and the Politics of Space-Time. Heidelberg: De- Livable Communities: The Correspondence, Hackett partment of Geography, University of Heidel- Case of Al Hada and Ash- • Bauman Z., 2005, Fiducia e paura nella città, Bru- berg, 1999, pp.27-42. no Mondadori. • Massey D., 1984, Spatial Divisions of Labor, Mac- Shafa, Saudi Arabia • -Blake A., “Skateboarding, Space and the City: Millan. by Ian Borden. The punks who ambushed capi- • Massey D., “Introduction: geography matters”. Hisham Mortada, Mohammed talism”, Independent, 27/6/2001. In: Geography matters! A reader, 1-11, Massey D., • Bleicher, J., 1980, Contemporary hermeneutics: Allen J., (eds). Cambridge: Cambridge Univer- Almokharrij hermeneutics as method, philosophy, and critique, sity Press, 1984. Routledge • Milligan M., ‘Interactional Past and Potential: • Bodnár, J., “Mean Streets, Neat Malls: Commer- The Social Construction of Place’, Symbolic Inte- cialization, Privatization and the Politics of raction, 21, 1998, pp.1–33. Introduction Public Space” in: AAASS National Convention, • Newton, I., Cohen, I.B., The Principia: Mathemati- Taif, “Eden of Arabia” or “The Desert’s oa- Washington DC, Nov. 2006, pp.16-9. cal Principles of Natural Philosophy, I. B. Cohen and • Bonanno, A.M., 1977, Armed Joy, Ed. Anarchismo. A. M. Whitman (trans.), London: University of sis” is one of the main tourist attractions in • Bourdieu P., Distinction: A social critique of the jud- California Press, 1999. the Arab Peninsula. In Taif, the most dis- gement of taste, (London, 1984). • Nietzsche, Fr., The Gay Science, 1882, Cambridge tinguished areas are Al-Hada and Ash-Shafa • Castells Μ., The rise of the network society, (Oxford: University Press, 2001 Blackwell, 1996). • Plamenatz, J., 1970, Ideology, Macmillan. sites, which are considered the crown jewel • Chatterton P., 2002: ‘Squatting is still legal, ne- • Roberts, J. T., “Leibniz on Force and Absolu- of Saudi Arabia, due to their unique diverse cessary and free’: A brief intervention in the te Motion,” in: Philosophy of Science, 70, 2003, landscape & natural environment, as both corporate city, Antipode, 3, 4:1–7. pp.553-573. • Davis M., 2008, Beyond Blade Runner, Futura • Rynasiewicz, R., 2000, “On the Distinction are mountainous, with magnificent scen- • Doglio, C., 1985, La città giardino, Gangemi between Absolute and Relative Motion,” Philo- eries, and unprecedented natural features • Ellin N., Blakely E.J., 1997, Architecture of Fear, sophy of Science, 67: 70-93. such as; water falls, valleys and green sided Princeton Architectural Press. • –––, “Absolute Versus Relational Space-Time: • Engels letter to Franz Mehring, 14/7/1893, https:// An Outmoded Debate?,” στο: Journal of Philoso- mountains. These areas are famous as well www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1893/ phy, 93, 1996, pp.279-306. for their Pink roses, orchards and farms of letters/93_07_14.htm, • Saviano R., 2008, Gomorra, Ed.Pataki. • Flusty St., ‘Thrashing Downtown: Play as resi- • Skiftoulis N., «Athens and the passages», Bab- grapes, pomegranate, figs, honey, as - unlike stance to the spatial and representational re- ylonia newspaper, Thessaloniki, 2006. the rest of Saudi Arabia Taif is famous of its gulation of Los Angeles’ in: The spaces of postmo- • -ribillon J-F., 2003, L’urbanisme, Que sais-je. low temperatures and rain, and thus it is a dernity, M.J.Dear, S.Flusty (editors), Blackwell • Urry, J., “The Sociology of Space and Time”, in: Publishers. Turner, B.S., (Ed.), 1996, Blackwell Companion to resort destination for thousands. These sites • Foucault M., «Of other spaces: utopias and Social Theory, Blackwell Publishers are the most famous destinations for Saudi heterotopias», in: J.Ockman (Ed.), Architecture • Salzano Ε., ‘La città come bene comune’, lectu- citizens and a source of national pride and Culture 1943-1968: a Documentary Anthology, Riz- re on the international seminar: “Quale futuro sce- zoli, 1993, e solidale?”, European Social Forum, Malmo, 22/11/2006. 19/11/2008. Happiness pillars, factors and influences • Gottdiener M., 1994, The Social Production of Ur- • Wright T., «New Urban Spaces and Cultural ban Space, University of Texas Press. Representations: Social Imaginaries, Social- Several scholars have agreed that our choices • Gramsci, A., 1971, Selection from the Prison Notebo- physical Space, and Homelessness», in: R. of values, purpose, support, health and oks, International Publishers, New York. Hutchison (Ed.), Constructions of Urban Space In • Gurevitch, T.M.,Bennett, Curran, J., Woollacott, Research in Urban Sociology. Vol. 5, 2000, pp.23– wellbeing, gratitude and balance are the J., 1982, Culture, Society and the Media, Methuen 58. Stamford: CT: JAI Press. main factors that influence the resultant • Harvey D., “The Political Economy of Public happiness, which will never come to those space” in: Setha Low, Neil Smith (eds.), 2006, The Politics of Public Space, (New York, London: who do not appreciate what they already Routledge, 2006). have. Happiness pillars are physical, mental, • Harvey, D., 2001, Spaces of Capital. Towards a Cri- emotional, moral and spiritual. tical Geography, Edinburgh University Press. • Harvey, D., 1996, Justice, Nature and the Geo- Links between wellbeing and environmen- graphy of Difference, Blackwell, Cambridge, MA. tal factors are of growing interest in psychol- • Harvey, D., 2000, Spaces of hope, Edinburgh Uni- ogy, health, conservation, economics, and versity Press. • Harvey, D., “Cities of Dreams”, Guardian, more widely, there is a growing evidence 15/10/1993, p.18. that green or natural environments are • Harvey, D., 1973, Social Justice and the City, Edward Arnold. positive for physical and mental health and • Joly, R., 1985, La Ville et la civilisation urbaine, Edi- wellbeing and therefore for One's happiness. tions Sociales La Dispute, Ed.Sichroni Epoxi There are at least three reasons for thinking • La Cecla F., 2002, Le Malentendu, Ed.Ballard. • Laclau E., 1990, New Reflections on the Revolution of that experiences of natural environments Our Time, Verso. will be positively related to health, wellbe- • Latouche S., 2008, The bet of the décroissance, ing and happiness. The First of them is, there Ed.Vanias/Perasmata. • Lefebvre H., 1991, The production of space, appear to be direct correlation by which Blackwell. such experiences affect the nervous system, • Lefebvre H., 1997, Right to the City, Ed.Papazisi. bringing about stress reduction and restora-

94 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue tion of attention, Secondly, Mackerron and and Abandoned Areas on Residential Well- of views Mourato (2013) argue that natural environ- Being", for the German Socio-Economic Pan- • Do urban and landscape project or a ments may be lower in environmental ‘bads’ el, Krekel, Kolbe, and Wüstemann, (2015), public space influence the perception of that have significant negative impacts on reported that coverage of and even more happiness or is it only factors and condi- both physical and mental wellbeing, which proximity to greens is significantly positions such as climate, mood, etc. in turn could affect happiness. They add tively associated, whereas proximity to and • What are the urban projects in develop- that adverse health effects of noise and air even more coverage of abandoned areas is ment, which are aimed at reaching hap- pollution are well documented. According significantly negatively associated with life piness? to Passchier-Vermeer and Passchier (quoted satisfaction, both of which is diminishing in • What are the urban experiences where in Mackerron & Mourato, 2013), it has been the amount of the respective area, whereby happiness can be recognized? proved that chronic traffic noise exposure in mental and physical health, in particular • What are the happier cities characteris- urban environments can cause many severe social functioning, bodily pain, and physi- tics and how to be achieved? negativities such as; sleep disturbance, hear- cal functioning, are important transmission • If urban happiness is achieved, how ing impairment, tinnitus, and raised stress mechanisms. The effects are strongest for could be managed and attained? levels, leading to high blood pressure, coro- residents, who are older, nary heart disease, stroke, and possibly im- While Nozhnitskiy (2014) reports that peo- Bravo (2012) sums that public happiness is mune system and birth defects. Thirdly, natu- ple are happier in places where there is great- no longer the result of the emotional impact ral environments might increase happiness er possibility of social exchange or interac- of a widespread beauty, but the discovery by facilitating and encouraging cultural and tion and less likelihood of noise, crowds, and of new meanings and values of the city as a psychological reasons through behaviors pollution. In their research on relationship unique urban whole, both historic and sub- that are physically and mentally beneficial, between happiness and pride, Balducci, and urban, together with not predictable social including physical exercise, recreation and Checchi (2007) report that growth must forms of interaction between people. social interaction. connect the expectations of economic development with those of the quality of the Benefits and values of urban green spaces Happiness impacts environment, the social cohesion and the Kafafy (2010) and Green Scotland (2008) In her research, O’Brien (2007) raised the cultural vitality of the city, which means have classified benefits of urban green space important issue of the different approaches that more daring policies addressing vari- to the following: to happiness, as currently, public happiness ous low-scoring dimensions of the quality of 1. Environmental benefits, such as enhanc- may be an essential intention of many poli- urban life could result in citizens still proud ing urban climate, improving air qual- ticians and planners, but it is not explicit. but happier. ity, enhancing the hydrology and water Consequently, the question of whose view of drainage, clean up contaminants (phy- happiness is driving the vision for our cities Many scholars pointed to the important is- toremediation), noise abatement and tends to be unexamined. There is no doubt sue for whom are we designing for, pointing enhancing the biodiversity and wildlife. that happiness is the choice of all people, to the bitter fact that in our contemporary 2. Economic benefits, such as the positive however this choice requires effort at times. car-dominated world most of the studies, de- impact on property values, improved O’Brien introduces a European study for the velopments and concentration are oriented business, combating sprawl, energy evoked feelings in natural urban areas. It to cars and car users, a case that Taif Munici- saving (cooling buildings in summer, was reported that 83% felt relaxed, 65.6% pality tries to avoid as it is keen to catering to warming them in winter), food produc- felt more connected to their selves, 63% felt the “happiness” of urban communities and tion and attracting tourism. connected to nature, 61.6% felt energized, citizens not only for car driver, which is un- 3. Social & cultural benefits, such as pro- 58% felt safe, 55.7% felt at home and 50% fortunately not the case in most of the happi- moting neighborliness, places for youth felt connected with other people, and this ness research and studies, local and national and children interaction and play, high proves that engaging with natural areas policy makers should consider happiness in cultural value, provide meaningful out- provokes positive attitudes for users, as one policy and practice. door environmental educational activi- woman of the interviewees reported “I feel As urban environments are increasingly ties and the ideological and spiritual im- like a good mom, hopeful for my son’s future” designed to be distinctive, trying to create portance and symbolic meanings. (O’Brien, 2007:13). memorable sensory experiences and give 4. Human health and recreation benefits, O’Brien, introduced the sustainable happi- happiness for the people who use them, the such as the impact of urban green space ness terminology in 2007, which is a concept Municipality's main aim is being devoted to on physical and mental health, the chil- that has the potential to enhance urban plan- putting happiness into the lives of every citi- dren's need for green space as a playing, ning policies by raising the profile of happi- zen and visitor of Al-Hada and Ash-Shafa ar- exercising and discovering arena and ness and well-being, but linked to sustain- eas in doing so the municipality works hard the need for green spaces for its high rec- ability. to identify and discover the following: reational value. In their up to date research "The Greener, • Factors which influence happiness from 5. Safety and security benefits, such as The Happier? The Effects of Urban Green the urban and/or socio-economic point green space influence in lessening ag-

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 95 gression and violent behavior, providing for Alhada and Ash-shafa", produced in 2014, for treatment. It was produced in 2014 to set defensible spaces, reducing domestic and considered to be a pioneer study, and an a robust model to be followed. violence and fear of crime, trees plant- important step to be followed by other steps ing strips and medians positive role in towards livable cities enhancing road visibility and reducing Municipal principles for health and glare, reduces accidents probability. happiness 6. Aesthetics benefits, such as variety of Location 1. Cultural heritage color, canopy and size providing differ- AlHada & Ash-Shafa are small villages under The area of Alhada and Ash-Shafa is rich ent usages, screening unnecessary fea- the Municipality of Taif in Mecca Province with heritage locations and intangible attri- tures and acting as a visual background. of Saudi Arabia at an elevation of 2,200 m butes that were inherited from past genera- (Alhada) and 2,400 m (Ash-shafa) in average, tions. The Municipality is keen to preserve Municipality’s vision, mission and with a population of Taif: 524.273 inhabit- and pass it to future generations. approach ants, Alhada: 25000 inhabitants, Ash-shafa: 2. Parks & Open Space Municipality of Taif took the responsibil- 8000 inhabitants according to the 2004 cen- Associated with health and wellbeing, where ity of preserving the natural environment sus. more walking and exercising are encour- of Alhada and Ash-shafa and enhancing the Both sites are primer destination for recre- aged. The targeted open space network is an quality of life and the built environment, to- ation and tourism and are famous for their integral part of the urban Tissue with a vari- gether with rising the awareness and devel- unique natural qualities and landscape (Fig. ety of safe and attractive spaces that vary in oping local residents through active public 1). size, form and function. participation and interaction with residents Alhada is a mountainous resort village with 3. Eco-friendly developments (villagers) who ultimately live there to serve some hotels and theme parks that make it a Eco-friendly constructions are encouraged tourists, by renting houses and hotels, work- national tourist attraction. It is also famous as a responsible approach for the area's de- ing in restaurants and cafés, farming land for agricultural land that produces apricots, velopment, achieved mainly by using local and selling products. figs, peaches, grapes & pomegranates in ad- materials in construction. Vision dition to roses that are produced in large 4. Ecotourism & ecologies Balancing the supply and demand for urban quantities to be utilized in the extraction of Use of local products and materials are re- resorts and facilities with respect to natu- essential oils and the rose water, which Taif turned to the public real Involvement of lo- ral resources by thorough understanding of is world famous of. cal communities, where profits composting what we possess, consume and want for a Ash-shafa is located south of the city of Taif, and recycling. Various waste management happy future. about 2400 meters above the sea level. It is schemes are also included. Mission famous of the mountain bee honey, excel- 5- Landscape & Greenways Alhada and Ash-shafa to be models for liv- lent figs and roses. Ash-shafa is also famous The area of study possesses high landscape able, happy and healthy practices, where of its public parks, gardens and aesthetic for- potentials differing in function and size, heritage preservation, integrates with na- mations. It is relatively smaller in size than such as natural green corridors, visual dis- ture, and adopting sustainable tourism and Alhada. tinctive sites, and historical sites. It just ecotourism for such distinguished destina- needs the creation of a Comprehensive gre- tions. Analyzing the existing situation enways network. Approach Visual pollution resulted from unintention- 6- Conservation of the Environment The municipality believes that there is no al abuse of nature. Setting aside areas as naturel reserves, moun- way to happiness; as happiness is the way, • Lack of public awareness of the value tains, historic sites, or other conservation ar- and that Happiness will never come to those and importance of integration with en- eas. who do not appreciate what they already vironment. 7- Sustainable, equitable Development have, and it is not how much we have, but • Lack of comprehensive vision for urban Different uses, such as housing, resorts, how much we enjoy that makes happiness planning, urban design, landscape and shops, schools, offices, open spaces and ca- and difference. Therefore, it keeps an eye on architecture guidelines. fes. Complement each other, to create a liv- the urban environment enhancement proj- • Absence of identity and character. The able community. The Municipality targets ects in order to enrich the quality of life of deficiency of some regulations and leg- the creation of communities with a range of citizens. islations. housing sizes, styles and densities. The Municipality of Taif's main aim is As a reaction to face these issues, Taif Mu- 8- Connectivity & Accessibility achieving a sustainable livable healthy com- nicipality launched a 12 principles guide Both sites of Alhada and Ash-Shafa are munity that serves next generation and for HAPPY LIVABLE cities to be followed in mountainous, thus the connectivity and ac- guarantees better future. The actions started directing future developments and assessing cessibility plays a vital role in their develop- years ago, with many steps, where the latest existing conditions, and that was applied on ing plans. The Municipality is keen to ease is the most distinguished of the report "Vi- both Alhada and Ash-shafa areas, and a thor- connectivity and linkage of the different ac- sual Pollution Guidelines: A Manual Book ough study for the visual pollution and ways tivities.

96 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Natural landscape character and quality in AlHada and Ash-Shafa

9- Health & Wellbeing Good governance is about the processes for pologies of landmarks, and creating a well- As health is pivotal in achieving happiness, making and implementing decisions, shar- designed visual sequence using landmarks the Municipality introduced a framework ing several characteristics. All have a posi- to emphasize the local identity of place and to improve the health and wellbeing of the tive effect on various aspects of local govern- to enhance the natural environment domi- population to help them stay healthy and ment including consultation policies and nance over the built environment. Land- well. practices, meeting procedures, service qual- marks recommended to emerge from local 10 - Public participation ity protocols, councilor and officer conduct, culture, and provide deeply rooted symbol- The targeted development involves local role clarification and good working relation- ism while using local materials and colors. residents (villagers) who make their living ships, which all seek the citizen’s happiness 3. Clusters: from the place, must be well benefited and and wellbeing. Work in providing clusters with identity, well enrolled in every step of the develop- that are gathered in a distinguished special ment process. Municipality issued recommendations character, which will retrieve the spirit of 11- Aesthetics URBAN RECOMMENDATIONS place and help in enhancing the overall per- The mountainous nature bestowed sites an 1. Entry points & accessibility: ception of the area. extraordinary attractiveness, putting them Emphasizing the entry points and creating a 4. Car parking: on top of tourism destinations in Saudi Ara- proper clear design that utilizes local plants Provide buffers for separating the parking ar- bia. Moreover, the distinctive surrounding and materials. eas from interfering the scenes & doing that nature adds to the aesthetic value of the sites. 2. Landmarks: incorporation with the respect to the visual 12- Good Governance Defining and categorizing the different ty- value of the mountainous nature of place,

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 97 Using trees and shaded structures to provide ing with it, in the proposed building styles, Referrences enough shade in the way that doesn't block with great attention to colours and material • Balducci, A., and Checchi, D. 2007, are happiness and pride related to the quality of city life? The uses around or the view. 2. Respecting the mountainous nature of the case of Milan, the richest Italian city, retrieved 5. Public spaces: place by: from http://checchi.economia.unimi.it/pdf/ Enhance the quality of existing public spaces • Using harmonious colours that high- un43.pdf • Bell, S., Hamilton, V., Montarzino, A., Rothnie, H., and developing the neglected left over spac- light the nature of the place. Travlou, P., Alves, S 2008, Greenspace and quali- es, through creative efficient landscape de- • Avoiding using materials that would ty of life: a critical literature review, Greenspace signs that accommodate softscape elements contradict the vernacular character of Scotland research report. • Bravo, L. 2012, Public spaces and urban beauty: to enhance the local identity and character buildings. The pursuit of happiness in the contemporary with respect to the different functions that 3. Provision of suitable places for gravity art. European city, EURAU’12, retrieved from http:// eurau12.arq.up.pt/sites/default/files/672.pdf the space may serve. 4. Opening views to the mountains by keep- • Kafafy, N. 2010, Dynamics of urban green spaces 6. Pedestrian paths: ing fences short to avoid view blockage and in arid cities, the case of Cairo, PhD thesis, City It is important to preserve the continuity of respecting the land topography to preserve and Regional Planning School, Cardiff Universi- ty, UK. the path & enforce pedestrians’ enjoyment nature and create a distinctive skyline. • Krekel, C., Kolbe, J., Wüstemann, H., 2015, The of the surrounding environment, in addition Greener, The Happier? The Effects of Urban Gre- to ensure the separation among the three pa- Conclusion en and Abandoned Areas on Residential Well- Being, SOEP - The German Socio-Economic Panel rameters of the path. Taif Municipality does not only perceives study at DIW Berlin. its responsibility towards preserving the • Mackerron, G., Mourato, S. 2013, Happiness is LANDSCAPE RECOMMENDATIONS natural landscapes of the unique sites such greater in natural environments, Global Envi- ronmental change, 23 (5), 992–1000 1. Green ways: AlHada and As-Shafa, but understands well • Nozhnitskiy, A. 2014, Comparative Happiness Adopting the landscape planning and green that happiness, as a component of health In American Living Spaces: Urban, Suburban, and Rural, retrieved from http://business.pages. ways approaches for a comprehensive devel- and well-being, does not belong on the fringe tcnj.edu/files/2014/05/Nozhnitskiy-2014-Thesis- opment of sites and their surroundings. of policy and planning. The Municipality is Draft-4-1.pdf 2. Plantation: keen to sustainable cities through planning • O’Brien, C. 2007, Policies for sustainable happiness, Paper written for the International Confe- Using indigenous plants whether trees, for happiness and health in order to enhance rence on “Policies for Happiness,” at Siena, Italy, shrubs, climbers and ground covers in paths, the built environments and the society qual- June 14-17, 2007. fences and edges, for significant environ- ity of life. • O’Brien, C. 2005, Planning for Sustainable Hap- piness: Harmonizing Our Internal and External mental and functional impacts. The Municipality provided in the visual pol- Landscapes, Prepared for Rethinking Deve- 3. Views & edges: lution treatments in Alhada and Ashafa ar- lopment: 2nd International Conference on Gross Emphasizing the natural edges, specifically eas report (2014), the following: National Happiness, Antigonish, Nova Scotia Ca- nada June 2005. those with significant views, besides using, • Protection of the environment; • Taif Municipality, 2014, Visual pollution tackilng plant screens, trees and other methods for • Maintenance of a diverse economy; and treatment report, Taif Municipality (Origi- nally in Arabic). concealing the unfavorable scenes and vi- • Provision of accessibility through land • Trkulja, S. 2009, Happiness as indicator and plan- sual pollution that is hard to tolerate. use ning objective for the spatial development po- 4. Shades: • Delivery of high quality services for resi- licy, retrieved from, hhtp://www.gnh-movement. org/papers/trkulja.pdf Using local materials in providing shade for dents, tourists, visitors and businesses; paths, spaces and seating areas as much as • Housing choices; and possible. • The involvement of LOCAL COMMU- 5. Flooring: NITY in planning and delivery. Using natural & local materials as possible to help integrating the built and natural environments and advocate the genius and character of place. 6. Seats & benches: Using wood, metal and local stones for seats in open spaces, scenic views areas and pedestrian spins, in a harmonious way that respects and integrates with the nature of place. 7. Signage & identification boards: Placing the sufficient and efficient signage with the proper & harmonious colors & materials. ARCHITECTURAL RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Using vernacular architecture or integrat-

98 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Public sculpture, a what is the place of art in the Tunisian city City and Public Space as and surrounding areas Historic? How to preservation identity tool reconcile the aesthetic and historical re- Happines Project of the city alities with the requirements development, Eva-Leticia Ortiz Mohamed Ali Msol financial and sociological? The aim of the artwork is recreating new relations in space producing collective action, the real, the The city and its spaces have always been a In recent years, the question of art in public imaginary that affects capita changes its project in search of wellness. From Greek spaces recorded a new developments in the view of the city. Artistic-plastic interven- virtue, fortune, health, friends and pleasure field of scientific research. The relationship tions not only allow transform the way we with all contribute to the greater good of the between the creation Current and public look at the place and away from the func- human being was intended; personal well- places of artistic move towards public space. tion but also create new uses and living being linked to civic: the polis as a project Mutations social, in some places, the cities spaces through the cultural and historical carefully shared; and the city was not only have lost their historical identities, cultural heritage. This us back to the idea of an art a supplier of goods but the space of culture, and architectural. The action of safeguard- that will bind to the social life and divert politics, philosophy, health, the well being ing the identity is necessary and requires codes and signals of the city for a new read- and well being. early intervention to ensure the continuity ing of the urban environment, but also pub- As a society, we try to move our idea of be- of history in ancient sites and public spaces lic social and historical. ing in large part to the material in the land- of cities. Moreover, artistic intervention, in Finally, the work of art in its various forms scape that surrounds us, the neighborhood the preservation of part of identity, becomes (sculptures, paintings, frescoes, etc.) leads where we live, and even our housing; so an essential action to make the city its soul, to the design of mediational devices that when planning a city is implicit build pal- to maintain its imprint and identity. This is will be based on a outlook teaching. The ties aces, markets, monuments, gardens, streets a trend to give meaning to the public spaces that develop, over time, among the works, or rides where the search modeled cities of the city but also to ensure preservation of artists and Public and variety of these ex- and urban pattern search again. The welfare the common memory through sculptures changes, promote the development of criti- depends largely on the spatial conditions public and works of arts. cal thinking and the gradual appropriation that had to pendulum between the ephem- Around this reflection, we chose to study of the work and its historical backgrounds, eral and the permanent for centuries. The three Tunisian cities that are as follows: cultural and social. nature of their silent language has allowed Ksar Helal and Moknine. The identity of the space to hide or reveal the premise that safeguard action varies in its historic towns originated: the human. It is argued that since each space defines its own urban and "high levels of economic freedom and high architectural structure. percentages in revenues make up a high We are interested in artistic intervention as correlation in subjective well" which would a communication tool facilitates the trans- lead to be richer and free would be happier; mission of history. Tunisian backup policy but why has not had an increase in health is interested in Resuscitation ancient sites and happiness in recent decades? Some where art is investing some monuments to scholars believe that this situation answer ensure reintegration of heritage in the mod- the call "hedonic scaling" which consists ern setting. Tunisian model designed a mod- of the natural tendency to change with the ern political identity of the city is interested changing expectations income; so accord- in the artistic action as mediational vector ing to this theory, the richer you are, the in public areas and roundabouts. Many more you compare with other rich people models currently exist in cities including and quickly falls wheel desires, so it ends up entries in coastal areas. In this sense, we as if he had not had any progress. opted for Moknine and Ksar Hilal order to From the 40s has had an extraordinary ur- examine public sculptures that give a new ban growth and along the last decades, we spatial sense and aesthetic image coherent require more land, more resources, more en- while often retaining the link to the com- ergy, more displacement. Today more than mon memory of each place. These new ever we know that cities are contributing to policies seek to recreate the sense to give environmental and social deterioration in coherence, readability sometimes swarmed an expedited manner; but never before has territory and deal with the consequences of had such technology, many luxuries while a disfigured city. many waste. To this day urban spaces have It seems important to provide answers to hypothesized be healthier, greener, more ac- questions concerning Tunisian public spaces: cessible, more attractive, more functional;

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 99 however it is essential to consider who are Today we know that our preferences do not income is important, but not the whole the people who mainly define wellbeing or always maximize our welfare in the long formula (Montgomery, 2013) .The level of discomfort that produce them. time. Nivón in 1998 stated that the suburbs education, the number of friends and even Since the Declaration of Independence of were an elitist solution to give back to the the location are part of life satisfaction. Self- the United States provides that "all men are ills of the city (Duhau, 2008) but also to reports of subjective well lead to things that created equal and are endowed by their Cre- build homogeneous space in the city, the money can not buy: leisure, short trips, feel- ator with certain inalienable rights, among suburbs have not been entirely "natural" ing healthy for example. which are the right to life, liberty and the but are the product zoning policy and the Therefore the place where we live is actu- pursuit of happiness" (Eco, 2014) asserting real estate market resulting ground even ally important. that in the history of the founding of na- isolated blocks, sometimes sad and satu- Psychology has always been linked health tions, this paper was the first to explicitly rated. and wellness, but was Carol Ryff who state that the people have a right to hap- So how do you know if the suburbs make proved valuable to care a meaningful life, piness, well-being. Despite the difficulty their residents happier, if they generate challenges and socially linked; in his model of measuring happiness, people have tried greater good, if more human? If the high- of psychological well-being (1989) concept again and again to integrate in architecture, ways produce greater feelings of freedom that includes social, subjective and psycho- urbanism. Dingy or dirty spaces were trans- that the narrow streets; if beauty in archi- logical dimensions as well as health-related formed into beautiful spaces and gardens tecture makes us optimistic; if empathy can behaviors in general that lead people to where beauty and pleasure were lifted. The rescue us from unhappiness. work in a positive way. Related to how peo- public realm, gardens, parks and squares "The best society, Bentham argued, is one in ple in their everyday faces the challenges compensated confinement, overcrowding; which citizens are happier. Therefore, the they encounter in their lives, devising ways allowing to today's meeting, the exchange. best policy will be to generate greater hap- to handle them, learning from them and Chicago in 1871, as a result of the devastat- piness; and, in the case of private conduct, deepen their sense of meaning in life (Ryff, ing fire of 1871 provided an opportunity to the most correct moral action will be that 2012). re-build the city under the premise of avoid- which gives more happiness to more peo- So the city is not the reservoir of pleasure, ing the repetition of a new claim. The archi- ple it affects. This is the ultimate principle but the space where personal battles, where tect and urban planner Daniel H. Burnham of Happiness: fundamentally egalitarian, challenges and commitments are confront- (convinced that beauty itself could trans- because happiness has all alike, and fun- ed daily basis are fought. Intone the city form society and awaken new virtues of citi- damentally human, because it holds that should be measured not only by its distrac- zens) in the Plan of Chicago conducted with ultimately what matters is what people feel tions and comforts, but also how it allows Bennett in 1909 (Smith, 2006) included "But achieving greater overall happiness re- its residents to give meaning, face challeng- long walks in attractive avenues with great quires know what causes happiness of the es and live daily (Montgomery, 2013). buildings stating that they could restore the people. (Layard, 2005) Perhaps one of the most important effects of city where the visual harmony and aesthet- Daniel Kahneman-the only non-economist the city is related to the way that shapes our ics would be the prerequisite for harmoni- who won the Nobel Prize in Economics relationships with others, resulting noun to ous social order. (2002) - In one of his studies established consider not only personal, but social. The Some others came to believe that the well a link between happiness and urban life. trust in neighbors, authority and outsiders was found only if he escaped from the city, Kahneman generated the "prospect theory" seems to have preponderance in happiness for which the car was a great instrument to for describing how people make decisions according to John Helliwell especially his allow the movement of the central city to in situations where they have to decide be- study of losses in the very street of residence suburban utopia. The suburb found its ori- tween alternatives that involve risk; as as- wallets. It can be said that you can predict gin when Frank Lloyd Wright's Broadacre sessed income. Considers that has a frame happiness in cities knowing the trust be- City conceived under the notion of inde- of reference which people use to make ev- tween citizens and the more he trusted the pendence and freedom, welfare. eryday and unusual decisions: hate losing other, more can maximize profits (Mont- The first suburbs were great examples of more than you love winning. gomery, 2013). Concludes that the links, entrepreneurship, and promised their new Robert Nozick especially in his "Medita- social support and confidence are central to inhabitants a world of privatized welfare: a tions on the Life" (1992) states that the happiness and life satisfaction. private garden, a car to move between desti- predisposition to be happy can be more Meanwhile neuroeconomics defender Paul nations disconnected; new decor and fittings important than beliefs or positive evalua- Zak (2008) found significant findings on were also required. So if to know that to tions that have at some point: thus a posi- oxytocin and analyzes the role of this in people happy enough to see how they spent tive tendency or predisposition can ensure human experiences and behaviors such as their money, then many people have bought a happy feelings more permanent happi- empathy, altruism and morality; likewise separate houses, separated showed that this ness. Likewise concluded after several stud- a relationship between altruism and hap- was related to happiness: preference for pri- ies, people prefer a life of less pleasure but piness smiles, greetings, signs of friendli- vacy, mobility and away from the problems involve challenges, effort and pleasure as ness, solidarity, cooperation strengthen of high-density city (Montgomery, 2013). well as pain. Confirmed that the level of confidence.

100 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue This coincided with Adam Smith who in The city is and has been a shared project, a Participated anamorphic 1759 in his extraordinary work "Theory of place where it is necessary to promote the Moral Sentiments" said the human con- common good and that is a task that can not art against the sciousness derives from social relationships be built in isolation. The city challenges us suburb degradation in and empathy produced by being around not to live together, but to progress togeth- contemporary cities other people is substantive for the welfare er. We probably will not agree on a single Alessandra Pagliano, Mariano Marmo and what guides our actions (Montgomery, definition for happiness, which does not 2013). mean it's not one of our purposes where We all live in permanent selfishness altru- welfare has proven to be a central compo- ism dichotomy; coexistence- withdrawal nent forever. Degradation as inspiration and matter and is perhaps the space, especially urban of the artistic installation space which allows to find the golden mean The project focuses on the abandoned con- between extremes. Referrences struction site of the Piscinola metro station Meanwhile Papachristou (2012) conducted • Allardt, E. (2009). Dimensions of Welfare in a Com- in Naples, Line 1, which in the original plans parative Study of the Scandinavian Societies. Helsin- a study to quantify the urban happiness ki: University of Helsinki. should have been an important railway in- by following different criteria: happiness • Duhau, E. G. (2008). Las reglas del desorden. Méxi- tersection. The Piscinola station serves di- in subjective terms (mood, social, mental co: Siglo XXi. rectly Piscinola and Scampia districts, but • Eco, H. (26 de abril de 2014). El derecho a la felici- and physical), happiness in objective terms dad. El Espectador. actually it also represents the main access to (number of shopping centers and recre- • Layard, R. (2005). La felicidad. Lecciones de una nue- Naples for people coming from the northeast va ciencia ation), and integrative happiness or real . México: Taurus. regional area. The station is a fundamental • Montgomery, C. (2013). Happy City. New York: feel for people. This study concluded that Farra. Strauss and Giroux. place in the district of Piscinola and Scam- subjective happiness is higher than the ob- • Peñalosa, E. Social and Environmental Sustainabi- pia as it is also the link between these two. At lity in Cities. In Proceedings of International Mayors jective and therefore more integrative. Data Forum on Sustainable Urban Energy Development. the present time some temporary fences can from that study indicate that citizens want Kunming, PR China. barely mask the widespread degradation, more green areas, less air pollution, less • Ryff, C. (2012). Existential well-being and health. In channeling passenger flows through the P. T. P. Wong, Ryff, (Ed.), The human quest for mea- noise, good quality water and good sanita- ning. (2nd ed., pp. 233-248). New York: Routledge. abandoned escalators to the train platforms. tion. It follows that urban planning should • Smith, C. (2006). The Plan of Chicago. Chicago: The This paper presents the project and the mak- put focus on creating "living conditions Chicago University Press. ing of an art installation for the Piscinola that influence the mood of the people and subway station, based on a specific projec- not just in planning for cities" (Allardt & E., tion method, called anamorphosis, whose 2009). aim is a participative mass action, to involve So then the city has shown the rule of the local residents through the collaboration of premises of the company and the time that their children. he founded. Greece and its agora; Roma fa- We strongly believe that art can be an instru- voring the common good with aqueducts ment for education and social developing. and roads; Paris with its gardens and bou- The main aim of this project was to unlock levards to please elite. In the last century the current situation, in which urban deg- architecture and urbanism have tried to radation generates social degradation, that create spaces of contact, sometimes with- eventually evolves in vandalism, causing the out success; Jane Jacobs since 1960 even fear of investing in projects that could be claimed that the streets were friendly and quickly destroyed by violent actions. Instead safe because they were shared and experi- of joining the hopeless whiners, who reduce enced by many people harshly criticizing the impossibility of an improvement to the the destruction of public space; identify- lack of funds, we decided to make the de- ing the causes of violence in everyday life: graded urban context a communicative and what compiles in his masterpiece "Death an experiential matter, transforming those and Life of Great American Cities" ahead spaces into meaningful places. of innovative proposals in urban terms and Scampia is a difficult district, in which the "Economy of Cities" established principles logics of contemporary art market are tradi- and bases in force to this day. tionally not successful. Arma il tuo riscatto is a The hopeless pursuit of happiness involves collective work, inspired and fed by the fertil- exceed the limits of disciplinary look in ity of the habitat in which it was born, open isolation, claims the connection of social to the territory and to the transformations, sciences and natural sciences as well as the but intended to be a factor of transformation individual at the time of the collective. itself, promoting regenerating dynamics for

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 101 Making of the mural “FIORI TRA LE SPINE”

102 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue the community’s sensibility, based on a dif- to find two territorial centers that could in- existing environment in favor of a false per- ferent perception of the spaces. volve a very important part of the popula- spective. In Piscinola, and even more in Scampia, tion: the youths. The anamorphic installations in the Piscin- physical and social degradation are strongly The IC San Gaetano School and the Educa- ola station are instruments to amplify the linked to each other. Scampia is an icon for tion Center “L’Impronta – Obiettivo Uomo” mechanisms of relationship between in- the contemporary peripheries and it appears made possible to involve about eighty stu- habitant / passenger and urban places, in or- as the place for illegal activities and brutal dents, respectively from primary to middle der to make the individual participant and urban violence. The Vele themselves are the schools and in the age group between six and conscious. A large anamorphic installation symbol of an architectural and social failure. eighteen years old. induces the observer to change his usual Arma il tuo riscatto starts from the widespread After several meetings with the kids and af- perspectives and to reconsider his position mural degradation to transform it into a ter making them aware of the transforma- in space to be able to perceive it. statement of hope through the attribution tion that we were about to make in the sta- In the mural LA CULTURA È L’UNICA of a positive meaning by an artistic project, tion, we assigned an active task in the project ARMA DI RISCATTO (CULTURE IS THE that adds new signs to the ones already ex- to each of them. ONLY ARM OF REDEMPTION) the poly- isting. On the degraded concrete surfaces it chrome flat geometries overlay on the per- is common to discover some messages stat- The mural FIORI TRA LE SPINE (FLOWERS spective of space as if it is drawn on a trans- ing expressions of hope and redeeming, al- AMONG THORNS), whose text was chosen parent plane placed between the observer though it would be impossible to categorize among several interesting suggestions from and the reality: the operation however, is those writings as aerosol culture expressions the participants from the Center “L’Impronta very complex because the elementary ge- because of the lack of any graphic project. – Obiettivo Uomo”, was conceived as a trans- ometry of the letters, which appear in the With the exception of the colored mural formation of signs and meanings: starting final image, is deformed prospectively paintings by Felice Pignataro and the pro- from a wall smeared with bad writings, a along the surfaces of the real space, through vocative banners by Rosaria Iazzetta who wooden frame has been nailed on it, in order a geometrical method based on the central awaken citizens’ consciences against the to slice a small piece of surface to inscribe projections. addiction to the Camorra racket, it is more our expressive project. This illusion can be epitomized in the appropriate to read the spray painted signs transformation of a two-dimensional image as requests that are still not structured in The rectangle was gradually invaded by the on one or more surfaces freely arranged in an artistic form, but nonetheless declaring color of spray cans, in a game of fanciful space. a dramatic social condition and the wish to shapes and colorful names, texts, and silhou- overcome it. ettes of hands without any competition or In this way the overlaying of an anamor- attempt for individual affirmation, with the phic installation in the space amplifies Citizen’s active participation pleasure of a cathartic artistic gesture of cho- the common inborn characters of both the Since its first phases, Arma il tuo riscatto con- ral participation; this dense texture formed transformed image and the perceived one. sidered to involve the local community to the substrate on which it was possible to ap- The architecture in the real tridimensional strengthen the identity feeling, to transform ply a white coat of paint, which let appear space will appear to be the background and the Piscinola station from an anonymous the silhouette of the phrase created by the the hint for a different and more complex and degraded transit space into a site that the children, while the painted background as- message, thus becoming a painting can- community could recognize as its own. sumed the role of connective tissue for the vas already containing the creative spark So we decided to transform the station into signs (letters) and the meanings (the social to start from during the creative process. a participative art gallery, an extended labo- message of the sentence choice) to which In fact, the contribution coming from the ratory for experimentation and contamina- they were added. space where the work of art is born and in- tion of contemporary languages, constantly stalled is not only the physical support for dialoguing with the nearby geographical A playful art installation the new signs, but it is inspiration in the and social tissue, to generate an iconic site Anamorphosis produces an active involve- first place, it is a starting point hinting how to link citizens to their quarter, in which art ment of the observer through a playful di- to work on the surfaces and even on voids. and sociality become chances to reflect and mension, which includes the subject within For the observer anamorphosis is a stimu- understand contemporary world. the installation itself, because the percep- lus for a complex and deep fruition of the We wanted to activate inclusive processes to tion of space is conditioned by the viewer’s space, in which the “surprise element” experiment good practices, in sight of a reinterpretation of signs. is not the only researched effect, but it is evaluation and a developing of the territory Anamorphosis is not a way to mislead the functional to generate an intense curiosity through new configurations for the use of viewer’s eyes, but an evident overlaying of which will offer a new way to look at that public space. different realities. The observer is not in- spaces. The mind is the real instrument to In collaboration with the Assessor Roberta duced to believe that the new shapes can see and observe this kind of particular per- Gaeta of Welfare and Social Policies Depart- exist as they’re perceived and there is no spective spaces, which are “augmented” by ment of Comune di Napoli, it was possible extreme realism to hide or transform the the introduction of anamorphic signs.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 103 The mural “LA CULTURA È L’UNICA ARMA DI RISCATTO”

To observe and comprehend correctly the anamorphic installations, it is fundamental for the viewer to allow the perceptive mechanisms to automatically start in his mind, to understand correctly the visual stimulus given from sight. The formative intention of the transcribed message is grafted in this particular dialogue between eyes and mind: the purely subjective epiphany, which is at the base of the process of shape recognition, generates a deeper and a more emotional rooting of the positive meaning brought from the written text.

104 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue New temporary In a moment, from a well determined po- the question to think about: see the words, sition, everything back in the right place read them and then, if you will, reflect on perspectives for urban and the observer can put order between the the meaning that they carry with them. A spaces parties, can reads and understand the true text that talks about itself, about its essence Alessandra Pagliano, Angelo meaning of the work, giving a meaning to and that, in the anamorphic transcription, the chaos, becoming the creator of a reality tries to make concrete the ambiguity and Triggianese that can become manifest only through his the dialectical relationship between writ- eyes in a transformation from real to the ing and pronunciation, between stable and virtual space. unstable. An artistic installation and a new “Nel teatro la parola vive di una doppia gloria, And so, in a moment, from a unique and temporary life for the city1 / mai essa è così glorificata. E perché? / Perché determined position, the set of points as- This paper describes Epifanie della visione_ essa è, insieme, scritta e pronunciata. / È scritta, sumes a shape, POOR WORDS, like those installazione luminosa, an art installation come la parola di Omero, / ma insieme è proof Homer, those that remain on the books; carried out in 2012 in via Scarlatti (Naples) nunciata come le parole / che si scambiano tra but just moving and, step by step, we can on the occasion of oMaggio ai Monumenti loro due uomini al lavoro, / o una masnada di see their fragmentation, their vanishing per amare Napoli sponsored by the City of ragazzi, o le ragazze al lavatoio, / o le donne al turning into a confused mass of points that Naples, the University of Naples “Federico mercato - come le povere parole insomma / che move away from each other, mingling with II” and the Ordine degli Architetti PPC di si dicono ogni giorno, e volano via con la vita.” - each other, flying away with life. Napoli e provincia. Pier Paolo Pasolini Realities apparently in contrast, different The aim was to transform a place and its This is the starting suggestion of Epifanie from each other that find their realization fruition through a luminous and spatial della visione_installazione luminosa: a quo- in the same substance: a set of LED that are performance, giving a new life to places tation from the work Affabulazione of Pier both bizarre lights in space and clear words lived hastily in the everyday actions, with Paolo Pasolini. on a flat surface, a relationship of mutual the fleetingness of an event that is destined This very striking contrast between eternal dependence and, contemporary, concep- to live in a determined and programmed and ephemeral, between the static nature tual denial. The staging of the act we call period of time. of the written word and the dynamism of dialogue, during which, for a moment, the The main tool used in the configurative ac- the pronounced one is the main artistic sound takes a meaning, becomes under- tion is the anamorphosis (which literally suggestion of the light installation for via standable and then gives way to silence. means “reconstruction of shape”): a geo- Scarlatti in Naples. metric method to transcribed images that A pedestrian precinct, an urban living room recompose themselves only when viewed through that every day people hastily pass Perceptive suggestions and enjoyment from a certain point of view. In our applica- or where they stay with friends, the theater of the space2 tion, this illusion is nothing more than the of reality in which no script determines The vision is the voluntary action with transformation of a quotation, produced the actions but that is the richest and the which people construct their own reality: by the conical projection of the 220 light picturesque scenery of unconscious charac- a personal world that, from external sug- points on 10 virtual plans appropriately ters, gestures, actions and dialogues. Words gestions, through the eyes, moves directly placed in the space. The text comes togeth- pronounced in every moment, in an uncon- into the mind of the beholder, owing a ra- er if observed through reflection in the mir- scious but authentic way, without lefting tional elaboration by brain. ror. any trace of themselves: only a memory for Among the many kind of art forms based The signs of the city merge with the art the interlocutors, a witness of their lives on perception, anamorphosis, the geomet- forms in a unique and evocative image and their relationships with others. A set rical technique widely used in the baroque in which the dialogue between a cloud of of sounds, the voice of the city in constant period to create visual illusion, can be con- light points appropriately placed in space, transformation, of the daily becoming, the sidered an indispensable tool to link the a mirror and the users showed the playful story of concrete actions in the transition act of perception to the use of a place. attitude of perspective application, allow- from the heaviness of the matter of the real From a practical point of view, the will to ing us to experience the real expressive po- world to the ephemeral of the fading light- work with the light was another tool to tentials of anamorphosis in the fragmenta- ness. expand the sense of the ephemeral, some- tion of the parties. Epifanie della visione_installazione luminosa thing that remains silent during the day, A three-dimensional cloud of light points, a wants to stage just that ambiguous rela- almost imperceptible thanks to the height spatial transcription of something that still tionship between the two dimensions of of installation of the lighting structure, but has to be perceived as a two-dimensional the word generating an interruption of the that in the evening, when darkness allows text but that, in the direct view, does not monotony of everyday life. It’s an invita- light the greatest expression, manifests its give up its independence, the revelation if tion to stop and reflect on its meaning, a presence without resorting to the heavi- itself, the will to impose itself, to dominate social game, a riddle to solve in which the ness of the matter: ethereal glows as the the space in a manner seemingly random. apparent solution is nothing different from poor words that are spoken by passers-by.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 105 Epifanie della visione: light installation

To work in a public space is an opportunity A wish to relate, sometimes even in a bizarre joyment of the surrounding area so that the to realize the “theater of word” as well as it be- way, with an installation that does not leave viewer could choose the path to follow and comes an occasion to experience the way with citizens cold but, at the same time, does not experience in autonomy, following his sugges- which users relate to a urban installation that force or affects them in any particular act. tions, the poetics of fragmentation of the cloud breaks the daily routine by temporarily chang- A work that let people interpret it, except for of light points. ing the image of the considered city. Curios- few indications, to evaluate the way with The freedom of movement around the sur- ity is the main engine that invites passers-by which the user can consider himself the cre- rounding area was necessary for two addi- to stop and give a meaning to a cloud of light ator of a performance and above all how he al- tional reasons. On the one hand, there was points that lets them see its presence from lows his own vision to help him using, step by the desire to not invade a public space allow- afar but above all to complete the text in part step, the clues of the partial recomposition of ing people, indifferent to the work, to cross already present on the mirror, written with re- the fragments to recognize the true shape. it without enjoying it, continuing his daily flecting adhesives. Reading “...che si dicono ogni During the stay in situ, we indicated in an eas- comings and goings; on the other hand there giorno e volano via con la vita” is a way to rouse ily visible but not conditioning way the correct was the possibility of adapting it according passers-by’s interest inviting them to reflect to position of the privileged point of view with a to the needs of each one to correct the differ- understand its meaning, almost a quiz to solve, reflecting metal disk (therefore visible even at ences of height ok viewers or to “correct” the a solution to found in their mind regardless night thanks to the presence of the lights) on obvious binocular vision. of those points that, until they light up in the the pavement of the pedestrian precinct with We wanted, with this installation, put on the dark of night, remain silent. In addition, there the suggestion for people to place themselves same level both the perception of the text in is the power of the mirror and the desire to see in the shown position to be able to correctly its entirety and the other infinite possibilities their image independently of any other possi- read the quotation. At the same time, we didn’t of composition that, under his gaze, gener- ble meaning or relationship with the context. want to impose any other limit to the free en- ated various images that were always different

106 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue and dynamic. The anamorphosis is a tool that What makes people happy? when two Dutch artists, Jeroen Koolhaas and shows itself in its intrinsic appeal, in its ability Dre Urhahn, had the idea of creating public to transcribe simple shapes in intriguing men- The case of social housing artworks in favelas in Rio de Janeiro. Not tal mazes. in Brazil just to beautify, but also to create a dialogue The aim is not only to ensure the user to read Adriana Portella, Inês Quintanilha, between people and their surroundings. “POVERE PAROLE” which, obviously, would 'Favelas' are marginalized areas by the public Andressa Rocha, Ellen Antonello, also be possible with other kinds of perfor- government, and this kind of initiative to re- mance, but rather to induce people to reflect Sinval Cantarelli Xavier vitalize the place make residents feel proud of about the transiency of that elements or, in the place they live. Nowadays, the Brazilian a more simple way, to play with a number of government has been applied many funds to points that just for a moment immobilize as- Introduction build social housing states to accommodate suming a meaning. This investigation attempts to understand people that have been removed from their A dynamic game, then, with a fluid and ever what makes a place recognized by users residential areas due to the projects related to changing vision that everyone adapts accord- as good to live and what makes people feel the World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games ing to his wishes moving and voluntarily happy with their neighbourhood. For this, 2016. The main problems of these new hous- seeking the favorite view. Not a single solu- this study takes into account user evalua- ing states are that they are located far away tion but infinite alternatives to be explored tion not only of the physical aspects of the from the place where people used to live, and instant by instant, a transcription that has streetscape, but the symbolical variables in- they do not take into account any guideline value in itself and in each image that, in the volved in the concept of sense of place. Here, to create places attractive for users regarding reflection in the mirror or in the direct vi- the definition of sense of place comprises the the aesthetic of buildings and urban design sion, is capable of producing. strong relationships that can exist between of public areas. Consequently, the majority people and a particular location in terms of of the removed population do not want to 1. Di A. Triggianese attachment and familiarity with the place live in those places and are now organizing 2. Di A. Pagliano and people who live there. in many cities in Brazil manifestos against The 'Favela Painting' project developed in this movement of removal. Rio de Janeiro is Referrences Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a good example of the city with major incidence of manifestos • Pagliano, A., Marmo, M. (a cura di) 2014, Arma il how use appropriation of place and public with a high number of people were removed tuo riscatto. Installazione artistica partecipata per la stazione di Piscinola, Giannini Editore, Napoli participation can help urban renovation, from their neighbourhood as this city hosted • Triggianese, A. 2013, Epifanie della visione. Geome- and make people happy with their neigh- the World Cup in June-July 2014 and will be trie e interpretazioni delle trascrizioni anamorfiche, bourhood. This initiative started in 2005 hosting the Olympic Games in 2016. tesi di dottorato

The curiosity of the passers-by and the enjoyment of the art installation

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 107 An example of this situation can be seen in is ‘the utilitarian value [of a place] to meet that no clear definition can be made. On Vila do Autodromo, where people have the certain basic needs’, which can range from the other hand, in terms of the dimension official rights to live that, they did not in- social activities to physical characteristics. of ‘interest’, the relationship with complex- vade plots of other people, and even them It is involved in urban judgements, which ity is always directly proportional. In this are going to be removed. may correspond to scales of evaluation regard, this study will investigated how In this context, this research was devel- such as beautiful–ugly, pleasant–unpleas- different combinations of physical aspects oped in the field of Environmental Psychol- ant, likeable–dislikeable, and good–bad. influence on users responses. ogy in order to understand through user’s Arthur Stamps, in his book ‘Psychology In this sense, this investigation seeks to perception and cognition what makes a and the Aesthetics of the Built Environ- demonstrate through a methodology devel- place to feel like home for people and what ment’ (2000), establishes that this kind of oped for teaching and research in a module makes people feel happy with their neigh- judgement allows comparison between dif- named ‘Perception and Analysis of Urban bourhood. The concept of user perception ferent user groups in terms of evaluation of Space' of MA Course in Architecture and is related to the process by which users get streetscapes, and between physical charac- Urbanism at Federal University of Pelotas visual information of places through stim- teristics of the public space and user evalu- in Brazil, the importance of sense of place uli. These stimuli are physical elements of ation of its urban quality. and aesthetics on residents´ quality of life public spaces, such as signs, shapes, colours There is agreement in the literature that in areas marginalized by the government. of buildings, street furniture and so on. The complexity is a necessary condition for It is intended that the methodology ap- latter principle does not need to be related satisfaction. Robert Venturi, which his plied in this study and the results obtained directly to visual stimuli linked to physi- book ‘Complexity and Contradiction in can guide the production of social housing cal characteristics of places. The cognition Architecture’ (1977), and Daniel Berlyne, in Brazil and in other countries as well in process involves symbolic meanings asso- which his ‘Conflict, Arousal and Curios- a much better direction than it has been ciated with places, and can be influenced ity’ (1960), were the first researchers to done now. The focus here was the applica- by user urban context, values, culture and explore the principle of complexity in ur- tion of participatory methods such as infor- individual experiences. This last definition ban streetscapes. Venturi confronted ideas mal interviews and questionnaires to iden- agrees with what Nicholas Meader, David related to modernist architecture which tify relationships between architecture and Uzzell and Birgitta Gatersleben say in their promoted places with low complexity, emotional states of residents such as happi- paper ‘Cultural Theory and Quality of Life’ while Berlyne addressed the same proposi- ness and sadness from different neighbour- (2006, p.61): ‘people do not perceive the en- tions as Venturi, but in an approach which hoods. Quality of life in this paper is related vironment through clear eyes, but through attempted to identify variables that may to changes in mood and stress conditions perceptual lenses coloured by their world result in places being perceived positively. by which many residents have been ex- view’. At the same period, Rachel Kaplan’s work posed nowadays. One of the variables caus- An approach suggested by Lang (1987) in- (1976) identified negative implications of ing these health problems can be linked to dicates that the process of perception and environments perceived as too complex or the visual chaos of the urban scene. cognition involves three interlinked fac- too monotonous on user behaviour, such This study was conducted in 2013 with the tors: a multi-sensorial perception, symbol- as difficult wayfinding due to too high or participation of post-graduate students. ic meanings, and the relationship between too low visual stimulations and lack of in- This paper focuses on the analysis of the re- these symbolic meanings and the physical terest. The new social housing states pro- lationship between theory and practice in characteristics of the built environment. moted by the Federal Government in Brazil architectural and urban design, highlight- In this approach, user perception involves are marked by low variation and total mo- ing the importance of applying participa- more than a mere intellectual association notony, creating in this way places not per- tory methods to get information to design related to an observed object; this is also ceived positively by its future users. decisions in areas of future urban and so- linked with the cognitive process from the Weber (1995) and Lang (1987) show that, cial intervention. This investigation is very first stage. Consequently, the result of the according to user perception and evalua- concerned with the gap that exists between processes of perception and cognition con- tion, there is a relationship between the the academy studies and the results pro- stitutes the mental representation of the affective dimensions of ‘pleasure’ and ‘induced by professional practices. public space that is what people evaluate as terest’ with complexity. In terms of the positive or negative when the streetscape is dimension of ‘pleasure’, this relationship Research objectives analysed. is directly proportional until an optimum The paper seeks to identify whether there In this study, the concept of satisfaction is is reached; when this limit is exceeded, the is a relationship between users´ perceptions applied to evaluate the quality of the built relationship becomes inversely propor- and evaluations of visual quality of their environment. Satisfaction involves some- tional. These researchers argue that there neighbourhood, and users´ behaviours and thing that has been experienced by users, have been several attempts to define this mood (happy-sadness), examining how dif- and does not need to involve comparison optimum level, but the number of factors ferent types of streetscapes influence on among things. According to Avery Guest that influence user perception and evalua- people quality of life. Responses of a total and Barrett Lee (1983, p.234), satisfaction tion of the physical environment is so high sample of 90 residents in three different

108 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue questionnaire would not be identified, such as the sense of neighbourhood. The only pre requisite to be part of this survey was to live in one of the neighbourhoods analysed and to be at least 18 years old. A questionnaire with 19 closed questions was applied to understand what makes people feel happy (or sad) with their neighbourhood and residential street. Different neighbourhoods where analysed in terms of visual quality. Three areas were selected to this analysis as the objective here was to compare responses of residents (A) in a low-income neighbourhood located near the main water canal of the city, (B) in a middle‐income neighbourhood located in the port area of the city which has been regener- ated by the insertion of university buildings, and (C) in a high-income neighbourhood located in a new area and considered to be one of the most expensive land value of the city. Urban and social contrasts in the streetscape of Pelotas (Source: Eduardo Rocha and Beto Fernandes). These areas are named as ‘Balsa’ (low-income neighbourhood), ‘Porto’ (middle‐income neighbourhoods were investigated in order Methodology design neighbourhood) and ‘Zona Norte’ (high-in- to identify possible causes of positive and The city chosen as case study was Pelotas, in come neighbourhood). negative mood reactions. There are stud- the south coast of Brazil, near Uruguay and ies in the literature (Korpela, 2003; Kerr & Argentina. The city comprises neighbour- Main Results and Discussion Tacon, 1999; Staats et all, 1997) that already hoods with strong historic heritage but is The results indicate that the majority of indicated that, in terms of emotional states, marked by high social differences between users from each analysed area like to live people are sensitive to certain formal com- these places (Figure 1). there (86,7% in Porto; 100% in Zona Norte; positions and living or walking though Four methods of data collection were se- and 96,7% in Balsa) and the main reason for certain areas of a city may cause changes in lected to gather the necessary information that were (i) in Zona Norte (the high-income their mood and behaviour. to answer the research question: literature neighbourhood) almost 50% of residents In this regard, the research question inves- review of primary and secondary sources mentioned the proximity with services and tigated here was: ‘Do people are happier about historical, social and compositional commerce such as bakery, bus stop and drug- with their neighbourhood in a high- in- aspects of each neighbourhood; systematic store, (ii) in Balsa (the low-income neigh- come neighbourhood with more ordered observation of physical characteristics of bourhood) 60% of residents said that it is streetscape and better infrastructure and building facades, infrastructure and urban because friends and family live nearby, and urban design, or it does not matter and the design in each neighbourhood; informal in- (iii) in Porto (the middle‐income neighbour- sense of place is the key to have dynamic terviews; and questionnaires. The sample hood located in the port area) people were neighbourhoods?’. As affirmed by the ar- was randomly selected, 30 respondents in divided between three main reasons: 10,3% chitect researcher Ralf Weber (1995, p.113) each area. The researchers stopped people on of users mentioned the appearance of build- in his book ‘On the Aesthetics of Architec- the streets and knocking on the houses ask- ings, 20,7% the proximity with services and ture’: ‘the more orderly a configuration, the ing whether the residents would like to par- commerce, and 17,2% the fact that friends higher its aesthetic value’. Weber (1995) ticipate in this survey. The field work lasted and family live nearby. It shows that even in agrees with Arnheim (1977) who said that about two months. Nonparametric tests the area where the full access to infrastruc- order is an indispensable aspect in all kinds and mean values were adopted to analyse ture and urban design are issues that are of configuration (physical and mental). the data obtained from questionnaires. The not provided by the local authority (in the According to both authors, ordered com- software package adopted for the statistical low-income neighbourhood), the proximity positions cause positive reactions on user analysis was SPSS. The analysis of informal with family and friends creates a network perception and evaluation. Although user interviews, which were configured as con- between residents in this area, what makes evaluation can be influenced by particular versations between the researchers and the they like to live there, promoting a sense of experiences, preferences and feelings, the interviewees, when they were filling out the place. Considering the total sample, there is perception of order is evaluated as positive questionnaire, proved crucial as it allowed to a correlation between building appearance by almost all people. understand variables that only through the and users´ interest with the streetscape of their

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 109 neighbourhood (Spearman= 0,479, sig=0,000), ance and urban design are influencing those last The results putting in doubt the importance and a correlation between users´ interest with user’s responses. It is important to highlight that of visual order on user satisfaction with resi- the streetscape of their neighbourhood and 86,7% of users who answer the questionnaire dential areas as the only important issue. The users´ mood (Spearman= 0,514, sig=0,000). The live more than 10 years in Balsa, while in the majority of people who live in the low-income following tendencies were verified: ‘As more other two areas 43,3% of users live more than 10 neighborhood are very happy with their resi- beautiful the buildings´ appearance, more year. This factor had a significate impact on the dential area because of what the literature rec- interesting is the neighbourhood; the more results obtained as familiarity with the neigh- ognizes as ‘sense of place’. It is hoped that the interesting the neighbourhood, happier fell bourhood and the sense of place created in the discussion brought by this study brings to the their residents’. The majority of users from area through the social networks established academic field the importance of social rela- Zona Norte (73,3%) and Porto (56,7%) evalu- between people influence on users evaluation tions in the sphere of public life, neighborhood ate the buildings of their neighbourhoods as of their neighbourhood and user mood. and city. It is hoped that architects, planners ‘very beautiful’ or ‘beautiful’, while in Balsa The analysis from the data obtained from the and urban designers be aware that before to 30% of users share this same view and 66,7% interviews identified that the majority of peo- start the design process of residential areas it is of users classify the buildings as ‘not beauti- ple who lives in the high-income neighbour- important to identify the intangible variables ful neither very ugly’. Regarding perception of hood are quite satisfied with this place, but at that build sense of community and neighbor- interest, the majority of respondents in Porto the same time they are very unsatisfied with hood. As already said by Antoine Prost (1992, (86,2%) and Zona Norte (86,2%) evaluate the safety issues. Through the interviews, it was p.116) in his book 'History of Private Life: from streetscape of these areas as ‘very interesting’ possible to identify that they feel unsafe to the First World War to the present day', the or ‘interesting’, while in Balsa 43,3% of users walk in the streets and get into their houses, sense of place connect neighborhood residents share this same view and 53,4% of users eval- and they do not know the majority of their in an intensive network of urban and social uated this as ‘neither interesting, neither not neighbours; consequently they don´t use the relations summarized as: ‘in fact, there is more interesting’ or ‘not interesting’. public space very much due to those problems. than a mutual knowledge: there is a social When analysing responses of residents in On the other hand, people who live in the low- contact. Each resident of neighborhood or vil- Balsa separable, it was found a correlation be- income neighbourhood are satisfied with their lage receives certain attention of this neighbor, tween users mood and users´ interest with the residential area because of what the literature since he/she pay the price. He/she will receive streetscape of their neighbourhood (Spear- recognizes as ‘sense of place’. According to small rewards such as smiles, greetings, ex- man= 0,594, sig=0,001), and between users the majority of residents in the low-income changes of nice words, a feeling to be known, mood and buildings´ appearance (Spearman: neighbourhood, they are happy with this area recognized, and appreciated’. 0,598, sig=0,001): ‘As more beautiful the build- because of symbolic meanings attached to the ings´ appearance and interesting the neighbour- place. The visual order of the physical environ- hood, calmer and happier will feel the user’. In ment did not come out as a variable that influ- this sense, even when they say that they like to ence user satisfaction in this case. Referrences live in this area of the city, the results show that The main results show that order in formal • Arnheim, R. (1977). Dynamic of Architectural Form. Berkeley: University of California Press. the quality of life of these residents in terms of composition of facades, urban design and infra- • Berlyne, D.E. (1960). Conflict, Arousal and Curiosi- emotion state can be improved by the requali- structure are variables that influence quality of ty. New York: McGraw-Hill. fication of buildings appearance and interest life; however, in the low-income neighborhood • Guest, A., & Lee, B. (1983). The social organization of local areas. In Urban Affairs Quarterly, 19, 217-240. with the streetscape. The literature review al- the impact of psychological sense of communi- • Herzog, T.R., Kaplan, S. and Kaplan, R. (1976). The ready said that to increase users´ interest with ty and neighborly relations are more important Prediction of Preference for Familiar Urban Places. Environment and Behavior the streetscape, the best factor to be considered than the aesthetic of buildings when consider- , 8(4), pp.627–645. • Korpela, K. (2003). Negative Mood and Adult Place is the increasing of urban complexity with ing the influence on mood and emotional state Preference. Environment and Behavior, vol.35, n.3, with the variation of physical aspects of build- of residents. Residents in Balsa tend to be hap- May, pp.331-346. • Lang, J. (1987). Creating Architectural Theory: The ings, urban furniture, and other elements that pier and less stressed than residents of the other Role of the Behavioral Sciences in Environmental De- compose the street scene. neighborhoods, which mostly are concerned sign. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold. At the same time, the majority of users in Balsa about security issues, lack of maintenance of • Meader, N., Uzzell, D. and Gatersleben, B. (2006). Cultural Theory and Quality of Life. European Re- say that they feel cheerful (53,4%) and calm buildings due to graffiti and poor lighting condi- view of Applied Psychology, 56(1), pp.61–69. (51,7%) when walking in their neighbour- tions. In this context, the sense of place proves • Prost, A.; Vincent, G. (1992). História da vida pri- hood, and ‘very well’ and ‘well’ when arrive at to be an important factor in this neighborhood, vada: da primeira guerra aos nossos dias. Vol V. São Paulo, Cia das Letras. home (83,3%). When questioning whether and should be considered in proposals for new • Stamps, A.E. (2000). Psychology and the Aesthetics of how people feel when they come back to their social housing. Unfortunately, in neighbor- the Built Environment. San Francisco, CA: Kluwer neighbourhood, 69% of users from Balsa feel hoods of higher social and economic classes, Academic Publisher. • Venturi, R. (1977). Complexity and Contradiction in ‘very happy’ or ‘happy’, while in the high-in- this variable – sense of place - was lost during Architecture. London: Architectural Press. come neighbourhood just 55,5% fell the same the design process and the consequence was the • Weber, R. (1995). On the Aesthetics of Architecture: A Psychological Approach to the Structure and the and 40,3% do not have opinion in relation to creation of environments that do not encourage Order of Perceived Architectural Space. Aldershot: this issue. In this sense, other factors that are not social interaction in public space and generate Ashgate. related to the infrastructure, building appear- feelings of insecurity in the streetscape.

110 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue generating a sense of strangeness toward ventions represent a major opportunity to The sick city sickens place and people and in so doing nobody enhance not only the quality of life but also Maria Quarto, Annamaria Kisslinger, feels to belong to anywhere and anybody. survival. Social isolation as a function of Donatella Tramontano Heartless space, deprived of the possibil- location (i.e. lack of transportation, danger- ity to be measured and lived with the body, ous suburbs) has been demonstrated, par- disappears as a symbolic entity on which ticularly for the older adult in urbanized Introduction to build community identity. The space ex- settings, in a number of countries . Cities are the place where people interact, pands and disappears in the media window, In this view, a urban form that reduce meet, exchange knowledge. Quoting Brau- there is nothing left to defend themselves meaningful “place in-between” where del "…(cities) are like transformers: they in- than to barricade themselves at home, people can meet, talk, laugh, and make dif- crease the tensions, precipitate exchanges, closing, estranging, isolating. All that is ficult access to leisure activities, induces scramble endlessly men's lives ". Source of outside is sensed as a snare. The price of a social isolation thus influencing health. In cultural innovation, technological and eco- poor urban form is social isolation. There search of strategy to counteract social iso- nomic, cities can also become cause of dis- is strong evidence that high level of social lation and its consequences on health, the eases, so their structure has been and will isolation negatively impacts on health out- role of leisure activities was investigated be increasingly crucial to our health. comes and disease management (4). Lack and results indicated that cultural and so- The WHO has long recognized the close link of social connection, whether perceived cial engagement can be an important tools between development, urbanization and or actual, induces a stress response within to increase and to maintain social connec- health claiming that the health of the urban the body. The activation of stress responses tion (7). The existing evidence show that population is strongly influenced by physi- removes energy and resources to numerous cultural participation may have strong and cal, social, economic, cultural factors, includ- physiological processes useful for main- significant effects on life expectation, and ing processes of social aggregation, migra- taining the homeostasis of the organism, more recent research seems to suggest that tion, modernization and industrialization, with a powerful impact on the cardiovas- the impact is equally strong in terms of and also circumstances of urban life that can cular and the immune system. Thus, poor self-reported psychological well-being. In change with the climate, population density, social connection can elicit negative physi- particular, it turns out that cultural partici- housing facilities, the industrial structure, cal responses e.g., high blood pressure, in- pation is the second predictor of psycholog- transport systems. Within this context pro- somnia) and mental distress (e.g., anxiety, ical well-being after (presence/absence of) tection and promotion of health in urban depression) (5). These findings indicate major diseases, and in this respect has a sig- settings should be a priority for every gov- that the influence of social relationships nificantly stronger impact than variables ernment if not the priority (1-3). on the risk of death are comparable with such as income, place of residence, age, Now days cities are facing unbelievable well-established risk factors for mortality gender, or occupation. The effect is particu- demographic changes population aging such as smoking and alcohol consumption larly strong for the seriously ill and the el- and a new urbanization wave, for which and exceed the influence of other risk fac- derly, where psychological well-being gaps by 2030 cities will host 60% of the world tors such as physical inactivity and obesity. between subjects with cultural access and population. Unprepared to deal with the Conversely, individuals with adequate so- subjects without cultural access is huge. aging population and to address the new cial relationships have a 50% greater like- The late 2000s crisis has deeply affected mass exodus, the great urban centers are lihood of survival compared to those with the city of Naples and its metropolitan area growing poorly. Schizophrenic cities where poor or insufficient social relationships. worsening the dramatic consequence of the imaginative and fascinating "art objects" The magnitude of this effect is comparable still open wound of the 1980 earthquake. are proudly placed while public space are with quitting smoking and it exceeds many “Reconstruction” ended up in an uncon- non-existent or abandoned and neglected, well-known risk factors for mortality (e.g., trolled devastating overbuilding in Naples where rapidly growing suburbs are rapidly obesity, physical inactivity). In particular, suburbs where soon after organized crime transforming into slums and “informal INTERHEART case control study across 52 clans were moved. These factors together settings”, where poor quality of the urban countries found that the presence of psy- with progressive and strong de-industrial- form turns into poor quality of life. If the chosocial stressors was associated with in- ization, high level of unemployment and a city reflects our-self idea right now this creased risk of acute myocardial infarction large influx of illegal immigrant workers, idea appears to be sad, gray and especially (6).This was still significant after adjusting had explosive consequences on the break- selfish. Cities are becoming ugly, but also for other cardiovascular risk factors. The ef- down of the social fabric that from the wicked, unwelcoming and excluding. Plac- fect of stress was independent of socioeco- specific suburbs spread like wildfire to the es where people clashes but does not meet, nomic status and smoking, and occurred entire city of Naples. At present, local degra- where barriers imposed by the urban form across all geographic regions and age dation and impoverishment, national wide reduce the chances of meeting and being groups, and in both men and women. The crisis, with the consequent cuts in health together which in turn generates attention authors concluded that approaches aimed and welfare, increasing difficulties in local and sharing. Thus, poor quality of the ur- at modifying psycho-social stress should be public transportation, had a strong impact ban forms turns into poor quality of life, developed. Social relationship-based inter- on city quality of life, making day by day

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 111 life difficult in particular for the more frag- Trained GENS personnel, handed and ex- Who are NP? ile part of the population like the elderly. plained the anonymous questionnaire to vol- The NP population comprise 47% females On this base we decide to investigate per- unteer participants, which were requested to with mean age 62,67± 9 with a PGWB score ceived well-being and resilience and their re- fill the questionnaire and to hand it back on of 14,60 ± 5.6 and 53% males with mean lation with cultural and social engagement, spot. On request the handers have assisted age 66±11.7 and a PGWB score of 17,64 perceived health and social isolation in the the participants in filling the questionnaire. significantly different from that of female metropolitan area of the city of Naples. (p<0,05). We analyzed socio demographic Results indicators of the NP population and as it Methods We have collected 1,255 questionnaires. is shown in table 1 the gender differential To assess the modes and intensity of access Residents living the metropolitan area of is a constant observation. Three data are to cultural experiences, and its relation with the city of Naples display a Perceived Well- in our view of particular interest. In the perceived well-being, resilience and per- Being (PWB) score of 18,81±5,2 on a scale civil status section PWB is similarly low for ceived health an ad hoc questionnaire has 0>30. This value according to Chassany and widow both female and male and in addi- been developed comprising the following coworkers (10) falls at the boarder between tion it is the lower PWB score observed for sections: moderate distress and positive well-being the male population. On the other hand, a. Socio demographic information Age, state. Since we did not observed differ- housewives which represent 45% of the sex, place of birth, education, employ- ence in PWB and resilience when the three NP female population have a PWB score as ment, marital status groups were analyzed separately all the sub- low as that of widows which represent 18% b. Self-reported well-being referring to jects were analyzed as single population. of the NP female population. Interestingly, the past 4 weeks according to PGWB- Our analysis indicate that 84% of the sub- females with an university degree display a S 6 items analyzing the following jects participate (P) to social and cultural PWB score significantly higher than male domains:Anxiety, Vitality, Depressed activities while 16% did not (NP). The lat- with university degree. mood, Self-control, Positive well-being ter value is almost three times higher than and Vitality on a 0 to 5 scale (8). the percentage of NP reported elsewhere c. resilience according to Connor-David- for the Italian population (11). PWB score son resilience scale CD-RISC2 2 items (9) of NP subject, 16,25±4.12 falls in the area items 1 (“Able to adapt to change”) and distress to moderate distress (10 )and it is 8 (“Tend to bounce back after illness or significantly lower than that of all subjects. hardship”) on a scale 0 to 4. d. extent of social network; e. participation to cultural and social activities; f. life-style habits, PC use, smoke diet, physical activity, transportation g. self reported diagnosed diseases h. self reported perceived health status The questionnaire was submitted to volunteer participants. 1. Audience of the Arci Movie, movie club located in Ponticelli, a suburban neighborhood in the east part of Naples; 2. Outpatients Cardio Clinic of the Uni- versity of Naples “Federico II” Medical School University Hospital. The questionnaire was administered to the out- patient in the waiting room of the clinical facilities while waiting admission to their clinical session and is not part of the patient clinical records; 3. Goers to Parishes, Thai Chi classes, libraries, pharmacies, beaches and stores located over the whole metropolitan area of Naples and comprising Although a gender differential is reported in almost all studies on PWB, our data clearly indicate that NP wealthy, middle class and poor neigh- female profoundly contribute to lower the PWB score of the NP population and that they represent the borhoods. most fragile part of the NP population.

112 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Perceived Health profile of the NP population. The subjects were asked to state the number and the type of diagnosed diseases within a list of diseases chosen among the most frequent in the western population. The mean number of diseases reported by the NP population was 3.8±2.7 while that reported by all subjects was 3±2,5. Subjects were asked how they considered their health status both at present and respect to a year before. The results in Fig- ure 3 indicate that 60% of the NP subject considers their health status actually poor and worst in respect to a year before with a PWB score of 13,2 ±3,5 and a resilience score of 4,5±1,2. Conversely, the PWB score of 30% NP stating their health good and better than the year before was 20±2,6 and resilience was 6±0,9.

Conclusive remarks We choose to test the relation of cultural and social activities on well-being in a sample of Physical activity and diet are considered an key tools to prevent and fight several chronic non people living in Naples metropolitan area communicable diseases. As it is shown in table the majority of the NP population does not exercise and while it is going through a very difficult they display a low PWB score, on the other hand, those regularly exercising display a high PWB score, time of its long history. Local degradation interestingly this difference cannot be ascribed to number of type of diseases that are the same in the two groups. PWB score was not different between NP following or non-following a diet. and impoverishment are having a strong impact on city quality of life, making day by day life increasingly difficult for all citizens but in particular for the more fragile part of the population like elderly. In addition, difficult in transportation it not only is isolating entire suburbs but it is also forcing most people to use private cars, pretty impacting on walkability. In addition, beside contributing to shred the social fabric, local degradation is one of the main cause of social isolation, which is a well-recognized health As for transportation, 41% of the NP use private cars, while 27% uses public transportation and 23% usually walks. risk factors. In this scenario, affordable new When NP subjects were asked “why do you not participate”, surprisingly to us physical limitation and “mending and healing” tools and strategies unavailability of appropriate structures and / or difficulties in reaching them equally contributes to prevent are urgently required. participation to cultural and social activities as it is shown in Figure 2. Research has shown that participation in cultural activities help to fight social isolation and positively correlates with health. On the whole, those who often go to the cinema, theatre and museums are in better health than the general population. In this scenario, cultural welfare could represent a “cheap” health promoting and preventive tool. We analyzed 1255 questionnaires collected in the metropolitan area of Naples, our data indicate that this sample population display a PGWB score by an large toward the moderate distressed mood in respect to

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 113 Social network Finally, we have analyzed NP social network and its relation with PGWB. 63% of NP has a small social network, no more than 5 people, made only of family members and their PWB score is 14,8±3,5. On the other hand, 27% of the NP population stating to have a larger social network have a PWB score of 18,8±4,4. Interestingly, when NP population was ask : on how many people would you rely on in case of needs, 20% of NP subjects with a social network of less than five people believes to be able to count on more than twelve people.

positive well-being reported for the Italian tion why these subject do not participate. In 2. Villanueva K, Gavin Pereira, Matthew population by Chassany and coworker in that healthy problems are claimed as cause Knuiman,et al. The impact of the built environment on health across the life course: de- 2004 by Grossi in 2011-2012. In people par- of non -participation by the same number sign of a cross-sectional data linkage study. ticipating to cultural and social activities of people who state that lack of appropriate BMJ open 2013;3:e002482. doi:10.1136/bmjo- PGWB score significantly increases, while facilities and difficulties to reach them is pen-2012-002482 3. Tavano Blessi Giorgio, Diane-Gabrielle Tremblay, substantially decreasing in non-participant the same. Interestingly, when the social net- Marco Sandri, Thomas Pilati New trajectories in people. Moreover, the percentage of NP is work was analyzed we found that non par- urban regeneration processes: Cultural capital higher than that reported elsewhere (13). ticipant have small social network mainly as source of human and social capital accumulation – Evidence from the case of Tohu in Mon- In the present report we have focused our composed of family members, a strong indi- treal Cities, Volume 29, Issue 6, December 2012, attention on the non –participating popu- cation of social isolation. The NP represent Pages 397-407 4. Cacioppo JT, Cacioppo S. Social Relationships lation. Our result indicate that, women the most fragile part of the population and and Health: The Toxic Effects of Perceived So- of this subgroup display a very low well- the one that the most requires appropriate cial Isolation. Soc Personal Psychol Compass. being index and in addition, a large part is intervention. Public local authorities, while 2014 Feb 1;8(2):58-72. PubMed PMID: 24839458; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4021390. composed of retired and housewives. Al- conceiving public health promoting and 5. Steptoe A, Shankar A, Demakakos P, Wardle J. So- though, in all survey women PGWB score preventive interventions, should take into cial isolation, loneliness, and all-cause mortality is always lower the that of men, our result account on one side the impact of urban in older men and women. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Apr 9;110(15):5797-801. doi: 10.1073/ is dramatic, indicating in non-participating form on health and on the other, the strate- pnas.1219686110. Epub 2013 Mar 25. PubMed women an important target population for gic role of cultural and social engagement PMID: 23530191; PubMed Central PMCID: preventive intervention. Non-participant as key tools to build an “healing city”. PMC3625264. 6. Holt-Lunstad J, Smith TB, Baker M, Harris T, population is not clustered for occupation Stephenson D. Loneliness and social isolation as or education or status and it is wide spread Referrences risk factors for mortality: a meta-analytic review. all over the city. In addition, although the 1. Kent J and Thompson S. Health and the Bu- Perspect Psychol Sci. 2015 Mar;10(2):227-37. doi: ilt Environment: Exploring Foundations for a 10.1177/1745691614568352. PubMed PMID: number of diseases of the NP is statistically New Interdisciplinary ProfessionJournal of En- 25910392 higher than that presented by all subject vironmental and Public Health Volume 2012 7. Toepoel V.Ageing, Leisure, and Social Con- nectedness: How could Leisure Help Reduce So- the average number 3>4 is not the explana- (2012), Article ID 9581

114 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Public Space and tures. Thus, psychological well-being is as important as physical well-being. Happiness in the Urban Max Beer explains the subjectivity of well- Environment being and happiness from another point of Nasim Razavian view. According to him, happiness is a combination of idealism and science. He argues that if it was only related to idealism like Introduction social reform and religious ethics, without Lewis Mumford, with whose writings my men altering their material and institution- own ideas have many points in common, al activities, Christianity, Buddhism, and believes that the most deadly criticism one other religions might have created a para- could make of modern civilization is that dise on earth. Moreover, if it was only about it is not humanly interesting. He believes application of science the world would be a that in the end, such a civilization can pro- heaven by now4. For him, the two notions duce a society that is mentally unhealthy. are not yet working together. Individuals in such a society become ‘read- Mumford agrees with Beer. In his book, Val- ers’, ‘spectators’, and ‘passive observers’ ues of Survival, he writes: “if we are to cre- that only follow heroes and heroines in or- ate balanced human beings…we must give der to forget their issues. He criticizes that as much weight to the arousal of the emo- the spiritual destruction to our culture is tions and to the expression of moral and one of the most negative effects of modern esthetic values as we now give to science, civilization1. to invention, to practical organization. One Wall of Happiness is my graduation project without the other is impotent”5. for Master of Science in Architecture at In my opinion, it is important to consider Delft University of Technology. The subject of this subjective nature of well-being in ar- my project was Public Space and Happiness. chitectural realm as well. If we accept the The main question in this project was how binary feature of well-being as being associ- it is possible to bring happiness to the city ated with duals such as physical and spiri- dwellers by designing a public space in the tual, or scientific and idealistic, then the urban environment of the city of Istanbul. question would be how architecture can cial Isolation of Older People? Soc Indic Res. 2013 The first part of this paper is a theory base reflect on this subjective character. Aug;113(1):355-372. Epub 2012 Jun 13 for my architectural design proposal. The ‘Observing natural elements’ and ‘playing’ 8. E Grossi, N Groth, P Mosconi, R Cerutti, F Pace, A Compare, G Apolone Development and vali- intention of this part is to define a theo- are two principles that can have consider- dation of the short version of the Psychological retical base for designing a public space able role in the happiness of human being General Well-Being Index (PGWB-S) Health and that brings joy and happiness to the city that can have an effect on both physical Quality of Life Outcomes, 4:88, 2006 9. Vaishnavi S, Connor K, Davidson JR. An abbre- dwellers. The second part of the paper is and spiritual well-being. Thus, this paper viated version of the Connor-Davidson Resilien- the explanation of my design proposal will partly investigate the validity of this ce Scale (CD-RISC), the CD-RISC2: psychometric Wall of Happiness which is a conceptual supposition and partly it will reflect on properties and applications in psychopharmaco- logical trials. Psychiatry Res. 2007 Aug 30;152(2- project in the city of Istanbul; a city in the architectural representations through ana- 3):293-7. process of globalization, a city that recently lyzing three case studies that were working 10. Olivier Chassany, E l o f Dimenäs, Dominique Dubois, Albert Wu, Harold Dupuy The Psycholo- announced that is searching for peace and with the chosen notions. As a result of this gical General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) Manual happiness through form of a series of pro- study the design proposal deals with the User, Editors for MAPI Research Institute, Lyon tests. Thus, the taken position is even more same two elements that will be explained France 2004 11. Enzo Grossi Stili di vita, salute, cultura e ambien- valid in such a context. in the second section. te nel determinismo del benessere psicologico There are different definitions for health. In soggettivo: uno studio di popolazione nella città my opinion the definition that WHO2 sug- Theory di Milano., Fondazione Bracco Milan Italy 2012 12. E Grossi, GT Blessi, PL Sacco, M Buscema -The gests, as compared to the others, is the one Nature and observation interaction between culture, health and psycho- that is more related to the intention of this The feeling of spiritual connection or emo- logical well-being: Data mining from the Italian paper. According to WHO, health is “a state tional affinity to nature is an important sub- culture and well-being project Journal of Happi- ness Studies, 13: 129-148 2012 of complete physical, mental and social ject to consider in designing the cities and 13. E Grossi, PL Sacco, GT Blessi, R Cerutti The im- well-being and not merely the absence of buildings. Human being used to have this pact of culture on the individual subjective well- disease or infirmity”3. The definition of the connection before civilization but after the being of the Italian population: An exploratory study. Applied research in quality of life. 6:387- WHO sheds light on the subjective charac- invention of machine this subject has been 410, 2011 teristic of health as being combination of neglected and now it is fading away. Mod- emotional and cognitive with physical fea- ern man is a nervous and unhappy creature.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 115 In his 1938 book, The Culture of Cities, Mum- toration happens. Thus, it would be a way theory is mainly based on human evolu- ford explains the spiritual connection of of restoration for one who is experiencing tion as response to the demands of process- man to his natural environment. He be- stress to continue viewing such a scene9. ing information from environment. The in- lieves that the city should be “a product The second theory is the Attention Restora- formational process was a way of survival of earth…a fact of nature…man’s method of tion Theory as defined by Stephen and Rachel for man to find his way. This theory also expression.” He believes relationship to the Kaplan in 1989. According to them, restora- concludes to human’s response to aesthetic natural environment and to the spiritual tion from attentional fatigue can happen qualities. The interesting thing about this values of human community is one of the during experiences of fascination. Kapa- theory is that, there is a tension between or- most important subjects to think about in lans explain that “fascination is engaged der and uncertainty in aesthetic response. the design of the cities; even more impor- by events, or by objects, or by processes of Thus, although coherence and legibility is tant than their physical design or econom- exploring and making sense of an environ- needed to make sense of environment, it ic functions6. ment”10. In their opinion, natural environ- should be combined with sufficient mys- The notion of nature loving is not a new ment, as compared to other environments, tery and complexity to entice human to subject. It has always been inherent in our afford the experience of being away, fas- gather more information13. Complexity lives either consciously or unconsciously. cination, extent and compatibility more. and mystery become important. Architec- Probably, the word ‘biophilia’ explains this Natural environments have rich aestheti- ture can reflect on that. It can let the mind tendency of man towards his natural envi- cal features such as scenery, sunrise, sunset search for more information. It can encour- ronment best. The term ‘biophilia’ was first that helps the process of restoration from age man to imagine. introduced in 1964 by the German social attentional fatigue11. James Turrell is an American Land Artist. psychologist, Erich Fromm, but later in 1984 In my opinion, the two theories that were His Roden Crater project is one of the best it was popularized by Edward O. Wilson in introduced above both explain that natu- contemporary examples that deal with na- 1984, who defines biophilia as “the connec- ral environments have aesthetic features ture and observation. It is a naked eye ob- tions that human beings subconsciously which are pleasant to human’s eye. The servatory working with visual phenomena. seek with the rest of life”7. For millions of reason that these elements are pleasant to Roden Crater has extreme spiritual charac- years, in the process of evolution, human human’s eye, has roots in evolution. It is teristics. By working with the concept and had a close relationship with the natural this feeling of fascination that releases the feeling of geological time it brings the light environment. Thus human organism’s threats to well-being such as stress or at- of the heavens down to earth, linking visi- adaptions such as those of the brain are the tentional fatigue. Both theories prove the tors with the celestial movements of plan- result of an evolutionary response to the validity of the hypothesis; the role of look- ets, stars and distant galaxies. Roden Crater environment. ing at natural elements in the concept of is an eye; it is something that perceives the By studying different theories about envi- well- being. surroundings itself but as Turrell explains ronmental psychology, I found the resto- The third theory, to be discussed here is himself that it is more about the observer’s ration theory related to the main subject the Prospect Refuge Theory which is mainly seeing and his perception14. The place is of well- being and happiness. Restoration based on the primary need of survival in changing according to the action of sun, means the “process through which people human being. This theory was first intro- clouds, moon, and seasons. recover resources that they have dimin- duced in 1975 by Appleton assuming the An older example of such architecture ished in their efforts to meet the demands ability to move toward a goal while stay- would be Jantar Mantar in India. Jantar of everyday life”8. The need of restoration ing out of the sight of the predators; the Mantar is an equinoctial sundial construct- arises in urban environments. Nature is a idea of seeing without being seen. In this ed in 18th century. It consists of a gigantic way to get away from the chaos of urban theory Appleton analyzes the landscape ac- triangular gnomon with the hypotenuse life and it lets restoration because it has cording to prospects, refuges, and hazards. parallel to the Earth's axis. On either side of features that man finds engaging and pleas- He divides prospects, or views outside, to the gnomon is a quadrant of a circle, paral- ant. two categories of direct prospects like pan- lel to the plane of the equator. The instru- There are different theories about psycho- oramas and vistas, and indirect prospects, ments installed in this place are observa- logical restoration among which four are such as deflected vistas. In his opinion, al- tional devices that measure the position of related to the chosen principle which is though hazards may no longer exist, but sun, stars, and planets. According to Shar- natural environment in relation to obser- the aesthetic experience of landscape is ma, “the words jantar and mantar (or yantra vation. influenced by objects that symbolize these and mantra) in their colloquial meanings The first theory is called Psychoevolutionary notions. The symbolic feature of these ob- are referring to magical diagrams and mag- Theory. This theory, as defined by Roger Ul- jects derives from experience and imagina- ical words respectively”15. It is this feature rich, is concerned with recovery from stress. tion of the observer12. that persuades the observer to connect to He explains that stress is a psychological The last theory that will be discussed here the spiritual, collect information in the en- process that is threatening to well-being. is the Informational Perspective Theory. Ste- vironment, and psychologically restore al- He explains that when a scene evokes feel- phen and Rachel Kapalan have been work- though it is possible that it has not been the ing of pleasantness, calm, and interest, res- ing on this theory from 1978 till 1989. This initial intention of designing such a space.

116 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Jantar Mantar is an interesting example. In my opinion, this third characteristic society and has an anti-social character. Scientific and spiritual realms are merged links the play theory to rituals. Henry Moreover, he believes that the inhabitants, together in a way that they create a myste- Murray’s letter to Mumford describes this who are now free of hard work and are liv- rious architecture letting mind float in the best: “I have always been puzzled by the ing in a leisure environment, can have the world of imagination. More interestingly, widespread and spontaneous appearance possibility to explore their natural envi- it looks like a playground. One climbs the of regular repetitive acts…in children, usu- ronment by the process of creation and re- stairs, moves around tools, and manipulates ally boys…In adults it is associated with an creation. In my opinion, in New Babylon, ar- instruments to look at nature. Body and na- unconscious sense of guilt…It is related to chitecture creates a utopian playground, an ture correlate in order to explore the envi- magic and religious but it is more funda- environmental exploration lab that seeks ronment, understand the time and play. mental than any of them”17. Mumford, influ- for happiness of its inhabitants. enced by Jung’s Ancient Therapy, builds on “As a way of life Homo Ludens will demand, Play this idea that the mechanical order of ritual firstly, that he responds to his need for play- Homo Ludens is the name of a book by the may have kept early man, from going in- ing, for adventure, for mobility, as well as Dutch Historian, Johan Huizinga which was sane. To me, this subject is related to play; a all the conditions that facilitate the free first published in 1938. The term means child playing the same game over and over creation of his own life. Until then, the ‘Man, the player’ and the book is a study again as do animals. Repetition causes res- principle activity of man had been the of aspects of play on culture. According to toration. The mind is now released from all exploration of his natural surroundings. Huizinga, “The origin and fundamentals of the threats and connects spiritually to the Homo Ludens himself will seek to trans- play have been described as a discharge of environment. form, to recreate, those surroundings, that superabundant vital energy, by others as Play is not only restricted in time, but it is world, according to his new needs. The ex- the satisfaction of some imitative instinct, also limited to space. There is always a play- ploration and creation of the environment or again as simply a need for relaxation”16. ground either materially or ideally. Inside will then happen to coincide because, in Play has a different role on individuals and this playground a certain order rules which creating his domain to explore, Homo society. Some regard it as training of the bring a temporary perfection to it. This or- Ludens will apply himself to exploring his young creatures for serious work in the fu- der is the fourth characteristic as Huizinga own creation. Thus we will be present at ture. Some consider it a desire to dominate describes it. The dependency between or- an uninterrupted process of creation and or compete, while others consider it as a der and play gives aesthetic properties to it. re-creation, sustained by a generalized cre- way of restoration. Huizinga continues and The elements of play are described through ativity that is manifested in all domains of explains that ‘fun’ is inherent in playing and words that are related to aesthetics: ten- activity”19. it resists all logical analysis and it cannot be sion, poise, balance, contrast, variation, so- reduced to any other mental category. lution, resolution. Deseign Huizinga describes different characteristics The last characteristic, as Huizinga explains, As a result of the theoretical research the in- of play among which some that are related is that play has a tendency to surround it- tention of my project was to achieve mental to our subject will be explained here. In his self with some sort of secrecy. When chil- and physical well-being through designing a opinion, the first characteristic is that play dren are playing, the charm of the play is public space in the city of Istanbul by focus- is a voluntary activity. It is all about leisure, enhanced when it is ‘secret’18. ing on two notions that were studied: Observ- an activity happening during ‘free time’. An architectural example that works with ing natural elements and play. The second characteristic is that it is not the theme of play as a socio-cultural con- By analyzing theories about psychological ‘ordinary’ or ‘real’. It is about ‘pretending’, cept would be New Babylon. It was a project restoration, I found out that nature has pleas- and, thus, it is related to the realm of imagi- started in 1956 by the Dutch constructivist ant and engaging properties that affect the nation and is ‘only for fun’. It is an ‘inter- architect, Constant Nieuwenhuys, based on restoration process positively. Those theories lude’ in our everyday life as a recurring the theories of Guy Debord and Huizinga. confirm the validity of the hypothesis. More- relaxation. Consequently, it becomes an The main idea was to make every aspect of over, they clarified that certain aesthetical el- integral fact of our lives. It embellishes life the city controllable by its citizens in order ements or characteristics in the environment and is necessary for both individuals and to focus on social construction of the space. are preferred by the observer which have the society. Play contains expressive, spiritual, In this project ‘Homo Ludens’ manipulate potential to become design tools. For instance, and social values so it gets a cultural func- the space by constructing new situations people prefer certain environments, ele- tion. It is a sacred activity and contributes within the given infrastructure. The adapt- ments, or phenomenon such as vistas, panora- to the well-being of the group. ability of this project was allowing the us- mas, sunrise, sunset, stars, and planets. There The third characteristic is that it is ephem- ers to explore their creativity through play. are also some concepts that were abstracted eral but it becomes repetitive. That is, it In New Babylon, abstract space (psychic from the analysis; concepts like imagination, ends at a certain moment, but it assumes a dimension of space) and concrete space mysteriousness, or complexity. fixed form as a cultural phenomenon. Once (space of action) are integrated. Constant We referred to the role of play in the con- played, it is retained by the memory and believes that the detachment of these two cept of well-being, mainly by focusing on transmits to tradition. kinds of spaces is the result of a utilitarian theories of Huizinga.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 117 Wall of Happiness- Nasim Razavian

We analyzed the characteristics of play such as Bosphorus strait or the horizon. two harbours. The site is surrounded by a such as its relation with fun and leisure. The random characteristics of space such huge bus terminal, a parking lot, and the We discussed that play is something which as frames that emphasize the historic part industrial Asian port. This area is not reis not real. It is related to the realm of imag- of the city or natural elements such as the ally designed for pedestrians. In the urban ination and contains expressive, spiritual, river or sunset and sunrise make parts of scale the building works as a filter, creat- and social values. It is repetitive and has the space aesthetically more attractive. ing an experience of a walk on coastline the potential to transmit to tradition. Thus people act differently accordingly. of Bosphorus. Except for the theoretical part of my re- This part of the research resulted in ex- Building on Bosphorus, as being a histori- search, which was summarized in this tracting architectural design tools and cally and politically important border, paper, I have done a contextual research linking them to the conceptual tools that added another conceptual level to the de- on Unexpected Public Spaces in the City of were the result of the theoretical research. sign which was the dialogue about the bor- Istanbul. My intention was analyzing dif- For instance, framing, lighting, and con- der. The building takes its formality from ferent spaces that were built for a certain trast are architectural tools in order to at- the shape of the coast line. With its zigzag function but were transformed to leisure tract attention to certain elements of the form it takes advantage of and reacts to the spaces. People’s attitudes towards certain environment and repetition, movement diversity of its environment. It takes the elements of the environment in relation and interaction, and hidden spaces are ele- shape of the wall as perceived from far in to random physical characteristics of the ments that define the notion of play. order to start the dialogue about border; space have been studied through a series A process of contextualization was need- border between seemingly contradictory of analytical drawings. To explain an ex- ed to start the dialogues with the physical elements such as land and water, old and ample, Galata Bridge was one of my case space. The site was chosen in a crowded new, nature and city, and east and west but studies. This bridge was initially built to urban part of the city in order to chal- it immediately blurs this border due to the simply connect two parts of the city. Ac- lenge the necessity of escaping from the certain materiality of it. cording to my research two things trans- city for gaining psychological restoration. The material that has been chosen for the formed the space to a leisure space: the It is situated on the coast line of Bospho- whole building is steel mesh created with phenomenon of fishing (play) and the po- rus- the strait in Istanbul that divides the welding steel ribbed rods on top of each sition of the bridge with its amazing view city to eastern and western parts- on the other. This material has been chosen be- to certain elements of the environment eastern side and is positioned between cause of different reasons:

118 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The choice of the material made the possi- By standing precisely at certain points 6. Mumford, L., The culture of Cities, bility of creating a space which is perceived around the building the facade reacts to (London,1997, first published in 1938) differently from different distances and dif- some elements of the surrounding. For 7. Hartig, Idem, p. 141-142 ferent angles of view and thus it creates an instance, Blue Mosque is seen through the 8. Hartig, T., Idem, p. 148 interactive space. The same space transforms gradients that abstractly mimic the form of 9. Hartig, T., Idem 10. Hartig, T., Idem, p 151 with a slightest change of the angle of view. its skyline. The light house becomes one of 11. Hartig, T., Idem The visual effects, such as the effect of ana- Blue Mosque’s minarets. 12. Hartig, T., Idem morphosism that the material causes cre- Not only the labyrinth like articulation of 13. Hartig, T., Idem ate a vague- surreal space leaves room for the walls and paths create an ambiguous 14. Turell, J., Occluded Front, imagination of the mind. space that emphasizes the element of play, (Los Angeles, 1985) The material together with the articulation but also other elements give the space fea- 15. Sharma, V., Sawai Jai Singh And His of space through layering different densi- tures of a playground. Hanging columns Astronomy, (Delhi, 1995), pp. 98–99 16. Huizinga, J., Homo Ludens, (Boston, ties of walls results in different gradients of that move with the movement of water and 1955 first published in 1938), pp 96-97 the mesh. It creates diverse spaces like light wind and are also interactive with the body, 17. Miller, D., Lewis Mumford, A and dark spaces which makes the space and flexible weaved floorings accentuate life, (New York, 1989), p. 526 mysterious, hidden spaces to give the space the notion of play. 18. Huizinga, J., Idem, pp. 107 playground features, and frames to show The space will be opened to any kind of 19. Nieuwenhuys, C., New Babylon – A certain elements in the surrounding. transformation by its users. The users can Nomadic City, written for the exhibition By over layering the mesh, darker gradients have the possibility to explore their en- catalogue published by the Haags can be achieved in order to attract atten- vironment by the process of re-creation. Gemeetenmuseum at (Hague, 1974 tion to certain elements of the surround- Different phenomena can emerge in this ing. The chosen elements are referring to space. Although these phenomena are not Referrences specific meanings. For instance, by fram- entirely predictable, but the changes of the • Hartig, T.,Van den Berg, A., Hagerhall, C., Toma- lak, M., Bauer, N., Hansmann,R.,Ojala,A., Syngol- ing the light house, which is a symbol of spatiality of the proposal can still be imag- litou, E., Carrus,G., Van Herzele,A., Bell,S., The- observation, the user is e reminded of the ined. For instance, the space will drastically rese Camilleri Podesta,M., and Waaseth,G., 2010, importance of looking or by framing the change while people start hanging objects Health Benefits of Nature Experience: Psychological, Social and Cultural Processes, Chapter 5 in: Nilsson, industrial port and positioning it close to from the mesh, but this is part of the inten- K., Sangster, M., Gallis, C., Hartig, T., De Vries, S., the horizon facade he or she is reminded tion of the design to create a framework for Seeland, K. and Schipperijn, J., Forest, Trees and that nature is not that far from the city and bottom-up activities. Human Health, Springer Science Business and Media, Dordrecht civilization. The wall creates a playground, an environ- • Hays, K.M., 2010, Architecture’s Desire: Reading the The building is constantly changing with mental exploration lab that seeks for the Late Avant-Garde, The MIT Press, London • Huizinga, J., 1955 first published in 1938), Homo time. It is sensitive to different hours, sea- happiness of its users. It creates an invisible Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture, Bea- sons, and temperatures. Furthermore, the border between the seemingly contradic- con Press, Boston shadows of the mesh add another layer to tory elements of its environment to start • Miller, D., 1989, Lewis Mumford, A life, Grove Press, New York the space. The transparency of the material the dialogue about this border but it imme- • Mumford, L., 1997, first published in 1938, The makes the possibility of seeing through, diately challenges the existence of a defined culture of Cities, Routledge, London for instance, looking at water and the sea border with its blurry appearance. By creat- • Mumford, L., 1922, The Story of Utopias, Boni and Liveright, New York life underneath when walking or looking ing a playground inside this wall it ironi- • Mumford, L., 1946, “Values for Survival: Essays, at the sky or different backgrounds when cally talks about the fragileness and nar- Addresses and Letters on Politics and Education”, standing. By doing this it makes surround- rowness of this border and through creating Harcourt and Co., New York • Nieuwenhuys, C., 1974, New Babylon – A Nomadic ing part of the architectural space. frames of the surrounding it reminds us of City, written for the exhibition catalogue publi- One important part of the design is control- the things that are there yet we don’t see. shed by the Haags Gemeetenmuseum, Hague • Sharma, V., 1995, Sawai Jai Singh and His Astro- ling the water. The first flooring is elevated nomy, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd, slightly (21 cm) from regular water level Delhi and it has the same level of the high tide. • Tuchman, B., 1978, A Distant Mirror: The Calami- 1. Mumford, L., The culture of Cities, tous 14th Century, Random House, New York During high tide part of the space becomes • Turell, J., Brown, J., 1985, Occluded Front, Fellows wet. There is a layer of water on top of the (London,1997, first published in 1938) of Contemporary Art, Los Angele foundation that creates narrow runners 2. World Health Organization 3. Hartig, T., “Health Benefits of between the walls. The foundation creates Nature Experience: Psychological, a platform that people can stand on and it Social and Cultural Processes”, forbids the ships from crushing into the (Dordrecht, 2010), pp. 131-132 building. The zigzag form of the building 4. Mumford, The Story of Utopias, controls the speed of water at the small (New York, 1922), loch then Bosphorus can become a swim- 5. Mumford, Values for Survival ming/fishing pool. (New York, 1946), p. 183

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 119 Influence of urban space in caused by this public space. One question, or Flickr. This was only studied in cities of specifically, is as follows: ¿Consideras que London and Boston, but it shows another the happiness of citizens un espacio público urbano (su diseño, su paisa- way of differentiate the urban paths, not Rita Monfort Salvador je, sus recorridos…) puede influir en la felicidad only by the shortest or the most touristic: de las personas que circulan por él? (Do you “Buildings and neighbourhoods speak. They think that an urban public space (its de- speak of egalitarianism or elitism, beauty or Happiness is a totally subjective concept for sign, landscape, paths...) can influence the ugliness, acceptance or arrogance. The aim of which everyone has their own idea about happiness of people moving for him?) UrbanGems is to identify the visual cues that when and when not happy and what makes One week before this survey was finished are generally associated with concepts difficult him/her happy and what not. The physical (when this paper was written), over 85% to define such beauty, happiness, quietness, or and spatial context, in which people are, of people who had answered had said YES, even deprivation. The difficult task of deciding can not make them happy, is a concept too the rest was divided equally between NO what makes a building beautiful, or what is complex and in which too much feelings and Don't Know. The interest of this re- sought after in a quiet location is outsourced to and real facts influence to trivialize in that sponse is that not only professionals can the users of this site using comparisons of pic- way, but an urban space can help develop think that an urban space can influence tures. With a comprehensive list of aesthetic this happiness. the happiness of citizens, but citizens virtues at hand, we would be more likely to themselves, external of town planning, systematically understand and re-create the Some researches about urban happiness are aware that these spaces influence environments we intuitively love”. At the responses to a survey for my PhD their own happiness. Giorgiana Varna (2014) talks about the Thesis I realize the amazing certainty of Other research also shows that. This inves- civility of public spaces and she defines this. The PhD thesis is on urban sustain- tigation (Quercia et al. 2014), published by these kind of places as clean, friendly and ability and specifically the survey is on Cornell University, proves that it is possi- inviting areas: the relationship between the behavior of ble define not only the shortest paths, but “Civility refers to the overall cleanliness and citizens (civility) and urban space (2015). also the most beautiful, the most peaceful tidiness of a public place, including those ele- Not all the survey is related to the relation- and the happiest, thanks to an algorithm ments that are key in making a public place an ship between happiness and urban space, with reviews of citizens and their contribu- inviting and attractive area (bins, green areas, but much of it is related with the feelings tions on websites like Google Street View public toilets...)”.

"Miroir d'Eau" (Water mirror) of Bordeaux, an example of how an urban space can influence at people’s happiness

120 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Leaves on the street: one asphalt does not retain the leaves, while the other one retains them. It’s like if the leaves were tattooed on the floor. When the leaves stop falling the ones that are on the floor disappear.

These areas could be define as a pleasant or shine wherever convenient or causing shad- The wow factor nice areas. These kind of areas are the ones ows where needed, making the urban space as Another characteristic of urban space that which make people happier. A place that you pleasant as possible. influences the happiness of both children can consider pleasant, without stress, without When we talk about children, these charac- and adults is the wow factor. The son of anything that you don’t like, it's a place where teristics of the space are simplified, as all they a friend of Barcelona always drew their you feel good, so the most sure is that this place need to be happy is a place to play. Something home with flowers on the outside as a improve your happiness more than other one. as simple and upon which so many people are garden. She did not understand it because claiming now (as Francesco Tonucci -Frato- they live in an apartment, so one day asked Citizens: adults and children does). Sometimes with a space large enough him why he always drew their house with When a space leads that happiness, people re- for running, cycling or use the scooter is more a garden when they had no garden and he turn to it without even realizing it. As in the than enough for them. Obviously the more el- replied that they were flowers of the side- previous study, where people knew which ements they have to play, the better for them: walk. Most of the sidewalks tiles in Barcelo- route choose to make them happier between stairs, ramps, sculptures that can touch and na have a drawing of a flower with four pet- all the existing routes, people know which play with them ... Everyone knows that chil- als (known as la flor de Barcelona - the flower spaces have to choose to feel better. And people dren have a great imagination to invent games of Barcelona - or el panot de flor - the flower attract more people (Mikoleit and Pürckhauer where adults do not see anything. No need to tile -). It has become a tourist object, but for 2011), so spaces that have an influence on the build a playground (although they are also im- this child these flowers are more and are part happiness of people indirectly also attract portant in children). The "Miroir d'Eau" (Water of his home: two happy endings for an ele- more people than if they do not cause any feel- mirror) of Bordeaux or water jets from Duke ment of urban space. ing or cause the opposite. of York Square (London) are a good example On the other hand, monotony is always For adults a space that can influence your of how something as simple as a water jet aris- boring and see urban spaces with the same happiness could be defined as a safe, friendly, ing from ground can transform a space to turn urban landscape and nothing different, one beautiful space and in which they feel good. it into a "playground" where children (and after another, just does not cause any feeling, To get it there are some elements that can help adults) can have fun and cool with water dur- except boredom. It is not necessary that ev- such as urban furniture or vegetation, as well ing good weather and return to being a normal ery space to be totally different from the side, as good management climate in outer space space without anything during the cold winter. only are needed details such as a map on the (Olgyay 1963), cutting wind, favoring the sun- ground, a curious plaque, some urban art ...

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 121 Elements which surprise you when you meet Interpreting The objective of this article is to refine, or, them and make that you want to return to that even better, to justify the concept CT, as pro- area only to see them again. Although one of communitarian tourism posed by Sampaio (2005), based on Brazilian, the characteristics of civility is cleaning spaces, in the context of some Chilean and Costa Rican experiences. This as we have seen before, sometimes not clean integrated experiences in concept, as explored here, has two guiding something (without going to the extreme) may Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica motivations. The first is to overcome the also contribute to the surprise that can bring mere criticism addressed to the economic Carlos Alberto Cioce Sampaio, Talita us happiness: the flowers falling from the trees reductionism dominant in the tourism sec- "staining" colored the city floor, or brown leaves Cristina Zechner, Christian Henríquez, tor, exemplified in the stereotype of mass in autumn covering the park as a tapestry could Luzia Neide Coriolano, Simone tourism, by presenting a real alternative. be a good example. Even certain materials can The second is to present a substantive con- Calistro Fortes Bortolossi, Alan Ripoll help this: without addressing if they are better or cept, with an independent existence, a new worse for their specific function, there are some Alves interdisciplinary field heading towards a asphalts in which, curiously, leaves falling from transdisciplinary approach and far from the trees are impregnated into it like a tattoo it were, idea of becoming another tourism modality causing change cityscape naturally. Introduction bounded exclusively by economic values. It It has not been talked at this paper about what Communitarian or Community-based Tour- is important to mention, at this stage, that do not produce happiness of public space but ism (CT) first appeared as an academic dia- the work and income generated by tourism the opposite feeling, which is relatively clear logue in Brazil at the I Encontro Nacional de activities are not undervalued here, how- and recognizable by the vast majority. Some- Turismo de Base Local (Local-basis Tourism ever, as independent features, these cannot thing that almost everyone agrees. Just to name National Meeting), held in São Paulo, in fully represent the concept CT. In this study, some of its characteristics: noise, dirt, not find a 1997. Six years later, at the I Seminário Inter- a third motivation is to adjust a theoretical place to sit when we need or can not shelter us nacional de Turismo Sustentável (International concept, conceived from real experiences, in a shade from the sun in days of extreme heat. Seminar on Sustainable Tourism), held in especially at the Laboratory Zone for Ecode- They are just some examples of what can do that Fortaleza, in 2003, social movements joined velopment Education of Lagoa de Ibiraquera people avoid a specific space. the debate. CT, as discussed on the theoreti- (Imbituba and Garopaba, Santa Catarina state, As you can see at not time at this paper is said cal basis of this study, derives from tourism Brazil), since 2001, and others. These experi- that urban spaces make people “happy”, if not modalities, known for the terms cultural ences are not a new heterodox alternative to “happier”. This is important because, as it is tourism - or ethnic-tourism, ecotourism and tourism, although they provide evidences said at the beginning, happiness is a complex agritourism. However, the most remarkable of a new economy, i.e. ecosocioeconomy. It concept and, although the urban space is very characteristic of CT is that the entrepre- happens in real life, through a new ratio- powerful, it's not so much as has the key of citi- neurs, in this case traditional populations, nality, in communities, organizations and zens’ happiness. But it was also seen that urban are people inspired by communitarian ide- domiciles, where problems and solutions spaces and urban design can do a lot to improve als who do not follow the rational economic occur and rarely are properly qualified. It citizens' happiness, and that this statement is logic of individual gain. is a theory conceived from the experiences, longer considered a reality CT is a strategy for traditional populations the everyday complexities (Sachs, 1986a, At the end having urban spaces which influence to lead their own lifestyles, independently 1986b), the contradictions inherent to the citizens’ happiness depends of all of us: urban of their degree of deculturalization in the pragmatic change pursued, in response to planning professionals, urban and landscape de- face of the industrial urban societies hege- the limitations of economic utilitarianism, signers, maintenance workers, citizens… It has mony. Therefore, it consists in an alterna- and that many times does not work at the to be one of the main goals of the urban space: to tive to the consumer-materialistic lifestyle desired pace. make people happier. (Sampaio, 2005). CT uses the actual situation of the tourism Method industry as an advantage, which means that This article mixes bibliographical and for- Referrences it uses this sector's instrumental rationale. mative research. The latter comes from in- • Mikoleit, A., Pürckhauer, M. 2011 Urban Code, Its focus, however, is not on the calculation formation based on a database of experienc- 100 Lessons for Understanding the City. The MIT Press, Zurich. of merely individual consequences, but on es which has been collected since 2002, and • Olgyay, V. 1963 Design with climate. Bioclimatic ap- collective gains, as the ecosocioeconomy contains elements that may be considered proach to architectural regionalism. Princeton Uni- suggests. Dealing with this antagonism is characteristics of CT. The database was put versity Press, Princeton. • Quercia, D., Schifanella, R., Aiello, LM. 2014 The more than overcoming one's paralysis in together by a group of Brazilian and Chilean Shortest Path to Happiness: Recommending Beau- front of the Leviathan (as if Hobbes' State professors, researchers, postgraduate and tiful, Quiet, and Happy Routes in the City . Cornell was not enough, now there is the market). It graduate students from Universidade Regional University’s arXiv: arXiv:1407.1031, Ithaca, New York. is, also, learning to tolerate other lifestyles, de Blumenau (Regional University of Blumenau), • Varna, G. 2014 Measuring Public Space: The Star which does not necessarily mean sharing the Universidade Federal do Paraná (Federal Uni- Model. Ashaget Publishing Limited, Surrey. same rationality. versity of Paraná), Universidad Austral de Chile

122 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue and Instituto de Gestão de Organizações que pro- released in 2007 and prepared by the World use and access. Public affairs are understood movem o Ecodesenvolvimento (Institute for the Meteorological Organization for the United as related to goods and services that may be Management of Organizations Promoters Nations Environmental Program, even the planned, either by the State (via governments of Ecodevelopment), Brazilian Non-Govern- most skeptics cannot remain indifferent and public organizations) or by the commu- mental Organization (NGO). when prospecting the next 50 or 100 years nity (via associations and non-governmental The database arises from lessons learned in of our economy. This report reveals that hu- organizations). Private organizations are not experiences in Brazil, Chile and Costa Rica, man action is the main cause of the ongoing put in check here, as if they do not have their collected by using exploratory and action climate change in the planet, especially af- own merits. However, the recovery of other research, and case and comparative studies. ter industrial revolution. This latter has in- forms of natural resources appropriation, Among these experiences, eleven demon- spired a rationality that privileges short term such as State-owned or community-owned strative projects standout and are presented economic results and socializes medium and initiatives, is a necessity. in this work. Eight are from Brazil - Prainha long term social and environmental losses. As if there were not any successful experi- do Canto Verde (Beberibe, Ceará), Environ- Responses to this issue, however, are still ences of government, public organizations mental Sana Project (Macaé, Rio de Janeiro), modest. The so-called ecoefficiency incorpo- and community planning and management, Communitarian Ecotourism in the Brazil- rates the environmental discourse in man- like the Brazilian experiences catalogued by ian Amazon: Aldeia dos Lagos Lodge (Silves, agement, as exemplified in the polluter-pay- the Programa Gestão Pública e Cidadania (Pub- Amazônia), Guaporé Ecologic Action: Pedras er principle, maintaining a rationality that lic Management and Citizenship Program) Negras Lodge (Curralinho, Rondônia), Mami- is no longer able to handle the challenges to from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (Getúlio Vargas rauá Sustainable Development Reserve (Tefé, be overcome. That is to say, there is evidence Foundation), based in São Paulo and funded Amazonas), Calumbé Group (Comunidade that the planet cannot absorb or regenerate by the Ford Foundation and Banco Nacional de de Lençóis, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia), and from the impacts produced by human action Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (National Acolhida na Colônia Association (Santa Rosa anymore (greenhouse gases), and this will Bank for Economic and Social Development) do Sul, Santa Catarina); three are from Chile cause a significant change in what has been (Spink & Camarotti, 2001). - Chiloé's Agritourism Network (X Región), conventionally called modern lifestyle (in- By the way, in the face of the international Licanhuasi Rural Tourism Network (San Pe- dustrial urban society), or, for the futuristic private organizations, even from the de- dro de Atacama, II Región), and Mapu Lahual minds, post-modern (World Meteorological veloping countries, leading role in the en- Communitarian Parks Network (San Juan de Organization & United Nation Environmen- vironmental crisis posed by the Intergov- la Costa, X Región); and one is from Costa Rica tal Program, 2007). ernmental Panel of Climate Change, what - National Ecotourism Network Cooperative Likewise, what has been conventionally may be considered a successful experience Consortium (COOPRENA) (Parque Nacional considered natural resources should be of managerial policies and mechanisms for Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica). The data was questioned. As if biodiversity could only ecosystem sustainability must be discussed. collected between 2005 and 2010 and the be valued through the economic logic. Al- If still not enough, there is the social inequal- discussion includes the following items: gen- though natural resources and environmen- ity revealed by the Human Development esis, analysis of implemented actions, their tal services are considered to have positive Index (United Nations Development Pro- strengths and weaknesses, and, also, the im- economic values and functions in the eco- gram, 2010), where it is reported that around pacts of the initiatives mentioned above. logical economy perspective, treating them thirty percent of the population in the planet as zero-cost, as it often happens in the ac- (Human Development Index high and very Rethinking the rationality: tual perspective, generates a serious risk of high) have a gross domestic product per cap- ecosocioeconomy exhaustion or extinction of the involved ita around seventeen times higher than sev- Ecosocioeconomy involves the environ- environments (Alier, 2007). Under these ar- enty percent of the population. mental discussion. This term was first used guments, it is necessary for one to consider This world scenery of such disparity is not by Kapp (1963). The first prefix eco (Oikos the contemporary economic logic in order different than the Brazilian, Chilean and = House) refers to ecology and reinforces to conceive an environmental rationality, as Costa Rican realities. Isn't it the moment for what the second prefix "eco" should have proposed by Leff (2000), so that a connection us to start questioning? What rationality already been pointing. This term, however, with the standing paradigm, which is unable is this behind the social action that gener- has been vulgarized through history, having to respond to most social problems, is built. ates so many negative socioenvironmental its meaning related to what Aristotle was al- It is not difficult to correlate the modern or impacts? Will the concentrated wealth fi- ready denouncing at his time as crematistic. post-modern lifestyles to the private use of nally be shared? What must happen for it Crematistic is when the social relations are resources and access to means of production. to start? At the expense of a colossal tragedy subject to economic relations. Updating the In the same way, private mechanisms and like flooding on coastal areas caused by hur- discussion, natural systems are also subject policies are considered more efficient than ricanes, fires caused by low humidity and to the economic logic, what resulted on the public and communitarian management, as elevated temperatures in the atmosphere, climate change experienced on the last de- evidenced by the parable of the commons, or deaths caused by fanatic suicides or ter- cades. Based on the last report from the In- idealized by Hardin (1968), although this au- rorists who find their own compensatory tergovernmental Panel of Climate Change, thor confuses free use and access for public logic to a system that seems unfair to them?

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 123 Therefore, what has conventionally been These communities, even if deculturalizated attraction of CT is the opportunity of expe- called economic development, under such (in relation to the urban industrial societies riencing the space-time dimension ruled by arguments, could, without exaggeration, be hegemony), are identified as being tradition- the sun, moon and rain, or, the seasons of referred to as bad development. al, what allows them to use their traditional the year. These experiences are being imple- characteristics as their main attractions, the mented by NGOs, such as Instituto de Gestão Communitarian Tourism conviviality, of communitarian inspiration. de Organizações que promovem o Ecodesenvolvi- CT is a social communication strategy for tra- This characteristic has become an exotic fea- mento (based in Curitiba, Paraná) and Agreco ditional communities with historical disad- ture in the consumer-materialistic lifestyle. (based in Santa Rosa de Lima, Santa Catarina), vantages to enable their respective lifestyles. Conviviality is a social relation in which sub- on a low budget program, generating local According to Houaiss and Villar (2001), com- jects are interested for the other, the different, work and income. These are being monitored munities are social groups that share cultur- the alterity, the authenticity, respecting the as experimental zones, resulting in socially al and historical heritages, problems and so- traditional communities' simplicity, their articulated networks that attend the com- lutions, and are settled on defined territories. routines, accents, music, food, and others. In munities' demands, which also results in the Fonseca (1993, p. 65) adds that the sharing of essence, it overcomes the commercial rela- strengthening of the links between commu- moral beliefs and publicly accepted norms tionship, allowing the recovery of the inter- nity and tourists (McGehee, 2002; Sampaio, inside communities define what are licit and connection between distinct lifestyles (by as- Carvalho, & Almeida, 2007). It is noticeable illicit conducts. Traditional communities, sembling formal and traditional knowledge, that the contact with international tourists then, may be defined by geographical crite- westernized and traditional cultures) and strengthens even more the links with the ria: in an isolated territory; cultural criteria: between social and ecological systems (Illich, visited population, what contributes for the sharing customs, traditions and habits; or so- 1976; Irving & Azevedo, 2002; Coriolano & minimization of interpersonal meetings and, cioeconomic functions: varying on produc- Lima, 2003; Sampaio, 2004; Sampaio, 2005; also, to untie misconceptions from both sides tion and distribution modes (Barretto, 2004; Sampaio, 2010). (Pearce, 2002). Geertz, 1989). In this ambiguity between communities and Communities, especially traditional ones, Communities and lifestyles are interrelated. their lifestyles lies the concept of territory, are in different stages on the process of de- Among them are: extrativistas (extractive which may be defined as a physical and a culturalization. The focus, however, is on communities, these use plants - liana, fibers social space in nature, in which, according the cultural identities to be recovered or and medicinal herbs extracted from the for- to Godelier (as cited in Diegues, 2000), a so- maintained. As if this is not enough, tourists est - and animal biodiversity management ciety claims and assures to its members the going from urban centers to predominantly - hunting and fishing); pescadores artesanais possibility of stable rights over the access and traditional communities in search of alterna- (traditional fishers, included in the category use of part or the totality of the existent bio- tive experiences take with them, without re- of animal extraction, although their main diversity, according to what they are capable alizing, pathologies of the urban lifestyle that characteristic is to live in coastal areas); or willing to use. Diegues adds that territo- they had previously planned to avoid, like jangadeiros (traditional fishers who live in ries provide means of production and sub- the commonly heard: "there is only one thing coastal areas at the Brazilian Northeast re- sistence, generating diverse social dynamics missing for this village to become perfect". gion); ribeirinhos (river margin inhabitants in (what differentiates the communities and As if the dominant culture (urban lifestyle) the North region of Brazil and are included their unique lifestyles), and, also, physical had too much to teach to these poor ignorant on the category of plant and animal extrac- aspects that delimit them. Territories are also people (Grünewald, 2003)! tivism); pequenos agricultores (small-scale ag- the loci where knowledge representation sys- However, native populations are not unilat- riculturists inhabitants of rural areas, these tems, identities, symbols and myths are built erally and passively influenced by tourists, are characterized mainly for their subsis- by traditional populations and it is based on as if the latter do not get influenced as well. tence agriculture); faxinalenses (small-scale these spaces that these communities act on Tourism cannot be metaphorically seen as agricultural communities in Paraná state (in the environment in which they live. For tra- the gladiator who combats native cultures, Brazil) who possess common areas for cattle ditional populations, popular beliefs serve as in the extreme case of the Democratic growing and environmental protection), as mechanisms of biodiversity conservation People's Republic of (North) Korea, where in- indigenous, quilombolas (afro-descendant and may determine which specific places ternational tourists are subject to a rigorous groups with origins at the Brazilian colo- and species of flora and fauna are considered State regime: tourism attractions are deter- nial period who nowadays are farmers and sacred, restricting, in this way, tourism visita- mined by ideological and political themes, land-owners); caiçaras (a mix of indigenous, tion areas (2000). hotels are controlled State property and every Portuguese and African people, the latter in CT provides the opportunity for conscious tourist is monitored by a government guide. less quantity, who, during a long period re- tourists (students, teachers, researchers and Also, tourists from specific countries, such as mained isolated in the Atlantic forest and on supporters) to get in contact with themes the United States, are not able to obtain visas the coast of São Paulo state, these survive on which at the same time are related to envi- to enter the country. Tourism may also rein- hunting, itinerant agriculture, plants extrac- ronment preservation (ecological systems) force the recovery of ethnic aspects, without tion, and artisanal fishing) (Diegues, 2000); and traditional lifestyles conservation (social necessarily transforming what is authentic and many others. systems). In addition to conviviality, another in cultures into spectacles (Pagdin, 1995;

124 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Grünewald, 2002; Barretto, 2004; S. Kim, Tim- the outstanding attractions in CT (at Rio Sa- Therefore, more creative attractions are nec- othy, & Han, 2006). Authenticity, however, is grado basin, Morrestes, Paraná) is a monthly lo- essary, like a farmer's palaeontology museum not a closed concept, it is negotiable, and ev- cal fair for the exchange of goods and services offered at the Chiloé Islands (Chile) or the ery culture that becomes viable along a peri- (Sampaio et al., 2007). entitled “Feira Viva” (Live Fair), which com- od of time has to constantly reconstruct itself. Although, according to Fennel, there are mercializes agricultural and natural prod- In the same manner, traditional cultures are eighty-five definitions of ecotourism present- ucts, offered at Estrada Bonita, in Joinville, and not static, these are in constant change by ening values based in, conservation, ethics, sus- at Acolhida da Colônia, in Santa Rosa de Lima, dogenous or exogenous factors (Greenwood, tainability, education, and communitarian both in Santa Catarina state, Brazil. Moreover, 1982; Cohen, 1988; Nash, 1996; Diegues, benefits, among others (as cited in Weaver & agritourism is a difficult product to commer- 2000). Therefore, relying on a homogeneous Lawton, 2007), this term has been vulgarized, cialize. It requires specialized travel agencies, Western culture predominance would be a especially when this tourism modality is ap- situation not different than ecotourism and mistake under such arguments. propriated by the rational economic logic, as cultural tourism, and, even, CT (Sampaio, Car- The question is how to better equate the ad- exemplified in the expropriation of commu- valho, & Almeida, 2007; Sampaio, 2005). vantages of tourism development for com- nitarian land by a large corporation self-called Although the main objective of CT is to inte- munities without having to face all the prob- "ecological resort". If not enough, this enter- grate experiences, accommodation and meal lems usually found in mass tourism listed prise closed the beach, not allowing the transit services, which, at a first glance, does not by Mercer (2002): local labor idleness during of people who, for generations, used these spac- differentiate it from the other three tourism most part of the year, abnormal price rises, es. Blamey (1997, 2001) suggests three criteria modalities mentioned above, a first character- real estate speculation, natives-tourists seg- to define ecotourism. Firstly, attractions should istic that differentiates CT is that it considers regation, traffic, violence (drug abuse), pros- be predominantly based in nature; secondly, tourism activities as subsystems intercon- titution and vulgarization of authenticity. As the interaction between tourists and these at- nected with others, such as education, public less evasive modalities arise, these should not tractions must be of educational inspiration. health and environment. CT is conceived as be mistaken for CT, cultural tourism or eth- The first two criteria combined are exempli- a project for sustainable systemic territorial nic-tourism (including indigenous tourism), fied by the ecotourism practiced in protected development. It departs from the community, ecotourism and agritourism. public and private areas, especially in Central which may be considered a second character- Cultural tourism involves observation or in- America (Costa Rica), Brazil and Africa (Weaver istic. Irving and Azevedo (2002) refer to CT as teraction with traditional lifestyles (Barretto, & Lawton, 2007). Thirdly, the ecotourism prod- "sustainable tourism". For these authors, the 2004). Although indigenous tourism may be uct should follow principles and practices asso- development of this activity demands the in- considered a type of cultural tourism, this ciated to ecologic, economic and sociocultural corporation of ethical principles and values, a modality is restricted to observation and in- sustainability. According to Scheyvens (1999), new way of conceiving the democratization teraction with people from minority nations the main motivation of tourists interested in of opportunities and benefits, and a new mod- who were subject to colonization, although ecotourism is their desire of experiencing eco- el for implementing projects centered in part- still having rights that make them able to systems in their natural state. For Laarman and nership, co-responsibility and participation. preserve their autonomy (International La- Durst (1987), ecotourism, as a product, may be A third characteristic is conviviality between bor Organization, 1991). However, cultural classified into soft ecotourism and hard eco- the resident population (this includes domi- tourism may easily become another tourism tourism. The soft ecotourism is associated to ciled non-residents, i.e. migrants) and tour- product, commercialized as a consequence of high standards services and facilities, mediat- ists, on a socioproductive arrangement of the market's cultural production, i.e. compa- ing tourists and natural spaces and where the communitarian basis, promoting production nies interested in producing or highlighting load capacity of the ecosystems is respected, networks based on institutional arrange- certain cultural traces and, in the best situa- while hard ecotourism is related to services ments, in which the tourists themselves con- tion, fostered by governments' cultural revi- and facilities that are known as eco-hostels, as tribute for the promotion of these initiatives, talization policies. seen in experiences that may be considered ex- or as in the experience at Rio Sagrado basin In this way, it is important to notice the risk of amples of CT. (Morrestes, Paraná), where communitarian transforming traditional lifestyles into exotic Agritourism refers to a set of services required experiences are related to an industrial kitch- products or spectacles as if these were mere by tourists who wish to experience rural life en that industrializes products. Examples merchandise, like the example of Maori people (Maestro, Gallego, & Requejo, 2007; Oyarzún are: a craftsmen association in which the in New Zealand, depicted as great warriors by & Carcamo, 2001; Schaerer & Dirven, 2001). production is based on the fiber from banana the tourism industry (Garrod & Fyall, 1998; The activities occur in rural areas, usually trees and a specific kind of liana called cipó Ryan, 2002). On the other hand, cultural tour- along a short period of time only. This is due imbé; an entrepreneur who brews artisanal ism presents a great potential to tourism attrac- to the lack of accessible tourism attractions. cachaça and other liquors, another entrepre- tions, exemplified in four groups: music festi- The difficulty in creating tourism routes in neur who manipulates natural herbs; and an vals, amusement parks; local fairs; and events between properties in Latin America is occa- exchange club promoted by the residents of related to education and aesthetics. Most of sioned many times by the bad conservation the involved communities (Sampaio, Berberi, these, however, are also offered in urban spaces of dirt roads, and also because many proper- & Dreher, 2006; Sampaio, 2004; Coriolano & (H. Kim, Cheng, & O’Leary, 2007). Yet, one of ties offer the same or very similar attractions. Lima; 2003;).

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 125 Conviviality reinforces productive spaces residents' association. In these occasions it has February, 1995. The NGO broadened its focus for collective gains (not necessarily for com- been verified that the natives consider work in search for more communitarian mobiliza- mercial purposes). These may be considered and income generation the two main benefits tion in the region's sustainable tourism plan- ecosocioeconomic spaces, such as exchange occasioned by tourism activities implement- ning and management. Another implemented clubs and fair commerce platforms. Fair ed in the community. They soon understood project was Capitão Minhoca (Captain Worm), commerce arises to affirm a free, direct and that tourism activities should be organized by co-developed with a local farmer. In this ac- honest relationship between three economic them, so an inadequate exploitation by for- tion, the NGO was responsible for turning subjects: impoverished producers - generally eign organizations would not occur. the status of Barra da Sana farm into a Reserva excluded or in disadvantage on the market; Among the main actions implemented at Particular de Patrimônio Natural (Private Natu- consumers - who are willing to pay a higher the locality are: the creation of the Tourism ral Patrimony Reserve) and the owner, in re- price; and the intermediaries - who do not Council; the organization of COOPECAN- sponse, had to make the farm's facilities avail- expect profit. In this relation there is a per- TUR (Tourism Cooperative); the realization able for the development of a horticulture spective of setting long term contracts based of lectures and courses for the communi- school. The main objective of the project is to in mutual respect so that the families of pro- ty; the realization of project Artescola (Art recover degraded areas by graduating plant- ducers are able to live better (Plataforma Ko- School), which has the objective of imple- ing agents and seeding producers. As a result, myuniti y el Comercio Justo, n.d.; Espanica, menting entrepreneurship and recycling water sources and riparian areas were recov- n.d.). The exchange club, mediated or not by community's material; the consolidation ered and more than 300 thousand trees were a social currency, is an attempt to reconstruct of project Estaleiro Escola (Shipyard School); replanted. In Sana, there is also a project called the connection between producers and con- the concretion of project SODIS (it is a low- Criança Semente (Child Seed) which organizes sumers, called “prosumers” by Lisboa and cost simple method to disinfect domestic workshops about environmental awareness Faustino (2006), through coexistence and water), the realization of project Agroecologia and education for children. solidarity. When the bartering of goods and (Agriecology), based on ecological principles As it is common in Brazil, one of the biggest dif- services is not possible, a social currency is of sustainability and community knowl- ficulties to maintain these projects is the limi- used to simplify trade among members of edge; and of the project Canto Verde Digital tation on funding. In order to minimize this the club. (for digital inclusion). situation in this community, the Estabelecimen- Such activities present as strengths the gen- tos Verdes (Green Establishments) stamp was Experiences toward Ecosocioeconomy and Com- eration of work and income, the growth of created. All the commercial establishments, munitarian Tourism fisheries and lobster commerce, the raise in hotels, inns, camping areas and associations Experiences that may be classified as CT value of local handcraft, and the improve- which in any way contribute for the mainte- have been attracting attention (although ment in education, public health system and nance of the projects receive a stamp and are this is not the intention), especially because basic infrastructure, like energy and treated included on a promotional material distrib- of the Latin American districts' capacity to water. There are still a few weak points, such uted to tourists. The locality's waterfalls, con- implement small-scale and low-cost eco- as the raise in the community's life-cost and sidered important attractions, are monitored nomic activities, generating non-specialized the shortage of space for the future genera- by the NGO Grupo de Defesa Ecológica Pequena work placements and low environmental tions of natives. It may be affirmed that the Semente, which has the project Nossa Casa, impacts. However, there have been only a main impacts of the project's implementa- Nossa Terra (Our Home, Our Land). Today, small number of communities able to suc- tion are the improvement in the commu- Grupo de Defesa Ecológica Pequena Semente and cessfully work with this articulated associa- nity's life-quality, the raise in natives' self-es- the Psychology Institute from the Universidade tivity, named community-basis socioproduc- teem, the generation of work and income for Federal do Rio de Janeiro (Federal University of tive arrangement, in Latin America. Among the inhabitants and the growth of associative Rio de Janeiro) form a partnership to maintain them, eleven ongoing demonstrative proj- cultures and communitarian leaderships. the project Sana Sustentável (Sustainable Sana). ects are briefly presented next. One of the remarkable objectives of this part- 2 Projeto Sana Ambiental (Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, nership is to stimulate the formation of social 1 Prainha do Canto Verde (Beberibe, Ceará, Brazil) Brazil) actors who will later become participants on One of the most known and studied cases of There were social and environmental prob- the tourism planning process at the region. CT in Brazil is Prainha de Canto Verde, located lems in this locality, associated to an uncon- in Beberibe district, on the coast of Ceará state. trolled tourism flux. In order to help minimiz- 3 Communitarian Ecotourism in the Brazilian The tourism planning in this locality begun ing the problem, the project Pequena Semente Amazon: Aldeia dos Lagos Lodge (Silves, Amazo- in 1994 with the development of the Projeto (Small Seed) was elaborated with the objective nas, Brazil) Turístico Socialmente Responsável (Socially Re- of developing ecological awareness in tour- The experience in Silves, in the Amazon forest, sponsible Tourism Project). One of the main ists and residents. This project, without funds, is a communitarian ecotourism project and objectives of this project has been to develop reached great results and grew stronger, origi- its main attraction is Aldeia dos Lagos Lodge activities via decentralized and participatory nating a NGO called Grupo de Defesa Ecológica and the exuberant Amazonian natural beauty. planning. Since the beginning of the project, Pequena Semente (Small Seed Ecological De- Silves district is formed by thirty-two commu- tourism became a topic on meetings at the fense Group), which started its activities in nities of ribeirinhos who depend on fishing to

126 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue maintain their lifestyles. Ecotourism activities ties for maintaining the projects is the limita- Marked by an associative work based in represent an opportunity for the local commu- tion on funding. agriecological principles, Agreco started its nities and are developed in partnership with activities in the 1990's. The project gained the World Wildlife Fund. There is a strong 5 Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve importance among students and research- concern in not harming nature and preserving (Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil) ers, as well as tourists. These latter started local biodiversity while promoting tourism. Mamiruá Sustainable Development Institute to come to observe the agriecological activi- In 1993, the project Associação de Silves pela has the objective of protecting a large area of ties that the community was developing. In Preservação Ambiental e Cultural (Silves' As- tropical forest via communitarian manage- 1999, Acolhida na Colônia Agritourism Asso- sociation for Environmental and Cultural ment. The institute started its activities in ciation was founded, with the collaboration Preservation) started, formalized as a NGO by 1999 and it develops projects like Qualidade of Agreco. Among the implemented actions communities of ribeirinhos. The NGO helped de Vida (Life Quality), which focuses on the are remarkable the adaptation for agritour- training touristic guides and organizing ac- problematic of human adaptability in natu- ism of fifty rural properties, the installation tivities related to tourism, which resulted ral ecosystems. The institute also seeks the of a travel agency managed by the commu- in the commercialization of a tourism pack- strengthening of actions related to sustain- nity and the realization of experiences in ru- age offered to tourists that stay at Aldeia dos able development public policies. This pro- ral, social and productive areas, based on the Lagos Lodge. This package includes walks in gram cover themes related to environmental principles of agriecology. As strengths are the the forest where, during the activity, tourists education, communitarian health and the marketing strategies applied, the associative are able to visit residents' houses, orchards, use of appropriate technologies. Another level achieved, the insertion of products in clear grounds, small engenhos (where flour is important program coordinated by the in- the market, the hospitality of the receiving prepared), and, also, have the opportunity to stitute is the Programa Ecoturimo (Ecotour- community and the recognition and raise in participate in artisanal fishing. Today, Aldeia ism Program), which promotes sustainable value of the traditional lifestyle. However, dos Lagos Lodge is managed by the community forms of work and income generation by geographical location makes access difficult. and part of the income obtained from tourism using properly qualified local labor. The pro- Some weaknesses are the badly conserved is applied in actions for the preservation of the gram works with handcrafts sales and agri- roads, the difficulty in managing the travel district's lands and lakes. cultural products purchases. agency, the fragile cultural identity and the deculturalized style of the local buildings. At 4 Ecologic Action Guaporé (Ecoporé): Pedras Ne- 6 Calumbé Group (Lençóis Community, Chapada the beginning, the proposal of the association gras Lodge (Curralinho, Rondônia, Brazil) Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil) achieved success, however after a period of Ecoporé's main enterprise is Pedras Negras Calumbé Group started its activities after a time the socioeconomic impacts started to be- Lodge, where the community gets involved partnership between project Bagagem (Lug- come difficulties on the sustainability of the with ecotourism practices. In order to coordi- gage), from São Paulo, and the NGO Grãos de project. nate the activities (among them are preserva- Luz e Griô, from Lençóis, Bahia. This group has tion of riparian areas, fishing management, the objective of consolidating a nucleus at 8 Chiloé’s Agritourism Network (Región de Los La- forest management, and, also, ecotourism) Chapada Diamantina to be managed by young gos, Chile) Ecoporé has the following institutions as part- natives, which will generate, follow and evalu- This project started in 1996. Its objective was ners: Rondonia's Latex Extractors Organization, ate Community-based tourism on the region. reuniting and training a group of agricultural Ação ao Manejo Florestal na Amazônia (Actions Many actions have been effected, like the alter- families distributed in all Chiloé islands so that, for the Forest Management in the Amazon) native routes guided by residents who present in an organized way, these families could be- and Program for the Ecotourism Development local history to tourists. The routes allow the come part of the tourism activities offered at of the Amazônia Legal. The project's activities tourist's participation in the Bahian sertanejo the locality and, in this way, promote sustain- started in 1988 and have contributed for the culture. Each route has a different theme and able local development. The main idea was improvement of life conditions at the commu- some of the attractions are diamond extrac- that families should prepare their houses to nity (especially for local women). Some contri- tion, samba de roda, terno de reis, forró pé-de- receive tourists so that these latter could ex- butions are the raise on the families' income, serra, raizeiros, traditional midwifery, among perience the community’s lifestyle by partici- and the minimization of environmental im- other local traditions. It is important to point pating in most of the traditional activities held pacts. In this experience, tourists have the op- out that there is a significant involvement of in local properties. In addition, tourists would portunity to see the traditions and customs of the natives in the activities developed by Gru- be able to enjoy different activities, such as the natives and how life is in the forest. At Pe- po Calumbé, as they see in tourism an opportu- horseback riding, traditional cooking classes, dras Negras village, where Pedras Negras Lodge nity to maintain their lifestyles. The group suf- participation in traditional fairs, natural patri- is located, there are eighteen resident families fers financial difficulties, and its projects are mony observation, among others. It is remark- that propitiate tourism activities, including partially funded by project Bagagem, which able the active participation of the families, observation and participation in: nuts harvest promotes the flux of tourists and charges for it. what facilitates the interaction with tourists. (between January and April), latex extraction, The agritourism network in Chiloé is a pioneer mandioca flour preparation, and traditional 7 Agreco, Acolhida na Colônia Association (Santa in working with agritourism in an associative fishing. Nowadays, one of the biggest difficul- Rosa de Lima, Santa Catarina, Brazil) way in Chile.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 127 Weaknesses are: lack of funding to improve in partnership with the Global Environ- by a transnational company. The communi- the residences; local dispersion of some ser- ment Fund, Mapu Lahual Communitarian ty took possession of more than 500 hectares vice providers; difficulty in getting into Chi- Parks Network is a protected coastal marine of land and founded the cooperative COPE- loé Islands during summer due to the load area of multiple uses and the only with the SILENCIO, which, right from the beginning, capacity of the ferry boat available; lack presence of traditional communities inside aggregated new members and found partner- of cohesion in the group, result of the geo- its limits in the country. The objectives of ships with the objective of developing rural graphical amplitude of the area; and the diffi- this network are the conservation of the lo- projects. The main activities realized were culty of local families in managing their own cal environment and the increase in the com- training agricultural families and imple- incomes obtained from tourism. As impacts munity's income. Among the activities done menting a Communitarian Tourism net- standout the generation of work and income standout: the formation of indigenous asso- work. As strengths standout: the social orga- through the commerce of agricultural prod- ciations and the creation of five new wildlife nization, the insertion of local women and ucts, handcrafts and sea food; the improve- conservation areas; the possibility of exchang- newer generations in the projects developed, ment in the inhabitants' life quality; and the ing knowledge among traditional communi- the preservation of natural resources, and recognition of the local women's work, since ties; the construction of four environmental the recovery of the traditional culture. One these are the key authors on reception of education centers and five thematic libraries; of the weaknesses is the lack of international tourists. the increase in thematic routes dedicated to visibility of the ecotourism services. The environmental education; and the realization most remarkable impacts are the raise of the 9 Licanhuasi Rural Tourism Network (San Pe- of cultural expositions in which are presented inhabitants' self esteem, the active participa- dro de Atacama, Región Atacameña, Chile) local gastronomy and other traditional mani- tion of locals in the preservation of natural Created in 1999, when community members festations. The most remarkable strength is resources and the communitarian articula- from the Council of the Atacameñan People the area's sociobiodiversity, considered by the tion in networks which prioritize traditional decided to work in the tourism sector as a Chilean government one of the most impor- production methods. strategy to revitalize the local sociocultural tant for preservation, and by World Wildlife and socioenvironmental patrimony and con- Fund and the World Bank as one of the two Conclusion tribute to the families income, improving hundred ecosystems in the world where After presenting the eleven experiences that inhabitants' life quality. The implemented unique elements are still conserved. lean towards CT, it has been verified that all activities are training local people for han- The method used by the network is seen as of them are recent initiatives and most are lo- dling natural resources, implementing ac- participative and transdisciplinary, present- cated in natural spaces considered Conserva- commodation services and gastronomic ing a degree of complementarity between tion Units. The geneses of these experiences production, elaborating tourism routes and scientific and traditional knowledge. Two are related to socioenvironmental projects training touristic guides. The strengths are: points standout: the articulation between (of systemic character) and have the precon- the development of a model for associative communitarian parks (family properties) ceived intention of promoting tourism, even management; the creation of a network of and the creation of communitarian centers when identified with traditional tourism permanent work for inhabitants; the de- for the provision of basic services for the modalities: cultural tourism, ecotourism and crease in the migration to urban centers, the communities. The difficult access is one of agritourism. The initiative is almost always creation of new possibilities for territorial the problems for the viability of the project. supported by NGOs or universities, which is development; the raise in the inhabitants' Remarkable impacts are: the creation of a not strange in political democracies that are life quality and the conservation of natural legislative decree that regulates access and not exactly the example of economic democ- and cultural patrimony (in this item, de- use of the area (Lafken Mapu Lahual); the racies, typical of Latin American countries, i.e. serves attention an archaeological museum community's participation in the meeting countries with problems in income distribu- of a wise palaeontologist). of the Convention of Biological Diversity; tion and low educational levels. So, it is com- The lack of economic resources is a difficulty the realization of an international seminar prehensible that, at least on a first moment, for this community when competing with and itinerant expositions in other Chilean communities with historic disparities take larger private tourism projects and also mi- districts, the training of six indigenous com- advantage of the initiative of formal institu- grants. As impacts are the establishment of munities by the National Tourism Service; tions, better articulated in the structures of a permanent work source, the raise of the in- and the generation of work and income for political and economic power in relation to habitants' life quality, the conservation of lo- the participants of the network. the State, the market and the civil organized cal sociobiodiversity, and the consolidation society. In this way, communities are able to of a trade network related to the mass tour- 11 Consórcio Cooperativo Red Ecoturística Na- benefit from a pseudo-incubation, receiving ism offered at the locality. cional (Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio, Costa managerial and financial help provided by Rica) such institutions. 10 Mapu Lahual Communitarian Parks Net- During the 1960's and 1970's there was in Therefore, CT is associatively organized on work (San Juan de la Costa, Región de Los La- Costa Rica a strong conflict for the domain the territorial scope and the realization of gos, Chile) of lands. Sixty families were fighting for the meetings and seminars at the local communi- Created in 2006 by the Chilean government right of use and access of an area abandoned ties is almost a condition during the process of

128 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue planning and implementation of this tourism At the same time, tourists are able to see that • Illich, I. (1976). A convivencialidade. Lisboa: Euro- modality. However, in most cases, communi- there are alternative ways to the consumer- pa-América. • International Labour Organization. (1991). Con- tarian associative work is not a spontaneous materialistic urban lifestyle. Under this per- vention concerning indigenous and tribal peo- movement, but a strategy for communities spective, CT has an educational spectrum, ples in independent countries. ILO, n. 169, 72 ILO to face the economic forces of the market. where experienced learning serves either to Official Bill, 59, sep. 5, article 1. Basle: ILO. • Irving, M., & Azevedo, J. (2002). Turismo: o desafio This is why traditional populations organize strengthen the receiving communities' self da sustentabilidade. São Paulo: Futura. themselves in cooperatives and State (in this esteem, occurring via exchange clubs or fair • Kapp, K. W. (1963). The social costs of business enterprise. Nottingham: Spokesman Books. case they organize themselves in local asso- trade commerce; or to reinforce the over- • Kim, H., Cheng, C. K., & O’Leary, J. T. (2007). Un- ciations, what, as mentioned earlier, does not coming of tourists' expectations, especially derstanding participation patterns and trends in necessarily imply to be something negative). in occasions where the socioeconomic rela- tourism cultural attractions. Tourism Manage- ment, 28, 1366-1371. Even because it is noticeable in these experi- tion is substantive between residents and • Kim, S., Timothy, D. J., & Han, H. (2006). Touri- ences the lack of support of the districts' gov- tourists, going further than the relation mea- sm and political ideologies: a case of tourism in ernments as the communities are usually far sured by the individual economic rationality North Korea. Tourism Management, 28, 1031-1043. • Laarman, J. G., & Durst, P. B. (1987). Nature travel from the district's center, what suggests cer- where one profits but the other necessarily and tropical forests. FREI Working Paper Series. tain correlation. does not. It also allows the experience of a so- Raleigh, NC, USA: South-eastern Center for Fo- Also, there is a significant concern on aspects cial relation measured through conviviality, rest Economics Research, North Carolina State University. related to natural and cultural patrimony in even if it still presents an implicit economic • Leff, E. (2000). Epistemologia ambiental. São Paulo: communities experiencing CT. In some cases, relation, which, as seen here, is not a prob- Cortez. • Lisboa, A. M., & Faustino, A. V. (2006). Trocas so- this concern occurs in parallel, in others it lem when the sense of tolerance to other life- lidárias, moeda e espiritualidade. In Proceedings integrates the experiences of CT, which has styles is based in learning. from IV Encontro Internacional de Economia So- as objectives the preservation of biodiversity lidária do NESOL, (CD-ROM). São Paulo: USP. • Maestro, R. M., Gallego, P. A., & Requejo, L. (2007). and the conservation of traditional lifestyles. The moderating role of familiarity in rural tou- It is known that the experiences analyzed rism in Spain. Tourism Management, 28, 951-964. under the scope of CT are implemented in lo- Referrences • McGehee, N. G. (2002). Alternative tourism and social movements. Annals of Tourism Research, calities distant from urban centers and, there- • Alier, J. M. (2007). O ecologismo dos pobres. São Pau- lo: Contexto. 29(1), 124-143. fore, accessibility, on a first moment, seems to • Barretto, M. (2004). Relações entre visitantes e • Mercer, D. (2002). A difícil relação entre o turismo become a barrier to its success. On the other visitados: um retrospecto dos estudos socioantro- e a população nativa: a experiência da Austrália. In W. F. Theobald (Ed.) (pp. 117 - 144). Turismo glo- hand, there is a risk that, by building paved pológicos. Turismo em Análise, 15(2), 133-149. • Blamey, R. (1997). Ecotourism: the search for an bal. São Paulo: Senac. roads or highways, the impacts would be the operational definition. Journal of Sustainable Tou- • Nash, D. (1996). Anthropology of tourism. New same as it happens in localities that experi- rism, 5, 109-130. York: Pergamon. • Oyarzún, E. M., & Carcamo, C. G. (2001). Analisis ence mass tourism, although these infrastruc- • Blamey, R. (2001). Principles of ecotourism. In D. Weaver (Ed.). The encyclopaedia of ecotourism, (pp. de la red agroturismo Chiloé. Santiago: UACH. tures bring comfort and fasten local transpor- 5-22). Wallingford, UK: CAB International. • Pagdin, C. (1995). Assessing tourism impacts in the third world. Progress in Planning, 44, pp. 185- tation. However, as said by some residents, it • Cohen, E. (1988). Authenticity and commoditiza- tion in tourism. Annals of Tourism Research, 15(3), 266. seems that even the traffic and its implicit dif- 371-386. • Pearce, P. (2002). A relação entre residentes e tu- ficulties are part of the experience. • Coriolano, L. N., & Lima, L. C. (2003). Turismo co- ristas: literatura sobre pesquisas e diretrizes de gestão. In W. F. Theobald (Ed.) (pp. 145-164). Tu- Together with this learning, some qualifica- munitário e responsabilidade socioambiental. Forta- leza: EDUECE. rismo global. São Paulo: Senac. tions for the concept of CT emerge. The term • Diegues, A. C. (2000). O mito moderno da natureza • Plataforma Komyuniti y el Comercio Justo. (n.d.). social communication strategy is used in tra- intocada. São Paulo: USP. Cooperativa Comercio Justo Chile. Retrieved June 16, 2005, from: http://www.tiendacomerciojusto. ditional communities in order for them not to • Espanica. (n.d.). El comercio justo: origen y evolu- ción. Retrieved June 20, 2005, from: http://www. cl/es_que_es_comercio_justo.php erroneously mistake CT as a new economic ty- nodo50.org/espanica/cjust.html#primeras • Ryan, C. (2002). Tourism and cultural proximity: pology, like the many that already exist, when • Fonseca, E. G. (1993). Vícios privados, benefícios examples from New Zealand. Annals of Tourism Research, 29(4), 952-971. these prioritize, at any cost, the generation of públicos: a ética na riqueza das nações. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras. • Sachs, I. (1986a). Ecodesenvolvimento: crescer sem work and income. In the analyzed experienc- • Garrod, B., & Fyall, A. (1998). Beyond the rheto- destruir. São Paulo: Vértice. • Sachs, I. (1986b). Espaços, tempos e estratégias do de- es what is important is the way in which work ric of sustainable tourism?. Tourism Management, 19(3), 199-212. senvolvimento. São Paulo: Vértice. and income are generated. The initiatives • Geertz, C. (1989). A interpretação das culturas. Rio • Sampaio, C. A. (2004). El turismo como fenóme- come from the community and are generated de Janeiro: LTC. no histórico. Estudios y Perspectivas del Turismo, 13, 290-300. in the locality. Work and income offers are • Greenwood, D. (1982). Cultural authenticity. Cul- tural Survival Quarterly, 6(3), 27-28. • Sampaio, C. A. (2005). Turismo como fenômeno hu- correlated to maintaining production means • Grünewald, R. A. (2002). Tourism and cultural mano. Santa Cruz do Sul: EDUNISC. and the respective sources of environmental revival. Annals of Tourism Research, 29(4), 1004- • Sampaio, C. A., Berberi, A., & Dreher, M. (2006). Arranjo socioprodutivo local de base comu- goods and services that qualify lifestyles and 1021. • Grünewald, R. A. (2003). Turismo e etnicidade. nitária.. In Proceedings from ANPAS: III Encontro biodiversity in natural spaces within a com- Horizontes Antropológicos, 20, 141-159. da Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa munity's territory. In this manner, the relation • Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. em Ambiente e Sociedade, (CD-ROM). Brasília: UNB. • Sampaio, C. A., Carvalho, M. B., & Almeida, F. between development and environment has Science, 162, 1243-1248. • Houaiss, A., & Villar, M. S. (2001). Dicionário H. (2007). Turismo comunitário: projeto piloto a new meaning, making the environmental Houaiss da língua portuguesa. Rio de Janeiro: montanha beija-flor dourado em uma zona de la- boratório de educação para o ecodesenvolvimen- problematic eminently a social issue. Objetiva.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 129 to. In Proceedings from ENTBL: Encontro Nacional The people-oriented to many factors, chiefly the lack of suitable de Turismo com Base Local, (CD-ROM). João Pessoa: public spaces and the presence of noise and UFPB. approach to public spaces: • Schaerer, J., & Dirven, M. (2001). El turismo rural pollution caused by the intensive use of cars. en Chile. Serie Desarrollo Productivo, 112, pp. 75-93. the case of Adelaide In order to allow the creation of lively, safe, • Scheyvens, R. (1999). Ecotourism and the empo- sustainable and healthy cities, Gehl (1996, werment of local communities. Tourism Manage- Marichela Sepe, Assunta Martone, 2010) proposes to strengthen the social func- ment, 20, 245-249. Serena Micheletti • Spink, P. K.; Camarotti, I. (2001). Redução da Po- tion of public spaces, favouring their role as breza e Dinâmicas Locais. Rio de Janeiro: Editora da meeting places. Fundação Getulio Vargas. • United Nations Development Program. (2010). The term lively city is used to mean a city Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvi- Introduction where there are spaces where people are en- mento. Informe sobre desenvolvimento huma- no. Retrieved July 11, 2011, from: http://hdr.undp. Mapping the contemporary city presupposes couraged to perform actions such as walk- org/en/reports/global/hdr2010/chapters/pt/ new approach in order to analyse and design ing, biking, staying. A safe city is a city where • Weaver, D. B., & Lawton, L. J. (2007). Twenty years more and more complex urban scenes. In this there are short walking distances, various ur- on: the state of contemporary ecotourism research. Tourism Management, 28, 1168-1179. respect, new ways of mapping the city have ban functions and services, and public spaces • World Meteorological Organization., & United arisen, with the main purpose of identifying which are attractive. In this way the feeling Nation Environmental Program. (2007). The the urban dynamicity using direct observa- of security increases because there are more physical science basis (Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007). Paris: IPCC. tion or ad hoc electronic devices. Among the eyes along the street and people are incentiv- new approach to the interpretation of public ized to participate in events in the city. A sus- space in particular, the people oriented cre- tainable city is a city where a broad system ated by Jan Gehl is capable to identify people of green mobility is used, including not only behaviours in connection with the urban en- public transport but also pedestrianism and vironment (Appleyard, 1981, Carmona et al, cycling. A healthy city is a city where people 2010; Jacobs, 1961; Sepe, 2013, 2014). can easily walk or bike to reach their place As regards, the paper is aimed both at illus- for daily activities instead of taking a car or trating this approach and the emblematic riding a motorbike, whose increasing use is case study of Adelaide (South Australia) car- becoming a problem for diseases connected ried out by Gehl Architects. The intention of to a sedentary lifestyle (Gehl, 2010, pp. 3-8). the project is to emphasize “intrinsic char- The necessary requisite for lively, safe, sus- acteristics” of the place in object and create tainable and healthy cities is hence walking, happier and more liveable public spaces. meant in its widest meaning: having conver- The paper is organized as follows: the first sations, meeting people, experiencing street part is devoted to the explanation of the entertainment, shopping and so on. people-oriented approach; the second part In this respect, Jan Gehl recognizes three shows the place’s description; in the third main types of pedestrian activities in public part problems and guidelines are outlined to spaces: necessary activities, optional activi- be solved through design recommendations; ties, and social activities. finally the factors that contribute to liveabil- "Necessary activities include those that are ity and urban happiness conclude the work. more or less compulsory - going to school The purpose of this work is to understand or to work, shopping, waiting for a bus or how the project objectives can contribute to a person, running errands, distributing specify the factors able to cause urban happi- mail - in other words, all activities in which ness. The case study was conducted by Gehl those involved are to a greater or lesser de- in 2002. In 2011 the study area was expanded gree required to participate. (...) Because the and the results achieved in the first instance activities in this group are necessary, their were assessed. incidence is influenced only slightly by the physical framework. These activities will The people-oriented approach take place throughout the year, under nearly The people-oriented approach is based on all conditions, and are more or less indepen- the observation of places from the pedestri- dent of the exterior environment. The paran’s point of view. Jan Gehl begins his study ticipants have no choice". on public space with the observation that "Optional activities - that is, those pursuits in many contemporary cities the opportu- that are participated in if there is a wish to nity for "pedestrianism" has been reduced do so and if time and place make it possible to a form of transport, increasingly losing - are quite another matter. This category in- its social and cultural function. This is due cludes such activities as taking a walk to get

130 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue a breath of fresh air, standing around enjoy- is that in Adelaide city centre, despite efforts "shopping-phase", where the street is pedes- ing life, or sitting and sunbathing. being made to increase the number of out- trianized but the main pedestrian purpose These activities take place only when exte- door cafés, a more diverse range of activities is shopping; the "cultural phase", in which rior conditions are optimal, when weather has to be introduced to encourage people to people use public spaces in order to stay and and place invite them. (...) These activities walk and stay. The presence of heavy traffic recreate thanks to the presence of new ac- are especially dependent on exterior physi- due to the intensive use of private transport tivities. Finally, the "spatial identity phase" cal conditions". does not improve the overall quality of the where public spaces interconnected, creat- "Social activities are all activities that de- spaces. The squares cover a large area but ing a network and assuming a new meaning pend on the presence of others in public suffer from poor quality and of a lack of an (Gehl, 2002, 2010). spaces. Social activities include children at overall plan with indications as to how they In the different cases in which the people- play, greetings and conversations, commu- might be used. Another observation is that oriented method was carried out, the ob- nal activities of various kinds, and finally - as the wide streets offer many opportunities to servations which concern public space in- the most widespread social activity - passive develop not only recreational activities but cluded the composition, size, sitting of the contacts, that is, simply seeing and hearing also suitable spaces for pedestrians and cy- place, the traffic situation and the conflicts other people. (...) These activities could also clists as well as bus lanes. for pedestrian flows. Protection, comfort and be termed "resultant" activities, because in With respect to the conditions of pedes- enjoyment are the main criteria which are nearly all instances they evolve from activi- trians, the study indicated low priority in identified in order to obtain a "100% place". ties linked to the other two activity catego- the city centre. The public spaces are not The case-study of Adelaide will be illustrated ries. They develop in connection with the too densely populated because urban con- below with attention both to the analysis other activities because people are in the ditions show pedestrians as an obstacle. A and the guide-lines design. same space, meet, pass by one another, or are lack of dedicated safe lanes for cyclists is merely within view". also observed. Outdoor seating is sufficient The Adelaide case study Quality of public spaces, as shown in the dia- but not always well placed, and in some The study area gram used by Gehl (2010), occurs when there case there is the lack of view, shade or suit- Jan Gehl was entrusted by the city of Ad- is a good presence of optional and social ac- able public access. elaide (South Australia) to make the neces- tivities. The presence of only necessary activ- Finally, the survey identified a city mainly sary studies to improve the livability of the ities denotes an outdoor area of poor quality. inhabited by young people, with a low pres- place. Adelaide is a city of about 1 million of However, when the public space is of high ence of children and elderly people. In this inhabitants with a high livability potential, quality the necessary activities continue to case, interventions which were identiied tar- particularly due to the intrinsic character- take place with similar frequency but the get the following principles: "Capitalize on istics of the place suche as the temperate time which people spend there is longer due the unique qualities, Create a better city for climate and proximity to the River Torrens. to the better conditions (Gehl, 1971, 11-16). walking, Create a better city for staying, Re- Crucial to the Adelaide’s current urban com- The method used by Gehl in order to im- duce through traffic, Create a beautiful city, position was the Colonel Light project which prove the quality of public spaces consists Create a diverse, safe and lively city. Each of he thought it as a square enclosed by the Park in observation of both public spaces and be- this indications are proposed with different Lands. These are green public spaces which haviour of pedestrians within these. Based measures mainly based on: reducing traffic, have a perceptive link with five squares in- on this observation, the problems or poten- both by establish a ringroad to redirect the side the inner city, three of which were in- tials of the public space are highlighted and traffic out of the city centre and introduc- cluded in the study circumscribed by Gehl the strategies for quality improvement are ing traffic calming measures; developing a in 2002: Victoria Square, Hindmersh Square outlined. suitable pedestrian network and creating and Light Square. Whitmore Square and Pedestrian activities are surveyed by count- a strategy to differentiate and improve the Hurtle Square were successfully integrated ing the number of people who walk in pub- squares; developing a design program for ur- in 2011 studies. The area considered in 2002 lic spaces and by identifying how they are ban furniture, signs, lighting - both daily and is composed about 1.500.000 m2, while the used, people’s activities, the kind of facilities nightly- and city colors; improving north- extension in 2011 includes 4.050.000 m2 of which are offered for walking and staying. In south connections; developing a good public the south city area, expanded later north- particular, the data for behavioral mapping transport network; create more accommo- ward, over the River Torrens, with almost are collected through counts of pedestrian dation in the city centre for a lively 24-hour 2.000.000 m2. traffic and surveys of stationary activities at city" (Gehl, 2001). Road system was structured by Colonel specific times, days and periods of the year. This method has been applied in many cit- Light on a hierarchy that has successfully In this regard, an emblematic case study con- ies including Melbourne, Oslo, Perth, Port- permitted the evolution adapting to actual sists in the city of Adelaide in Australia, in land and Copenhagen. Development of the circulation more than 50.000 cars in a day. which the above observation of public spac- main streets of these cities follows a similar The East-West axis is determined by wide es identified different kinds of places and use process of transformation: the "car-oriented" streets, while North-South is designed with modes to be developed or enhanced which phase, the cars occupy the street, leaving side streets that do not allow a great fruition include the following. The first observation limited space to pedestrian circulation; the of citizen.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 131 In the South-West city area is located the About the use of spaces just mentioned, the tures with 15-20 units on 100 m of margin, Central Market, which consists in a large enways of Adelaide are all driveway except with many entrances and good architectural closed space in which branch out streets and Rundle Mall e James Place that are pedestri- qualities are very attractive (A +). Are pleas- alleys. an ways, and Leigh Street that is high pedes- ant (B) averages structures of 10-14 units per The analyses in the city of Adelaide was trianization. Among the places of Adelaide 100 mt. Are considered intermediate (C) fa- carried out by Gehl in order to understand not appropriate to the traffic were identified cades with few differentiations of functions times and places of greater fruition, quality Park Lands, the riverfront and six squares but and low architectural quality, with 6-8 units and typology of pedestrians, favourite paths, these ones are not immune to cars’ passage. every 100 mt. Are monotonous (D) facades activities to perform (sitting, staying, social- Wide streets offer more recreational opportu- unattractive, with few or without entrances, ization), nightlife, the road conditions for cy- nities and they are also more identitary. They with few details and openings (2-5units / 100 clists, the distribution of public transport in present lanes dedicated to the performance mt). Are considered very unattractive (E) fa- the area and the flow of traffic. of different typologies of activities, different cades without openings which there is not The people-oriented approach was used by by side streets that are often privates or nar- variety of functions and there are not inter- Jan Gehl to analyse Adelaide’s city’s pecu- row and dark enough to not permit neither esting details to note. liarities and relations between humans and vehicular nor pedestrian passage. The edges of the Central Market are consid- places. Results of investigation were given About squares the most central is Victoria ered unpleasant because there is not con- to associations, residents, politicians, in or- Square that occasionally takes festival and gruence between internal functions and der that were used to improve the image and events, but daily is used as waiting place for external facades of the shops. Other areas fruition. Spaces were particularly studied to public transport. Instead Hindmersh Square where good facades on the ground floor are extend the range of age and place’s use’s pe- is used moreover as staying place during practically absents are in West city and in riod. This development strategy may impact lunchtime. The only place where good recre- the North-South connections, unlike the about planners’ future decisions, also im- ational activities are carried out is Skate Park good "soft edges" concentrated in the streets proving the execution of necessary activities. (just outside to study area) which is enclosed of Rundle Street, Rundle Mall and Hindley and it is not passed by cars, so children can Street that are considered the best of city. Spaces make their activities without incurred in Adelaide has a variety of spaces being part great dangers. Every square, except Whit- Activities both of the natural and urban pattern which more Square are crossed from ways which As explained in the previous section, Jan it is possible improve also with minimal in- divided them in few plot of lands, sometimes Gehl divided activities which are performed tervention projects. used as widening or even as car parks. In this in a city in necessary activities, optional and so- The peculiarity of Adelaide is evident from way the sense of social cohesion and the own cial activities. An indicator of good quality is the street system hierarchy and the typology square activities are lost, so they appear few given by number of stationary activities, be- of the green public spaces. The streets are identitary. cause they are fulfilled only in good places. wide 20 m, 30 m, 40 m, and this difference The Park Lands are not used as places where Activities’ and people’s surveys were per- characterize them as principal or secondary carry out recreational activities, instead they formed in the summer (January, February) of ways, in according to trees’ planting that is have the principal purpose of crossing, a sit- 2002, with additional examinations in April, regular in greater roads, as it is the case of uation that worsens especially at night. in weekday and holiday, in working time and North Terrace. Green public spaces are con- A useful place where there are about 80 busi- by night. The weather conditions were good. stituted by Park Lands, situated on the edge ness activities is the Central Market. It is a Regarding pedestrian traffic, academics of town, and the squares which have not distinctive place in the city and very recog- walked at an average speed along five streets benches or, if presents, are lacking in shade nizable due to strong auditory sensations to calculate journey and waiting times. Pe- or good view, as it happens in Light Square. produced by users and workers. destrians’ analyses were made from 10 to In a negative way, parking lots are several The analysis carried out by Gehl, also ob- 24, for 15 minutes per hour, to understand and they are positioned or in places interfer- serves the influence of edges on spaces. A the relation between activities and places’ ing with walkway, or they are obtained in city space more lived by pedestrians is the fruition. The city was trodden with cycle to spaces to reserve to sociability, as squares. “soft edge” which is an intermediate space value the cycle places’ quality. For each zone, Another typology of space is the waterfront between private and public, between inside the seats were counted by comparing pri- of River Torrens which has to connected, also and outside. It is a part of a path both during vate and public chairs’ quantity. Main night visually, with the contest. execution of necessary activities and option- activities were identified in coffees, restau- Although it is an enclosed place for private al activities. rants, pubs, hotels, theatres, cinemas, cul- business, among the most important spaces In Adelaide the building edges are not sat- tural activities. To go deeply different central in the city it was found Central Market, isfying in greater part because they are not zones were analyzed to understand which of which is a built up area that create regard- detailed enough and there are not a lot of these were present. less a building complex, where entrances are staying places, so it is boring to carry out Results’ surveys demonstrated that young less identifiable and accessible . It is far away activities. In the city, edges are classified people are the most users of the city. Mid- from all commercial places. from maximum score A+ to E-. Little struc- morning it’s possible to meet children (0-14

132 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue years old) and elderly (over 65), even if spac- Night activities (from 6 pm to 12 pm), such to satisfy pedestrians’ needs. Children miss es dedicated to them are few because most as coffee and restaurant, were founded in a public spaces because have not possibility are busy. summer weekday in Hindley Street, Rundle to experiment and to have new experiences In a weekday, most of pedestrians were de- Street and Gouger Street. Almost all side making recreational activities. tected in 60.000 units in Rundle Mall’s foot- streets were perceived as unsafe from 10 pm, Staying activities are fewer because public path, from 10 to 18, that are business hours. and so unfrequented, due to few lighting and benches are lower then business benches, so It is not a multifunctional way, so after close closed metal shutter. It can provoke crimes. it’s necessary to make use of coffees or restau- hours for shops there are not reasons to go Regarding transports, the traffic car by inner rants to sit down. Sometimes public benches around with. Other ways with high frequen- city was observed in 24 hours, counting in are unused due to difficulties of access or cy of pedestrians (North Terrace, Hindley a weekday approximately 50.000 cars only because they are too exposed to weather and Street, Gouer Place e King William Street) on West Terrace road that is North- West positioned in unattractive areas. have between 12.000 and 15.000. This num- entrance of the city. A 50% of increase was Among the most influential zones on urban ber changes with regard to hours: in every observed in hours of greater influx. Regard- centre there are the River Torrens waterfront weekday from 1 pm to 2 pm, in Rundle Mall ing public transport, 100 bus were founded and Park Lands, but they have some prob- there are 13.000 pedestrians that decrease from 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm, while in North Ter- lems. The riverfront has a lot of potentials to around 300 units from 9 pm to 10 pm, to race and Pulteney Street the number of bus that remain unexpressed due to the lacked reduce again with passing hours. In busi- was decreased to 20- 40. About bicycles’ use a visual between itself and North Terrace and ness areas as Grenfell Street, crowd’s peak is difference between large and poor stretches the passage points closed or that do not en- perceptible at lunchtime and at the end time of suitable places was verify. Cycle lanes are courage the walkway. Park Lands were de- work. The road with fewer gaps is North dangerous because are positioned between signed as a green landscape enclosing the Terrace, where from 2 pm to 6 pm there is a parking and other carriageway (cars neces- urban core, giving the impression of a city as gap of few pedestrians’ hundreds because it’s sary have to cross) and they are not distin- natural as possible, but over time many mon- near railway station and there are the high- guished enough. uments and private buildings were built in- est numbers of offices but also of cultural By data picked by Jan Gehl is highlighted side. Moreover they are not interaction with institutions. All ways, except North Ter- that pedestrians are present in the city and the space around as result of the traffic that race, have a gap nearly 50% of pedestrians that, if they are tempted (as happens in Run- encircles the city itself. between holiday and weekday as well as be- dle Mall), they take part to social life. It was One of the most problematic aspects of Ad- tween working time and by night. During a noted a decrease of pedestrians after closing elaide was found in building facades of the walk with a medium pace, waiting times re- time of shops and the term of business time first floor adjacent to walkways. In a large gard the16% of total time. In the study area then it’s verifiable a strong relation between part of the study area they do not achieve were counted 330 interruptions to walker work and activities, supplying indications satisfying results because they do not attract flow, constitute by obstacles positioned in about less attractiveness of public spaces in the citizen attention and do not permit a the middle of pedestrian paths as bus stops, which there are few public benches. Another good fruition of the place. Moreover in the parking entrances, benches, trees and street consideration emerging by Gehl studies is connection side streets metal shutter of ac- furniture. The analysis revealed that pedes- that in Adelaide there is a lot of traffic, and tivities are often closed, which can help to trian traffic lights are on call and they last a public transports have to be improved and spread the crime creating a sense of unsafe, short time. diffused equally in every part of the city. also in adjacent main ways as North Terrace. Activities in the centre of Adelaide are ap- An important place in Adelaide is Central proximately 864 from 12 am to 4 pm. The Design recommendations Market. Formed by different buildings, a greater parts are staying activities as speak Criticalities homogeneous vision is not permitted. The with friends. Only in the pedestrian way The surveys which were mentioned clari- inhomogeneity creates caos, so it is compli- Rundle Mall also cultural activities were fyed that principal problems of Adelaide cated to found the accesses of the structure, founded. The execution of staying activities highlighted by Gehl derived by few spaces because they are not proportioned with it. was verified in squares as Light Square, Vic- destined to pedestrians, which among other It is positioned in a non central place so citi- toria Square e Hindmarsh Square, Skate Park, things are designed without consider the zens are not motivated to visit because street but also in ways as North Terrace, Hindley needs of the latter. The inner city is acces- connections are poor, even from the station. Street, Rundle Mall, Rundle Street and Goug- sible to the car, this implies the increase of (Gehl, 2002). er Street. Altogether 1250 public and 3444 possibility to drivers, but reducing quality of private shop benches were counted. public and pedestrian spaces. Consequential- Guidelines During the night a different situation was ly there was the growth of parking lots num- Gehl Architects studies in 2002 and 2011, de- verified, because pedestrians decrease over ber, which are situated or along the ways- fined some guidelines for a future urban plan- 6 pm in all the city. A lot of pedestrians are obstructing pedestrians’ passages- or inside ning. In 2011 the Adelaide City Council decreed workers that moving. It is to note that wom- the squares. This involves a modify, also which of these were respected. It’s possible en are 80% less than men and a strong reduc- conceptual, of square place that is used as affirm that, at moment, the majority changes tion of elderly. widening, losing the value of place designed were administrative rather than planning.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 133 An expedient to increase place identity is not of highways and parking outside the inner city the community. (www.southaustralia.com). to revolutionize completely the context, so that lead to use the car just outside the city lim- Adelaide is one of the greenest Australia’s that citizens can feel them part of changes. its. Where there is necessity to enter in the city cities. The reward is given by planning and It’s necessary that the historical principles of centre, was recommended to use bollards, light administrative improvements made that in- the city don’t lost as reference of future place signals and traffic lights that lead to not run. creased, furthermore, tourism and made citi- identity. In the opinion of Gehl the principles The roads identified by Jan Gehl to incorpo- zens more responsible. To take part in events are urban system and preexistent architectures rate in pedestrian network are: North Terrace, that improve qualities of life and environment which can be the reference of the future street Hindley Street, Rundle Street, Grenfell Street has positive effects about serenity and sense furniture and the choice of a colour for a homo- and King William Street. of belonging the city more intensely, reducing geneous aspect of the city. The River Torrens waterfront and Park Lands vandalism and criminality that could damage, Good technical design can encourage citi- influence urban centre but need improve- also its image. zens to live the city on foot. This goal will be ments. Gehl propose to increase activities, Adelaide became one of the most important achieved with short stretches divided by stay- also including the aquatic to reflect the theme little cities in the world to visit and explore. ing spaces improved by new street furniture, of the proximity to the river, and to develop It’s considered the culture’s Australian capi- good paving and lighting. Particular attention connections which have to powered and up- tal thanks to festivals and events, also inter- must be given at the edge on the ground floor graded, also intervening on buildings’ margins. nationals. The New York Times journal con- so that we can create a livable, safe and inter- Park Lands have to acquire their original iden- siders it as 52 city to visit in the world (www. esting space, source of experience in every tity emphasizing the peculiarity of proximity adelaidecitycouncil.com). moment of the day. Waiting moments can be to the centre both physical and visual, adding The urban happiness is expressed when it’s reduced eliminating traffic light on call, limit- bike lanes and pedestrian areas of connection, possible to carry out pleasantly both option- ing garage entrance and improving side streets in addition to increase recreational activities. al activities, that are the symbol of a liveable to abbreviate the path. Directives of Jan Gehl At the state, the government, under Jan Gehl reality, and necessary activities. To achieve a set that almost 60% of transparent facades are directions, enacted policies to discourage car high level of liveable it’s possible to improve inserted, that of architectural details is a high use in the inner city. A free public transport the quality of daily actions as cycling, using level and that the offices are located on the (Tindo) was activated that includes the first cycling lanes (it is also possible to rent- 500 first floor with view over street frontage. These bus to solar energy, which in future will be ex- only in the inner city), or travel on buses measures permit to have more street lighting panded to serve areas outside the centre. More- powered by solar energy which were in- given by shops and offices. Among details are over funding were allocated for the installation stalled Wi-Fi and air conditioning. included columns, niches, ledges, stairs and of bike lanes between sidewalks and parking stones placed at different heights, which be- lots (the optimization has not yet occurred) Referrences come staying points. These precautions im- and for the differentiation of these with colors • Appleyard, D., 1981. Livable Streets, University of California Press: Berkeley. prove movements and liveability of considered and gains altitude. • Carmona, M., Heath, T., Oc, T., Tiesdell, S., 2010. Pu- areas (Gehl, 2002, 2010). blic places-Urban spaces, Architectural Press: Oxford It is appropriate to include the squares in the Conclusion. Positive effects concerning • Gehl, J (1987) Life Between Buildings: Using Pu- blic Space, translated by Jo Koch, Van Nostrand pedestrian spaces’ network, eliminating ve- liveability and happiness Reinhold, New York hicular passage. It is hoped the increased of Planning proposes realized up to now had • Gehl, J. and Gemzøe, L. (2000) New City Spaces, The safety, even at night, building around them to a positive relapse on the quality of life in Ad- Danish Architectural Press. Copenhagen • Gehl, J. (2002), Report “Public spaces and public increase vitality and placing toilettes in it for elaide. Gehl studies demonstrated that, from life_ Adelaide” aesthetic reasons. 2002 to 2011, increased students of 74% and • Gehl., J. (2011) Report Public spaces and public life_ Adelaide Staying activities can be promoted providing residents of 103% in central zones. The greater • Gehl, J. and Gemzøe, L. (2004) Public Spaces, Public more public benches to place in easily acces- social interaction, that has 43% of staying ac- Life, Danish Architectural Press sible locations, sheltered by adverse weather tivities in the city as higher peak of growth, • Gehl, J. et al. (2006) New City Life, The Danish Ar- chitectural Press, Denmark conditions and designed with materials suit- activated a virtuous circle that had a positive • Gehl, J. (2010) Cities for People, Island Press able for this purpose. To be used, it is neces- effect on economy and business. In fact com- • Gehl, J. and Svarre, B. (2013) How to Study Public sary there is someone and something to see mercial activities, including night, got ben- Life, Island Press • Jacobs, J. 1961. The death and life of great American (street artists and people who play recre- efits because they can do longer working time. cities. New York: Random House. ational activities). Property value also increased. • Sepe, M. 2013. Planning and Place in the City. Map- The wide streets are able to adapt for different Among the positive effects there is the increase ping Place Identity. Routlege: London-New York • Sepe, M., 2014. Preserving, reconstructing and en- uses and different pedestrian activities but it of bicycle use that caused an improvement of hancing the place identity: identifying principles is necessary to design them carefully to value quality of air and of health, given by physical of urban sustainability with placemaker method, International Journal of Sustainable Development and their potential. Guidelines expects spaces’ activity, with a positive effect on public health Planning, 9 (2) classification, elaborating preferential lanes, system costs. New transportations improve so- cycle paths, outdoor coffees, staying places to cial contacts, creating aggregation and social Sitography • http://it.southaustralia.com/regions/adelaide-gre- shadow’s trees to intensify the performance of cohesion which generate vibrant spaces that en-city.aspx activities. In this regard it is useful to a network are creative inspiration for new ideas and for • http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/

134 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Happiness in Urban Spaces induced by 'Anomalous Objects' Sundas Shahid, Javairia Shahid

'Anomalous Objects' Cities are more often than not thought to be made up of people that dwell within its precinct. But what of the animate and the inanimate objects that silently choreograph the people's movements and behaviors? People are inherently social animals, unable to thrive without human interactions, and those interactions require a venue animated by 'anomalous objects'. We define 'Anomalous Objects' as artifacts that stand as an incongruity in the mundane Animating the Public using cardboard cartons backdrop of the urban oeuvre. Objects exist as aberrations within their surroundings and create an atypical circumstance. In order to remedy it, an autocalyctic response is incited as a spontaneous, creative and unscripted re- tort from the dwellers of the public domain. They function almost as a benign virus in the human body. We view them as immunizers of space; they induce an anomaly and then the users of space remedy it to create an even stronger and happier strata of the public space for all its users. It is a remedy for inanimate spaces that help set up a series of activities for the protagonist, the antagonists and the spectators. It illicits a response that has far reaching im- pinges, the enormity of which resonates for years to come and demonstrate itself in un- fathomable forms. It is a transformation that makes a space into a place. The picture above demonstrates the use of a cardboard carton as an 'Anomalous Object'. Appropriating their environs using chalk This was a social experiment conducted as a public intervention in a slum in the city of Islamabad, Pakistan. A small number of An object that otherwise did not belong in objects of play, but the older residents had cartons were left out in the public space. that particular space became a means to a devised new and ingenious uses for the While they lay there untouched after a little performance of sorts setting up a strata of same objects. For instance they were be- prompting a few hours later a series of cata- actors and spectators. It became a means of ing used for shelter, storage, binding for lytic activities were automated as result of it. involvement and an active use of a place books, amongst some of the uses. Perhaps The kids of the community started pretend- that was otherwise not being utilized to the object would mutate into new uses in ing that the boxes were a Television set and its fullest potential. When I went back to the years to come. This example elucidates were singing songs and anthems that they follow up on the results of the social ex- that an object that was first introduced as generally get to hear on the Television. By periment I discovered that more children an inane object in that particular urban the mere introduction of something as basic from the same neighborhood had started terrain later became a enduring compo- as cardboard cartons gave the dwellers of the collecting and using cartons from around nent and building block of that particular space an incentive to animate their space. the city. Not only were they being used as socio cultural context.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 135 The picture above elucidates another play- practices we can clearly identify the kind ful activity conducted in the same location of objects; their scale, form, texture, size etc Happiness and Public Space that was prompted by the use of chalk to that help accentuate the use and happiness Ann Sharrock, Ian Fisher draw onto bare walls in the urban layout of public spaces. Through these practices of the slum. While some of these children we can devise a framework or a strategy went to school, a great majority engaged in that lets us replicate and strategically adapt This paper considers how natural burial work during the day instead. This not only such tactics for diverse and distant commu- in an urban/suburban context can give gave them the opportunity to creatively ex- nities and their public spaces and morph it people a sense of well-being as well as a sig- press themselves, but became an opportuni- into an adaptive urban phenomenon. nificant, distinctive experience that gives ty to enliven the spaces of their environs by A phenomenon that emerges from this heu- rise to both positive and poignant emo- a self expressive means. The chalk is taken ristic strategy is that it is not the end result tions, all facets of happiness. The cemetery as the 'anomalous object' which let them ap- of this study that derives and quantifies once provided a community’s connection propriate their surrounding environs. Even the notion of happiness within the urban to itself, its history and its environment, if for a transitory period of time, these chil- realm, rather the process of such praxis that but has been removed both physically and dren become the animators of their spaces, disseminates the adaptive conception of ur- emotionally to the fringes of our society. with the help of these objects. ban joy as a shared communal asset. It can We are proposing that burial sites should The public realm is the connective tissue of also be employed as a practice that helps be brought back into community life with our everyday world. It is made of those pieces mitigate the schisms amongst the various designs that accommodate multiple uses. of terrain left between the private holdings. groups of people that occupy the public They would contribute to a community’s Public spaces are neutral spaces; they have urban precinct and use these anomalous green infrastructure at the same time as no entrance fee, no dress code, and no script. objects as a panacea to the rhetoric that sur- conserving that green space and generat- They offer surprises and unexpected plea- rounds these diverse communities. It liter- ing respect and responsibility. Land use sures which are increased manifold with the ally lets the streets and sidewalks become plans could direct future cemeteries away introduction of 'anomalous objects'. the paths that are part of the process of in- from the community fringe and encourage The reason why this tactic works adequate- ducing happiness in the public realm. incorporating burial facilities into redevel- ly in the public realm of the urban cities is opment or infill projects. because these objects help foster an emotive Cities are ‘alive’ environments, and like bond with the space that these people oc- social reactors, they attract people and cupy. Objects that might be static artifacts Referrences accelerate social interaction and social but perpetuate a spontaneous reaction from • S. Tonnelat. 2010, The sociology of Urban Public outputs in a similar way to stars that burn places, Atlantis Press, Paris their users, that let you tap into your own • William, H. 1980, The social life of small Urban brighter and faster the bigger they are. strangeness and celebrate it with the other Spaces, The Conservation Foundation, Wa- (Bettencourt, 2013). People are bombard- members of the community. The behavioral shington D. C. ed with visual and aural stimulation as • Margaret, C. 1992, Everyday Urbanism, Mona- patterns that these objects induce are recur- celli Press, New York purveyors of goods and services, offered rent and adaptive in similar and other dis- • Gehl, J. 1987, Life Between Buildings, Using Public as fulfilling aspirations and expectations, Spaces sociative arenas of the urban. , Arkitektens Forlag compete to attract consumers. Desires and Public spaces work best when they do not needs can be instantly gratified, at the fast lay out a script of intended uses, but rather food outlet, on the mobile phone and by allow different people to make use of them affordable flights. Studies suggest that the in the way that suits them. The mix of peo- bigger the city the faster people walk, per- ple that thereby results is one of the keys to haps due to high productivity and hence understanding the importance and vitality higher values on time. of public spaces. The burial site is a punctuation in this Happy cities are places where the citizens flow of networks. It gives us distance, own up to the spaces that they occupy and physically and psychologically from de- use them in their own unique way to ap- mands and drains on directed attention. propriate their environs that they share as (Gilchrist, 2011). a community. Where space is used to fos- The pace of change in the city is acceler- ter a unified social and cultural exchange ated, whereas in an urban burial site, it is amongst the diverse communities. slow. The cycles of nature: life and death, By intentionally introducing 'anomalous decomposition and regeneration, growth objects' we can setup social experiments, and decay, are subtle and sometimes hid- set under gaugable parameters to quantify den but perceptible. The cycle of emotions and understand the factors that influence experienced is also subtle: happiness, poi- happiness of public spaces. Through such gnancy, sadness.

136 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue An area of approximately 1000m2 holds ap- We may wish to memorialise it differently, physical activity with a positive effect on proximately 216 graves. In natural burial but we all need space and an opportunity to physical health (UK National Ecosystem sites, memorialisation is through trees, remember. According to Gilchrist this at- Assessment, 2011, Ch. 22). The general shrubs, bird boxes etc and a site of this size tribute is compatibility, and she describes health dividend provided by trees has been could hold approximately 66 trees. The en- it as a place where people feel comfortable scientifically proven – Dutch research vironmental benefits gained from a stand1 or natural and where desired activities can shows that neighbourhoods with good tree depends on the trees planted, the size of be carried out with ease. cover are significantly healthier than less stand and its relationship to the built envi- The landscape of death is usually associated green urban areas, (Maas J, et al, 2008). This ronment. The natural burial site will sup- with the emotions of sadness and poignan- can create measurable savings on the NHS. port a mixed age, mixed species stand. cy. In order to feel happiness, however, it is Value can arise from people’s contact with necessary to experience that space loaded the natural burial site in several ways. with emotions, only then can happiness 1. The term ‘stand’ is used here to denote Pleasure and happiness arises directly be understood and appreciated. In addition an aggregation of trees or other growth from the colours and textures and the bio- within the natural environment of the buri- occupying the natural burial site, which is mixed in composition, size, age and diversity, which contrasts with the propor- al site lies the subtle layer of regeneration arrangement. The usual use of the word tion, geometry and density of the built en- and renewal and hope for the future. ‘stand’ denotes uniformity in species vironment. Trees have an aesthetic quality Tree planting within urban natural burial composition, size, age, arrangement that attracts interest and draws attention sites provides services. People might enjoy and condition, to distinguish it from (Gilchrist, 2011). They provide space for these services and benefits without think- forest, which is, composed of stands. self reflection and the space is distinctive ing about them consciously or knowing enough to feel like a world to itself (Ka- that they are due to trees and other ele- plan, 1995:173). ments of the natural environment. Referrences Happiness is achieved through the burial Trees provide environmental, health, eco- • Place and Placelessness, Edward Relph, Key Texts in Human Geography, P. Hubbard, R. site providing a significant experience. nomic and social benefits. Tree planting Kitchen, & G. Vallentine, eds., London: Sage, Relph believes significance relates to peo- associated with the graves will measur- 2008, pp. 43-51 ple’s identity of and with place. ably improve the air quality, CO2 absorp- • Chicago's Urban Forest Ecosystem: Results of the Chicago Urban Forest Climate Project, E. While recognition exists for cultural tion, reduction in the heat island effect Gregory McPherson, David J. Nowak, Rowan A. landscapes, several defined by the World and moderation of local microclimates Rowntree, June 1994 Heritage Categories, many of these are not along with reduction of peak run off flows • The origins of scaling in cities, Luis Betten- vourt, Science 21 June 2013: Vol. 340 no. 6139 accessible to us, either because of their and a contribution to sustainable urban pp. 1438-1441 location or perhaps their ‘grandness’ and drainage. They contribute to cooler sum- • Consumerism - as a Way of Life, Steven Miles, 2006, Sage Publications Limited ‘exclusivity’. These are not the landscapes mer air temperatures if planted in stands, • The pace of life, Marc H Bornstein and Helen G that directly relate to our own experiences. which in turn improves air quality be- Bornstein, Nature 259, 557 - 559 (19 February They bring pleasure and entertainment, cause emissions of many pollutants and/ 1976) • CityLab, Why people in cities walk fast, Eric all considered emotions of happiness, but or ozone-forming chemicals are tempera- Jaffe, May 21, 2012 cannot bring us the emotion of belonging. ture dependent. • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ They are outside our own realm of experi- Economic gains are achieved through en- article-202908/Are-living-life-fast. html#ixzz3Vy8gnKcY ence and so perhaps not fully understand- ergy conservation from buildings. Trees re- • Promoting wellbeing through environment: able. We cannot relate to them completely. duce building energy use by lowering tem- the role of urban forestry, Kathryn Gilchrist, We view them from the outside, looking peratures and shading buildings during • Trees, people and the built environment, Pro- ceedings of the Urban Trees Research in. They are not part of us and we are not the summer, and blocking winds in winter, • Conference 13–14 April 2011, Institute of part of them. however proper tree placement near build- Chartered Foresters • Does beauty still matter? Experiential and uti- ings is critical to achieve maximum build- litarian values of urban trees, Herbert Schroe- The identity of an urban natural burial ing energy conservation benefits. In addi- der, Trees, people and the built environment, site is unique and provides an intensity of tion greater revenue is achieved through Proceedings of the Urban Trees Research Con- ference 13–14 April 2011, Institute of Charte- meaning, which will be felt in varying de- higher residential property values and in- red Foresters grees whether or not a friend or relative is creased retail activity. • 'Greenspace, urbanity and health: rela- buried there. To identify with a place there Green space makes our urban areas more tionships in England', Mitchell R &Popham F, Journal of Epidemiology and Community He- needs to be a degree of ‘attachment, involve- inviting for living, working and relaxing alth. 61: pp681-683,2007. ment, and concern that a person or group as well as improving the health and well- • 'Physical activity as a possible mechanisms has for a particular place’, (Relph, 1976). being of those who use them. There is behind the relationship between greenspace and health: A multilevel analysis', Maas J, The level of attachment and identity that evidence that supports the fact that green Verheij RA, Spreeuwenberg P, Groenewegen people have with the urban natural burial space can help reduce stress levels with a PP, BMC Public Health 8, 2008. site will vary but death and memorialisa- positive effect on mental health, and pro- tion relates to all cultures, classes and ages. vide opportunities for informal and formal

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 137 bu.giardino, collaborative to cast them [Bauman, 2007], leads us to ask recognized a great potential to smartphone ourselves: how are our cities ‘reacting’ to Apps in updating the issue of ‘participation’, writing about/for Public these phenomena? i.e. in creating new forms and opportunities Space: towards urban Contemporary culture, despite media devel- of/for urban happiness. hAPPiness for all... opment, seems not helping communities Briefly, our philosophy is: as well as in the Cesarina Siddi to reinforce their active role in urban life. contemporary city it is important to en- People are bombarded with information, hance interstitial and residual space, in con- images, and icons... but, at the end, they are temporary society it is just as important to disoriented: at times citizens feel they have enhance interstitial and residual time. Add- Urban hAPPiness for all... no possibility of changing anything about ing up all the instances in interstitial time It is possible to speak about cities from mul- their everyday life in cities. Moreover, the they could be quite significant, if we find a tiple perspectives, but what one cannot for- power of media seems not to be well used way to enhance them without referring to a get is that cities are the places of a commu- yet by all urban thinkers (professionals and specific space. nity’s life, expressions of their natural and stakeholders) too: “Because true participation Well, an App is a magic tool to pursue this cultural richness, a foundation of their iden- concerns real engagement rather than a grazing objective and we aim to do it experiment- tity. Communities have to recognize them- of the image, it can provide a counterpoint to the ing collaborative writing about/for public selves in their cities to pursue the improve- image-fuelled world of the media. But of course space. ment of their spatial and cultural quality, as mainstream architectural culture is equally Jane Jacobs has magnificently written fifty obsessed with the image – we can see how par- bu.giardino App, collaborative writing years ago: “Cities have the capability of provid- ticipation is not merely a means to engage users about/for Public Space ing something for everybody, only because, and more fully in the production of space, but also a bu.giardino is an experimental networking only when, they are created by everybody.” [Ja- means to criticise and redirect architectural cul- App designed by a research team of DICAAR cobs, 1961]. ture.” [Blundell Jones, Petrescu, Till, 2005]. – University of Cagliari, which works with The starting point of this work is that this Well, we just start from these consider- an interdisciplinary approach on the subject Jane Jacob’s statement well expresses our ations, aiming to create the conditions to “Architecture, Society and New Information idea of urban happiness. In other words, ur- improve urban happiness giving people (ex- and Communication Technologies”. ban happiness definitely concerns the sub- perts, intellectuals and common citizens) a bu.giardino App is conceived as the first tool ject of participation, implying new efforts tool – at the same time friendly and rigorous for an innovative promotion of the Charter to make it truly effective. In fact, even if he - to easily experience new opportunities for of Public Space, which aims to encourage vanguard of participation dates back to Six- interpreting and transforming their cities: and facilitate its translation into concrete ties of last century, during these fifty years • Helping citizens to be able to make actions. the issue has gained a very different interest sense of the information they see every bu.giardino structurally refers to three ar- depending on the geographical and cultural day, to give them new opportunities to ticles of the Charter: contexts. Actually, in the recent years it has interpret their places of life, new ways 19. It is vital to regard urban public spaces become a slogan, government policy all over of appropriation and of expressing their as a continuous, articulated and integrated the world has institutionalized it, but often needs, values and desires... system, to be developed from the scale of with a poor theorizing of the subject: “Par- • Helping urban professionals and stake- neighbourhoods relationships to vast envi- ticipation becomes an organised (and potentially holders, to easily exchange their experi- ronmental spaces, to facilitate the diffusion manipulated) part of any regeneration project, in ences, better listening to people needs. of its enjoyment within the whole community which users are meant to be given a voice, but the In this perspective, public space - as the sys- and to raise urban quality. process stifles the sounds coming out.” [Blundell tem of elective places for collective life, the 20. Designing public spaces also means Jones, Petrescu, Till, 2005]. very soul of a city - is the protagonist of our taking into account alternative and creative Two facts have to be considered in trying to tool. practices based on new techniques of commu- set participation free from the risk of becom- The tool is a part of a much more articulate nication and urban usage. ing a mere buzzword of XXI century: a con- project, addressed to re-activate an effective 21. The urban public-space system re- dition of liquidity referred to our society, the discourse about the city, an interdisciplinary quires a unitary view capable of bringing out ever-developing information and communi- project of applied research that uses infor- the features to maintain, enhance and com- cation technologies that affect every aspect mation and communication technologies municate. It is therefore advisable for local of our life. to build an innovative complex ‘high-tech governments to adopt a specific strategy for Contemporary world, characterized by an device’ - characterized by a double nature, public-space networks. ever-developing contamination between both physical and virtual - to study urban It’s name recalls the ‘leaflet’, to highlight its cultures, by a condition of liquidity in phenomena. potential as a facilitator for sharing experi- which social forms can non longer to keep Analysing how people live and interact in ences, ideas and desires of best practices their shape for long, because they decom- the liquid world, and the actual role of dif- about Public Space: all the App users will be- pose and melt faster then the time it takes ferent types of media in our lives, we have come protagonists of a collective process ad-

138 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue dressed to promote the enhancement of pub- Users can choose to participate submitting This last question can help introduce a sec- lic space as fundamental requirement for two types of proposals: ond element of continuity, an immaterial urban quality. In other words, bu.giardino • Call for ideas: ideas for developing best one, namely a ‘continuity of meaning’: inter- aims to work as the tool trough which pro- practices... preting public-space systems as urban narra- fessionals, researchers, citizens will be able • Call for practices: projects that are in tives. This aspect involves a place’s cultural to contribute to improve the quality of pub- progress, under construction or com- dimension, intended as an anthropological lic space, participating in the collective writ- pleted, which can be considered as best reality where the spatial dimension is inex- ing of an ever-updating guidance document practices... tricably connected to habits, traditions and addressed to implementing coordinated and There is no set limit to the number of pro- rituals… aware actions. posals that each user can send. Another fundamental concept is ‘articula- Expert and common contributions are rig- The app is structured for an easy transmis- tion’: it is indeed important to recognize orously classified so that each typology of sion of proposals: users will be guided at all within the overall public-space system a users could nourish its knowledge avoiding stages of uploading, the whole process is number of ‘sub-systems’, or categories of el- the risk of an uncritical sharing experience. designed so that they can finish it in a few ements possessing clear common peculiari- Users will be able to: minutes, but no time limit is set in advance. ties that design and management must take • Share their experiences of best practic- Following section will describe the six main into account, while striving to maintaining es; themes proposed by the calls. the legibility of the whole system… • Share their ideas to develop best prac- All the data collected by the App will be tices; entered in a relational database: periodical #but how much will you cost us? • Check on a map (bu.giardino Google interdisciplinary analysis will be the basis Design/build/manage quality public spaces Map) the location of the various contri- for the collaborative document ‘bu.giardino following three principles: sustainability, butions, easily reading their contents; report’. Users will be able to download it in identity and participation. • Download a document that will sum- the App section ‘bu.giardino download’. Sustainability with regard to two macro as- marize the contributions, critically An important related project is a book se- pects: highlighting: ries, ‘bu.giardino handbooks’, which will • Economic sustainability: develop de- • The key concepts in terms of suc- present in more detail the results, and will sign skills capable of optimizing the cessful approaches, procedures and propose new theoretical and operational low cost/high quality ratio… results; inputs. • Environmental sustainability: strictly • The most groundbreaking ideas to Another important aspect is the interrela- linked to the previous one, it means develop best practices; tion between the App and two among the using in a skilful way materials of • Be up to date on the programme of most popular social networks, Instagram minimum impact on the environment events related to the project; and Facebook: they will be complementary (‘poor’, recycled and/or recyclable…) em- • Propose an event; and will contribute to reinforce the ‘partici- ploying vegetal materials thoughtfully • Register or communicate the interest in pative power’ of the App... (wise natural and productive choices, participating in one or more events; Our team deeply believe in applying ICT ap- ecological potential…), pursue energy • Build and/or implement their profes- proaches to participatory projects: a light- savings or even energy self-sufficiency, sional network to strengthen their ca- weight but rigorous networking tool. Dif- plan for minimal management and pacity (in terms of skills and resources) ferent typologies of users and skills, expert transformation costs… to act on public space... and common knowledge, will be able to in- • Identity: devote great attention, in every In summary, users will become part of the teract through features that will be gradu- action, to local cultural values, both ma- working group: the larger will be the partici- ally implemented, last but not least thanks terial and immaterial... pation, the stronger the significance of the to the use of feedback. • Participation: develop modalities for an results. active involvement of citizens, not as an Users are classified by typology: citizen, bu.giardino calls: Public Space in six occasional practice for dialogue, but as non-profit organization, private body, pub- themes an innovative modus operandi. lic body, independent professional, univer- #let’s network! Develop, therefore, procedures capable of sity/school. What does ‘looking at public spaces as a multiplying opportunities for ‘working The participation is structured in terms of continuous and articulated system’ mean? together’: the ‘collective building site’ can ‘calls’, which summarize the main themes What are the elements through which such be conceived as an exceptional practice to related to Public Space. continuity can be made happen? We must complete and strengthen ordinary proce- The themes do not presume to be exhaus- certainly strive for physical continuity, dures… tive, but are intended as a starting point. which can be conceived in terms of system This call, therefore, aims at bringing out, Users are invited to propose other new of ‘pedestrian itineraries’ between the dif- sharing and stimulating good practices themes, if they think that important aspects ferent urban public spaces, but also as rec- linked to the entire life cycle of public are not dealt with in any of the call. ognisability: what can they be? spaces.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 139 bu.giardino App

140 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue #short of money... but not of ideas! #historical centres vs contemporary uses! assume a clear relevance. A fundamental as- The diffusion of the good practice of urban Actually, historical districts are precious pect is their value and social function, taken gardening finds a strong obstacle in manage- urban resources that usually struggle to ex- into consideration in possible meanings, and ment costs. This call aims at collecting and press their potential: How could we combine last but not least their potential as experi- sharing experiences in ‘creative manage- the historical value of the district, the exem- ence of participation, i.e. opportunities for ment plans’, capable of mobilizing the re- plary value of buildings and open spaces, developing and enhancing active citizen- sources required. But could it not be the very with the value of urban uses? ship... creation of an urban garden to generate the Finding a proper balance between these and decay, are subtle and sometimes hidden conditions for its sustainability? What does values is the challenge, primarily because but perceptible. The cycle of emotions expe- the self-sufficiency concept mean? ‘use’ is a complex concept. It is not a synony- rienced is also subtle: happiness, poignancy, These reflections inspired by the urban gar- mous of ‘utilization’ and includes the entire sadness. den typology can, and indeed must, be ap- anthropological reality related to a given plied to the other public-space subsystems. place: use as set of moral, social and societal Therefore, this call does not exclude creative references... Use or experience? The first one Referrences experiences referring to other typologies… refers to the cultural conditions related to • Jacobs, J. 1961. The Death and Life of Great Ameri- can Cities. Reissue Vintage Books Ed., UK practice (such as custom, etiquette, fashion), • Blundell Jones, P., Petrescu, D., Till J. (editors) #Temporarily open! the second one refers to existence, to individ- 2005. Architecture and Participation. Spon Press, This call aims at underlining the value of ual and collective memory, to sensations and London • Bauman, Z. 2007. Liquid Times: Living in an Age temporary transformations of urban spac- emotions [Léger, 2012]. ‘Use’ expresses the of Uncertainty. Polity Press, Cambridge. es. It refers, therefore, to areas waiting for a vitality, i.e. the richness of urban life, which • Léger, J-M. 2012. Usage, Éditions de La Villette, meaning (abandoned sites, leftover spaces…) should be distinguished from other forms of Paris. • Bauman, Z. 2005. Liquid life, Polity Editorial, and to ‘adoptable’ areas. ‘commonality’, of simple ‘togetherness’ [Bau- Cambridge. The goal is to stimulate a reflection on the man, 2005]. multiple values of temporariness in public Going back to the initial question about how space creation. finding a proper balance between the differ- The strong emphasis on time variables present kinds of ‘value’, the challenge is then to ents a fundamental challenge because it is understand how can we steer architectural precisely the ability to interact consciously actions so that they provide ‘good answers with various kinds of dynamics (and conse- for all’. If the projects succeed in expressing quently of uncertainties…) that can endow this balance, they start a process of ‘active public space with a structural role and at the preservation’: inhabitants - using the district same time confer to it the capacity to adapt - strengthen or build a sense of belonging with agility and continuity to the changing and appropriation, which itself trigger the needs of our ‘liquid’ contemporary lives. desire of ‘taking care’ of their places of life... The ‘adoptable areas’ approach consists in Also in historical centres has a primary im- associating different adoption schedules to portance a reflection about ‘temporary’ and the identification of meanings and roles, be ‘permanent’: temporary projects for tempo- they existing or potential. In other words, rary uses, permanent projects that activate adoption calls on a strategic vision capable both permanent and temporary uses... of taking into account the most appropriate concepts of temporariness. #art and public space! In a nutshell this would produce two main In recent decades the relationship between results: art and public space has experienced a pro- • Help identify the vocations of different cess of intensification that has led to increas- areas; ingly frequent contamination between art, • Help citizens in sharing ideas or express- architecture, urban and landscape design: in- ing new ones, which could be put in creasingly articulated interrelationships – it play in implementation tender notices should be remembered - that have to be relat- following the initial adoption. ed to update of the meaning of the adjective • Consequently, this call has to objectives: ‘public’ when attributed to ‘space’ and ‘art’... • Collect experiences recognizing the val- The focus of the call is directed to the site- ue of temporariness; specific artistic experiences (in which the • Stimulate administrators to experiment work is conceived and created for a specific this approach by upgrading traditional place), among which installations (‘border- ‘adoption calls for tender’… line’ works between art and architecture)

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 141 Smart Governance: participatory policies, inclusion and social development of systematic practices of ur- innovation [20 – 28]. ban farming, both on the purpose of physical urban regeneration and City and community are conceived as closely redevelopment, increasing the sense of be- integration policies in interrelated organisms, so the development of longing to the place, stimulating resilience Europe. Turin and Malmö the land cannot be separated from the enhance- and self-sufficiency in the community. case studies ment of the human system that inhabits it. The paper notes that efficient integration To support the evolution of European cit- policies require a substantial effort by Public Chiara Testoni, Andrea Boeri ies towards smart cities [29], the European Administrations, in terms of networking with Community has implemented various strat- foreign communities, social and economic ac- egies of governance, such as specific forms tors; it also outlines some issues related to the Introduction of financing [30, 31] including "Smart Cities possible use of urban farming as a means of Enrichissons-nous de nos différences mutuals and Communities" focus as part of "Horizon integration in urban regeneration processes (Paul Valéry) 2020” program [32, 33] and policies aimed at and proposes some possible insights. promoting collaboration between Member The substantial migration of our time em- States [34]: according to these instruments Smart governance tools for phasizes the instability of physical, political of governance, the main operating fields integration and cultural boundaries as traditionally con- for smart cities relate to sustainable growth Strategic Planning ceived and contribute to delineate an inher- including urban mobility, energy efficient The evolutionary process towards smart cit- ently multi-ethnic society [1]. districts, integrated processes, open data,… ies, due to the complexity of urban problems, Cities reflect the most impressive changes in [35, 36] and to smart growth in the sense requires the adoption of a strategic, planned socio-demographic and economic dynamics of strengthening stakeholders’ and citizens’ approach by public bodies in order to rethink and are the places where arbitrariness and knowledge [37 –39]. the city according to a long-term vision and unfairness in wealth distribution between The operational areas related to inclusive an integrated approach to environmental, the “winners” and “losers” of globalization growth with particular reference to integra- economic and social development [29]. [2] emerge more strongly. tion policies for foreign communities are Moreover, the need to define the most effec- If on one hand immigration involves the less explicit [40, 41]. tive tools with respect to the consolidated spread of cultural diversity [3], on the other The issue of inclusion is one of the matters programming models refers to the concept of it shows public bodies’ difficulties in manag- Public Administrators cannot ignore, espe- strategic planning. The "strategic planning" ing the necessary integration policies: low cially because of the huge diffusion of urban is a process of planning, generally held by levels of employment of immigrant work- segregation and social exclusion areas which institutional or economic bodies, by which force, growing unemployment and high lead Public Bodies to deal with the wide- the objectives of a system are defined and the rates of over-qualified immigrants, social ex- spread presence of migrant communities means are identified compatibly with the exclusion, disparity in academic performance, and might offer strategic opportunities for isting resources [42 –45]. tension on the part of indigenous communi- urban regeneration. The peculiarity introduced by strategic plan- ties and widespread poverty of many foreign This paper discusses some case studies in ning, pioneered by several European govern- communities are the most obvious indica- which smart governance procedures have ments for some time and in Italy for about a tors of issues which are still unresolved and been adopted in urban regenerations. decade [46], is the innovative approach com- pressing in many European countries [2, 4]. The examined contexts are characterized by pared to traditional planning, characterized Integration policies are inscribed in Europe a significant presence of foreigners and are by a sectoral approach to urban development 2020 Strategy targets for inclusive growth [5, heavily degraded from an environmental, and generally based on top - down logics: 6, 7, 8]. social and economic point of view: the cases strategic planning on the one hand aims to Furthermore, the recognition of cultural of Barriera di Milano neighborhood in Turin, address social, environmental and economic identity and diversity as values for the Euro- Italy, and of some neighborhoods in Malmö, issues in an integrated way and on the other pean Union is not only the basis for a more Sweden, are illustrated. assumes, for the concrete pursuit of goals, a integrated society but also the starting point The smartness of the interventions is based greater dialectic with traders by reducing au- for concrete processes of economic and soon the adoption of integration policies con- thoritative attitudes of the Public Bodies in fa- cial development [4, 9]. ceived not only to promote social cohesion vour of negotiation with stakeholders [47, 48]. To cope with the epochal changes and corre- but also to enhance local economic develop- lated urban problems, for about twenty years ment through the strengthening of immi- Living labs the term smart city has been debated. grant communities. The concept of living lab (living laboratory) The term smart city, from the first definition The first case discusses community empow- has been known for some years now and is of a purely “digital” city [10 – 19] over time erment tools as part of a strategic planning widespread in Europe [49,50]. has evolved into a "holistic" vision that cov- process. In the second case, community in- A living lab is a forum for research and in- ers different fields of interest: environmental volvement practices are examined, with a novation, in which end-users’ active involve- protection, economy, mobility, governance, focus on living lab methodologies and the ment allows the co-designing of new servic-

142 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue es, products and social infrastructures [49]. of local economic development [66 – 68]. The peculiarity of the intervention is the A living lab is characterized by some distinc- Within integration policies, urban farming recognition of immigrant community as tive features such as open innovation [11, can be functional to promote a more sustain- strategic to promote local economic devel- 51], leading role of the end user, application able system of production, distribution and opment. The program intends to encourage of research to real-life, economic interest of consumption of food as well as to stimulate greater participation of immigrants in local the partners and sustainability of processes increasing awareness and competitiveness socio-economic processes, through a more and products [50]. of foreigners, thanks to the development of competitive professional background. In particular, a Living Lab is an explicit call more structured professional skills in the In detail, integration policies are included for competition: the dialogue between the field of food production [65]. in "axis 2 employment" and "axis 3, socio- parties is not perceived as a mere occasion of cultural". conciliation and mediation but rather as an Two case studies In "Axis 2", among several initiatives, Ex- exchange in a real "arena" where the parties Strategic planning and integration policies: "Bar- tra-Titoli in Barriera project offers foreign voluntarily aspire to hegemony over the oth- riera di Milano" (Turin) regeneration residents in Turin support to obtain in Italy ers. The concept of co-design is therefore un- The case study is particularly representative recognition of academic qualifications and derstood as a "polyphony" of voices, each one of an effective strategic planning approach, professional competence achieved abroad different as for extraction and purposes, who in which an essential chapter of the regen- [78]; Occupabile a Barriera project is a set meet and turn antagonism into agonism, eration program is dedicated to integration of tools and services to support the qualifi- conflict into constructive dispute [52, 53]. policies. cation of human capital and promote the Living labs have a wide range of applications Since World War II, Turin has been the focus employment of Italian and foreign resident concerning design-promotion-production of of a substantial flow of migration: first, from population in the area, with particular refer- services and products in the field of energy southern Italy because of the employment ence to women [79]. efficiency, sustainable mobility, ICT, social opportunities offered by the established in- In "3 axis" initiatives for strengthening innovation and integration, and are often dustrial structure [69] and in recent decades cultural and social cohesion are enabled: supported by information technologies. Re- from the "global South" [70]. Promozione della cittadinanza attiva, inte- gardless of the scope of interest, the value Barriera di Milano is a popular district in grazione e coesione sociale project works to of the living lab in integration policies is Turin, where over the years a multi-cultural promote experiences in serving the commu- inherent in the multi-disciplinary approach human landscape has gradually replaced the nity by vulnerable groups of the population, aimed at achieving both “social innovation”, native community. including the elderly, young people, foreign- in terms of production of innovative goods Today, Barriera di Milano is one of the most ers and to enhance space re-appropriation, and services, and “socialized innovation” in attractive places for foreign communities interpersonal relations, mutual understand- terms of empowerment of the community thanks to the favourable conditions for the ing and integration between old and new res- beneficiary of the services [54]. settlement, including affordable housing of- idents, through activities possibly animated fers and a good supply of public services [71]. by the citizens themselves [80, 81]. Urban farming Despite the inherent problems of integra- Today, many immigrant communities are tion, the district is heavily experienced by Local policies for integration: Malmö concentrated in urban areas characterized the community: through the program "Ur- Sweden has been characterized by impressive by widespread socio-economic and environ- ban - Barriera di Milano", the City Council is phenomena of immigration for the last few mental degradation and by many abandoned investing to enhance urban quality, attrac- decades [82]. areas with a high potential for reuse; more- tiveness and economic competitiveness in In Malmö, fifty years of substantial immigra- over, many immigrants often come from ru- the site [72-74]. tion have profoundly altered the urban land- ral contexts, bringing in the host country a "Urban – Barriera di Milano" is a plan concern- scape, defining a city profile dotted with large possible background of expertise in the field. ing 34 coordinated and integrated initiatives, areas of segregation and social exclusion: the A possible field of study for a Public Admin- financed through the public and private re- disparity in terms of access to rights - home, istration wanting to implement integration sources. The interventions, undertaken since work, education - results in an explosive trou- strategies related to urban regeneration may 2011, must be completed and reported by the ble in many neighborhoods and turns into real be promoting urban agriculture [55 – 62 ] end of December 2014. actions of urban warfare [82, 83]. Several areas, in multi-ethnic areas to be redeveloped, by The program, fully sponsored and prepared historically inhabited by the working class, empowering the specificities of the differ- by the Administration of Turin, is based on now increasingly multiethnic and strongly de- ent communities, their spirit of initiative three strategic areas of intervention: "Axis 1, graded (Augustenborg, Rosengård, Herrgarden, and entrepreneurial ability and then by in- physical - environmental" [75] concerning the Lindängen, Seved, Segevång, Holma-Kroks- terpreting cultural diversity as a resource for redevelopment of public space; "Axis 2 - em- bäck, ...), are now the massive scope of urban re- local economy development. ployment" [76] concerning the improvement generation operations undertaken by the City Urban and peri-urban agricultural practices al- of local economy and employability; "3 axis, Council [84]. In these contexts, City Adminis- low, in addition to the environmental and so- socio - cultural" [77] concerning the strength- tration has implemented important strategies cial vantages [ 59, 63 - 65] also benefits in terms ening of cultural and social cohesion. in the field of migration management.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 143 The peculiarity of the approach consists ticipation of the City Council and a number With “Hållbara Hilda” project, the Hållbara especially of adopting a "multi-level" gover- of economic operators, is responsible for Hilda social housing cooperative has acti- nance model, which provides: creating a platform for co-production of ser- vated a shared path with the locals for the • adherence to international cooperation vices and social innovation, aimed at involv- renewal of a number of housing estates, in projects in the field of integration [85, ing foreign community and stakeholders in order to ensure a better quality of living and 86]; developing investments in the two districts reduce environmental impact [102]. • network of initiatives at the municipal [98]. With “Herrgårds Kvinnoförening”, initiative level aimed at combating socio-cultural Several projects have been implemented the women’s association “Herrgårds Kvin- discrimination (82, 87, 88]; through the Living Lab. noförening” has been improved, in order to be • activation of synergies among local mu- “Parapolis” project has explored the ways more specialized in the production of handi- nicipal representatives, migrant associa- by which citizens’ participation in urban crafts and local food with the aim to provide tions, NGOs, in a process of consultation regeneration processes can be implemented hospitality for war refugees: in this way, on among the social partners at the neigh- through the use of computer technology: one hand the association plays an important bourhood scale. through workshops, ideas and suggestions role in terms of social inclusion, thanks to ref- At the local level in particular, the city of were collected from citizens and stakehold- ugee involvement in daily activities in which Malmö has adopted a policy strongly focused ers in relation to the transformation of pub- they might acquire and exercise the basics of on integration and community involvement in lic space and then turned into visual repre- the Swedish language, and on the other it is public decision-making. For this purpose, five- sentations [99]. stimulated to enhance its entrepreneurial year programs (Områdesprogrammen) were “URBLove” project was aimed at building spirit to become more competitive in the ca- adopted in different neighbourhoods [89, 90]. a digital platform in which young people tering and textile industries [103]. In these programs, different initiatives have could hypothesize interactive routes in the been launched to stimulate social innovation neighbourhood and invite others to explore Stakeholders networking: the role of urban farming and investments in the physical environment it. The aim was to let the younger know un- The peculiarity of urban farming practices un- and the socio-economic structure, through explored areas and to involve them through dertaken in regeneration interventions by the various methodologies among which there are "gaming" [100]. City Council is the systemic approach which living labs and urban farming. With “Neighbourhood Technology” project, goes beyond the reuse of single plots on volun- MKB social housing cooperative has redevel- teer purposes to develop economically signifi- Community involvement: the living labs oped several residential buildings and public cant business projects on the neighbourhood The living labs initiatives undertaken by spaces, in synergy with the company ICT-Fi scale, through a coordinated design of areas Malmö Administration are very different, be- Do, Rosengård residents and the youth orga- to be devoted to agriculture and complex net- cause of the extensive experience of the city nization RGRA [101]. working among stakeholders (foreign com- in adopting such methods [91]. Particularly interesting for this paper are mainly those ones conceived to regenerate the local socio-economic context and trigger new forms of participation, integration and entrepreneurial initiative in the conflicting areas. In these cases, information technologies are used as interactive tools able to convey expressive vocations of users and are functional to build a greater sense of belonging of the residents to their neighbourhood. An interesting case is shown by Rosengård neighbourhood, currently recognized as the symbol of immigration and urban segregation [ 83, 87, 92-95]. “Sustainable Rosengård” Program sponsored by the City Council, proposes a concrete improvement of environmental quality and housing, along with the enhancement of social and economic attractiveness in the district [95 - 97]. The Living Lab "The Neighborhood" active in the district of Rosengård and Fosie, coordinated by the University and with the par- Malmö. Rosengard urban regeneration project (font: Malmo Town Hall)

144 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue munities, housing associations and NGOs) . disadvantaged category, with low bargain- Referrences The scope is to strengthen the sense of so- ing power, often outside the regular and full • [1] http://www.sferapubblica.it/2012/12/11/ societa-multietnica-tra-sogno-impossibile- cial cohesion and to provide the community respect of rights, according to a widespread realta-inevitabile/, 2012 (accessed 08/01/2015) with the tools for their own self-sustaining production system based on the use of labor • [2] Acocella N., Ciccarone G., Franzini M., Mi- and for employment. of seasonal and low cost immigrants [110]. lone L.M., Pizzuti F.R., Tiberi M., Rapporto sulla povertà e le disuguaglianze nel mondo globale, In particular, the City Council has set up in Moreover, from a procedural point of view, it available at: http://www3.unisi.it/criss/down- Seved, Lindängen and Rosengård, a struc- would be necessary for a public body to op- load/poverta_disuguaglianze.pdf (accessed tured network of actors involved in urban erate a "change of scale" and go beyond the 20/08/2014) • [3] Wood P., Landry C., The Intercultural City: farming - land-owners (City council and lo- vision of a single urban garden that, though Planning For Diversity Advantage, Earthscan, cal housing cooperatives (MKB), urban farm- socially meaningful, due to its circumscribed London 2007 • [4] Communication from the Commission ing organizations ("Stadsodling i Malmö"), nature does not contribute to the strengthen- to the European Parliament, the Council, residents. 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special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 147 The restauration of tion, most of residents in cities do not possess What impact Happiness? a robust awareness and they are incapable to The first dominant factor is the economic sys- culture heritage improves manage the relationship between their own tem including the modern financial system. happiness inside spiritual world and outside materiel Economic system offers a huge invisible pic- Zhang Wei, Chen Lijing world. As a consequence, the happiness of ture about the world’s mechanism. It is so so- inhabitants in cities depends largely on the phisticate that one ordinary person without social-economy evolution. Their happiness academic training in this field cannot deeply Introduction reflects the development of their cities. understand what is happening in the world. As a positive mental or pleasant emotional One’s career and life are impacted by the eco- state, happiness is pursued by nearly all the Culture heritage nomic system; the specification and global- people in modern society. Someone reckons If the vernacular architecture can define the ization only give each person a fragment of that a high living standard is happiness; oth- sense of identity in cities, the conservation image and a piece of puzzle. This modern Le- ers may prefer merely more leisure time to and restoration of culture heritage/ histori- viathan controls every corner in the society, invest in the personal interest. Obviously, cal monument could bring back the living but the people just cannot see it. When they the happiness for Chinese is quite different experience of ancestors in cities to nowadays obtain the negative feedback of the economic from that of European; even a Frenchman via its anthropological function. The word system, for example in financial crisis, they and a Greek perhaps would not agree with “monument” comes from the Latin word usually feel to be deceived by somebody in each other about this issue. The standard or “momumentum” which has the meaning of the city. As a consequence, they are unhap- feeling of happiness is greatly influenced by “Recall the memory” (François Choay, 2007). py and use radical method to search for the the culture; it is relevant to other definition The popular culture prevails in the whole truth. such as personal success or achievement in world, as the English become the interna- The eruption of Occupy movement from particular social environment. tional language for communication. The 2011 is wonderful instance. It lasted for a con- In this direction, it is hard to employ a uni- United States promoted many changes in the siderable time in New York, Hong Kong, and versal measurement for all the ethnics or all modern world such as electoral systems and other global cities. In 2014, several students the people of different culture background. market economy, therefore globalization has and professors were invited from Hong Kong However, if we change the method of think- looked to some like Americanization (Robert to Paris in the occasion of an international ing: if we are not capable to describe the T, Jeremy A, Peter B, 2013). When we speak conference (Becoming Local, 2014), they pre- precise happiness value for everyone in the English, we presume sometimes that we sented in great details the “occupy central earth, we may look for some instrumental can understand all thoughts in the world. movement” in the Architecture School in designs to improve each people’s happiness However, with only this language, one can- Paris (ENSA – Paris La Villette). After the dis- in regard to their original level. In other not read splendid journals in other cultures, cussion of more than three hours, I can feel words, to discuss the possibility to improve such as La Repubblica (in Italian), Le monde (in the angry youngsters in Hong Kong are lost some aspect of happiness in common or to French), Spiegel (in German), Southern weekly in the modern economic system; they took reduce the possible cause of unhappiness in (in Chinese). Similar to the empire of Alex- the temporal competence of the city as per- the modern cities is a more reliable method. ander the great in history, nowadays no one manent. One similar case is neglected: the de- culture has already became a homogeneous cline of Italian city Genoa in 18th century as Global cities global one for all the nations; in the future, the result of the shift of maritime trade routes The Rome wasn’t built in a day, so are the a Roman Empire of ideology and of culture away from the Mediterranean. The young- modern global cities. The history of devel- perhaps is not the possible vision, for each sters were probably trapped by some outside opment in these cities is always closely rel- people inherited its own strong culture from illusion and were capable to find the real rea- evant to the world history. Villages emerged the past. The adaptation to the global culture son of Hong Kong’s prosperity from 1970s. into global cities if they match the global also needs a solid foundation of local culture. Finance is one critical aspect. This sector commercial mode; Prosperous cities lost the In human history, every local culture in the treats the time and risk; it often deals with influence gradually, when the conditions connected worlds is influenced by others. the incertitude of future. But one cannot fore- were unfavorable. The process of change is From the formation of first commercial sys- see the true future with mathematical tools. more and more swift, even one generation tem – Silk Roads, the Chinese world, Arab Our society can also be confined by the imag- could see the rise and stagnation of a city. world, European world, and Indian world ination of the future, if the financial manag- The evolution of lifestyle in decades would has exchanged the thoughts progressively. ers in the banks are generally pessimistic. In chock the career and the mindset of inhabit- Some architecture witnessed the whole the framework of economy, finance impacts ants. They may prepare the sufficient work- process and the protection of these architec- always the people’s expectation and increase ing skill for themselves. But what they have tures as culture heritage would enhance the the unfulfilled desires (or ambitious) for fu- learned is the information, not the insight inhabitants’ cultural identity and the confi- ture. When the desires fall suddenly, the un- of effective knowledge about the world they dence in life. happiness spread. The root of unhappiness lived in. In other words, it is totally possible is the confusion about the time: neglect the that, when they face the social transforma- pass and underestimate the future.

148 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue However, the ultimate optimized economic banists in history. They argued that public One possible solution is to combine organi- model will be created by economists and space could bring a happier life for residents. cally the culture heritage and the design of be advocated by the policymakers. In most public space. of time, these affairs are not exactly in the It is true. Although high qualified design of public scope of architects and urbanists. But a suit- space can improve the quality of city life- able design of public space will encourage The advantages of public space such as style, the acceptation of a good design is inhabitants to develop the necessary skill square indeed include the conveniences in sometimes difficult in the cities of devel- to ameliorate their understanding of the residents’ life in present, but this type of or- oping countries with the social priority world, reduce their psychological distance, dinary public space could not alleviate the of economic growth, for example China. alleviate the eventual mental distress, and pain of confusion about the time. After the However, the culture heritage is an excep- bring them the light of wisdom. analysis of global cities listed by Globalization tion, especially for the potential UNESCO Another problematic is naturally the city and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) in World Heritage Site. In China, the poten- planning. As we all know, the history of city 2012, one fact was found that more than half tial UNESCO projects are always assigned planning could provide numerous examples of these global cities have a splendid history to the high qualified experts in architec- about unhappiness of the inhabitants in- in the past and have considerable numbers ture and urbanism. The protection of heri- side the cities such as “The City of Dreadful culture heritage including architectures and tage site and the talent of architects are Night” (Peter Hall, 2002). The construction landscapes. This discovery may inspire the relatively well respected. of public space is recommended by the ur- designer of public sphere in modern cities.

The Gates in the Nanjing City Wall (Google Map)

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 149 Furthermore, the restrictions introduced by • As the culture heritage, the commercial Meanwhile, functioning as a defense system, the protection of heritage provide powerful space is absolutely prohibited; the Nanjing city wall limited the inhabitants tools to protect from the invasions of private • Greenery as the sign to show the origi- in ancient China. The restoration of Nanjing forces such as commercial development, and nal city wall site (CHEN wei, 2013). city wall transformed the confinement wall the local governmental intervention. to an open accessible garden. The inhabit- Possessing the large scale, some culture heri- The whole restoration of Nanjing city wall ants would also feel the optimistic from the tage sites can serve as public space for all has transformed a modern flourishing city cultural heritage and the sympathy with the residents. In another point of view, these cul- into a garden city. The city wall also brings ancient inhabitants in ancient Nanjing. ture heritages are the available resources for back the feeling of history and the sentimen- designers of public space. The restauration of tal attachment to Nanjing. Retrospect and Conclusion Nanjing city wall is a wonderful example to Good public realm reduces the petrol-driven The Nanjing city has many culture heritages illustrate these points. mechanical transportation and encourages in different historical periods. The inhabit- the pedestrian above the city wall or near ants of this kind of city can choose which to Case study: Nanjing City Wall the city wall; perhaps the bicycling network inherit (Alessia de Biase, 2014). In this proj- Constructed initially in the 3rd century and could be built for future. Obviously the ect, the heritage of Ming dynasty has been built in Ming dynasty in 14th century, the height makes the city wall inaccessible for chosen. The Chinese civilization reached its Nanjing city wall is a 35km long military cars; this advantage will change the general zenith in Ming dynasty; people believe the defense and transportation system for the invasion of car in the street side for walkers spirit of Ming dynasty included several es- capital of Ming dynasty of China. The resto- in Chinese cities. sential virtues for today’s world: Openness ration of Nanjing city wall has been achieved The human dimension cities should provide and Entrepreneurship. in recently years by Southeast University in the space for walking and places for stay- Generally speaking, as a representation of China and the conservation master plan for ing (Gehl, J, 2011); the restored Nanjing city globalization, the information circulates the Nanjing Ming (dynasty) City Wall was wall with gates (towers/ pavilion/ castles at- among the global cities; the sectors in cities endorsed on 2009 by State Administration of tached) represent the original human scale update the information at the highest speed, Culture Heritages of China. Hence, this plan design, for the city wall functioned also as a including stock markets, IT services, Banks has become part of the master planning of transportation system of soldiers in ancient services, Futures contracts/ exchanges. Su- Nanjing Municipality. time. The pavilions above the gates are fa- pranational institutions like the European Meanwhile, as a global city with a level of vorable places for staying. Furthermore, the Union and the International Monetary Fund High-sufficiency in 2012 by GaWC, Nanjing nature ventilation formed around the cities often impinged on their members’ auton- is planned as a vice regional center of Shang- wall would improve the air quality for the omy (Robert T, Jeremy A, Peter B, 2013). All hai in Chang Jiang Delta region, according pedestrian in the wall; as a result the health the inventions of modernism have been to the Major Function Oriented Planning in of residents would be improved. challenged the human mindset and capac- China (YANG Jianqiang, 2012). The develop- The city wall is not the whole design for the ity; unfortunately, the evolution of Homo ment of Nanjing has extended towards the happiness of residents. Other landscape proj- sapiens is relatively slow to adapt the rapid south and the subways (6 lines in use, 4 lines ects are under the ways: changing in outside world (Yuval Noah Ha- in construction in 2015) support the contem- • Inside the city wall: several historical rari, 2014). If we expect a durable urban hap- porary urbanization in Nanjing. parks will be built in future; piness for the residents in cities, their resil- In the background of booming development, • Outside the city wall, the ancient soil- ience to modernism must be increased in the the project of restoration of Nanjing city wall based defensive wall have also been de- condition that the modern economic system in the principal of “repaired to what is was” veloped to be a belt of 17 public parks could not be perfect in a visible future. But and the environment design by Southeast Uni- with green space; (CHEN Wei, 2013); the the actual technology of Genetic Engineer- versity contribute the incontestable values to famous porcelain tower of Nanjing and its ing in DNA manipulation cannot accelerate Nanjing’s inhabitants. (CHEN wei, 2013). historical park are under reconstruction. the human evolution. To construct a friend- The two belts of walls (city wall and defen- ly public space with the cultural heritage is City garden and garden city sive wall) and the historical parks will form a therefore an available method to improve With a width of several meters and a height large connected zone of public space (CHEN residents’ happiness. of more than 10 meters, the Nanjing city wall Wei, 2013); this space would increase consid- The cultural heritage gives the private experi- is an effective modern “Hanging garden”: erably the residents’ willing of participation ence for the residents. They can initialize the • The city wall, ambient mountain and in public activities. They could share the dialogue with the past in the help of the cul- rivers make Nanjing a city intertwined same view of the present city and exchange tural heritage’s presence. Progressively, the res- with mountains, water and forest; different opinions in a quite relaxed mental idents would form their own vision about the • The environment protection and land- state after work. The aged female inhabitants past, present and future. With the knowledge scape view protection are introduced; can continue their favorable square dance or awareness, the anxious for future or tension • The Ming City Wall Landscape Belt Plan- without disturbing the others in some place for present will be reduced; they will enjoy ning is made in the base of the city wall; accessible by the wall. more liberty and inner peace than before.

150 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue The City Wall near the Gate of China (photo by author)

Finally, the feeling of history is not necessary Each of us is born into a particular world, gov- Referrences to limit modern human mind; in the contrary, erned by a particular system of norms and values, • CHEN Wei, Luigi GAZZOLA. 2013, Comparati- ve study of the City Walls of Nanjing and Rome (in it can afford more freedom to the residents and a particular economic and political order. Chinese& English), Southeast University Press, in modern cities. When the MOOC (Massive Since we are born into it, we take the surrounding Nanjing, China Open Online Course) titled “A Brief History reality to be natural and inevitable, and we tend • Alessia de Biase, 2014, Hériter de la ville, pour une Anthropologie de la Transformation Urbaine of Humankind” is nearly accomplished in to think that the way people today live their lives (in French), Editions donner lieu, Paris early 2015, the teacher, Dr. Yuval Noah Harari is the only possible way. We seldom realize that • Gehl, J. 2011, Life between buildings: Using Public Space in Hebrew University of Jerusalem, diffused the world we know is the accidental outcome of , Island Press, Washington • Robert T, Jeremy A, Peter B, 2013, Worlds To- to all the students online a letter. This letter chance historical events, which condition not only gether, Worlds Apart: A History of the World, elaborated elegantly the positive function of our technology, politics and economics but even W.W.Norton & Company.Inc, New York • YANG Jianqiang, 2012, City Design and plan- history to today’s life as follows: the way we think and dream. This is how the past ning (in Chinese), Southeast University Press, grips us by the back of the head, and turn our eyes Nanjing, China towards a single possible future. We have felt the • Peter Hall, 2002, Cities of Tomorrow: An Intellec- tural History of Urban Planning and Design in the grip of the past from the moment we were born, so Twentieth Century, Blackwell Publishing, Hobo- “… we don’t even notice it. The study of history aims ken, New Jersey People often ask, what is the purpose of studying to loosen this grip, and to enable us to turn our • François Choay, 2007, L’allégorie du patrimoine (in French), SEUIL, Paris history? They sometimes imagine that we study head around more freely, to think in new ways, • Yuval Noah Harari, 2014, Sapiens: A Brief Histo- history in order to predict the future, or in order to and to see many more possible futures… ” ry of Humankind, Harvill Secker, London learn from past mistakes. In my view, we should study history not in order to learn from the past, but in order to be free of it.

special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 151 152. The exhibition

Mariella Annese, Milena Farina Happiness, or how to learn by playing with the space

The project “Fuoriclasse in the garden” cre- ries of central flowerbeds for trees and the ar- ated in the Japigia district in Bari is part of an rangement of different working areas linked educational program against school dropouts, together, allow for educational activities to built by Save the Children Italy ONLUS in col- be be carried out both all together and orga- laboration with the Association Kreattiva. nized into smaller groups. The team work is The curriculum includes the involvement of also prompted by the presence of a series of children and preadolescents of primary and mobile furnitures: benches and white tables secondary schools of the city, with a series of on wheels can be easily moved by pupils on school and extracurricular activities. the platform or on the paved area of the gar- The outdoor space of the Verga Institute was den on the basis of contingent educational designed to express the meaning of the Fuori- needs. The platform is conceived as an out- classe program, where students are protago- door classroom where it is possible to invent nists and find a personal dimension in the different situations and where children be- school experience. The happiness of being at come protagonists by appropriating their school is expressed by the playful and creative own educational space. character of the garden. The garden space is delimited by red verti- The project includes the addition of new ele- cal surfaces lining the fences, creating a ments overlapped to the design of the pre- dynamic effect due to the light strip that vi- existing school garden. Such elements have brates with the wind. This element empha- strong formal and chromatic features that sizes the playful character of the space. The enrich the playful character of the work: a red red surfaces, which are vibrant and perme- wooden platform, white tables and benches, a able, have significant visual and auditory red ribbon that holds the school fence, white impact that calls for attention by the city, signs that lead in the space, a red bench in the announcing the opening of a new space in center of the garden. the district. In fact, thanks to the presence A group of "Judah" trees (Cercis siliquastrum) of two independent gates, the garden is placed in a flowerbed in the middle of the suited to become a place to meet and to wel- garden was identified as an ideal place for outcome social gathering, which is open also to door activities of the teaching program. A red the local community. wooden platform is placed below the natural Finally, a white graphic communication is shelter formed by the foliage, which charac- overlapped to vertical and horizontal surfaces terizes the surface with a vibrant play of light to guide visitors: the symbols of the planned and shadows. activities (creativity and cultivation of veg- The modular design of the platform has al- etable gardens) and the words from the Unit- lowed for the surface to adapt to the char- ed Nations Convention on the Rights of the acteristics of the site and to the educational Child, which are organized in a path leading needs of the place itself. The creation of a se- to the center of the garden.

152 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 153 Regeneration of a The presence of urban grow gardens is to support both the educational activities of their resilience city – own cooking school and those of neighboring the Vela case schools. Delia Evangelista The redevelopment of the urban park next to brownfield sites creates a system of green spaces equipped to meet the demands of the Being tightly the comfort of the person con- community. nected to the state of health of the habitat that The project’s guideline are developed through surrounds him, the quality of the environ- keyword and spot: ment. With the term environment he doesn't • Functional Mixitè / Urban Completion, tightly intend the ecological habitat but the • Crowdfunding by citizens to improve Ur- whole habitat in which it develops him the ban quality life, to act human therefore also the built environ- • Technological Innovation goals, social ment. participation and the research to attract The morphology of the city is quickly evolved economic investment, in the last century, forming metropolis, with • Strategies for the energy efficiency on zones urbanized very vast to regional dimen- short programs system - diversification sion. These complex conurbations introduce target and goals to involve different ac- notable criticality, that the recent develop- tors in programmatic actions and realiza- ments of the economic and environmental tive action, crisis have set even more in evidence, what: • Public spaces: urban development model presence of degrade resilient urban areas, de- - integration and relation among differ- graded building patrimony, missed functional ent city social system levels , mixitè, absence of environmental comfort, • Combining entrepreneurial, research risk hidrogeological in case of exceptional scientific and technological actors with meteoric phenomena. civic participation to program the devel- The environmental degrade it becomes so so- opment around future urban symbolic cial degrade, in how much the human being structures representing physically the results to strongly be conditioned by the feel- aggregation points for the scientific and ings aroused by the habitat in which alive. local business community, • Resilient city regeneration Barra is a Naples district located in the indus- • Results of short medium and long term, trial area called Napoli Est. Flexibility and functionality From an agricultural vocation, industries on Strategic objectives of the project its territory are mainly dedicated to canned 1. Cooking School: redevelopment of indus- food products. The food industry “Vela” ap- trial buildings for cooking school, open- pears to be abandoned with the open spaces public restaurants open to the public and used for parking for neighboring businesses. trade shows; The industrial building results today located 2. Reforbishment of open spaces: the pres- in a dense residential area, without public ence of an abandoned urban park has green spaces, the population of this neighbor- made possible a combination new paths hood is composed of worker’s families who and new uses to ensure the use of the area were employed there. throughout the day with recreative ac- The audit work found the identity bond of the tivities separate from learning activities neighborhood with the food industry disused taking place in gardens teaching. and the need to have open spaces and spaces 3. Reforbishment of the historical indus- for social activities. trial sites: the residential area near the For a urban regeneration process in this industrial buildings is mostly composed brownfield area the project of environment of industrial workers’s family. regeneration is direct towards the installation 4. 4. Social regeneration: the involvement a cooking school with an attached restaurant, of social partners with an audit operation such as to retrieve the local culinary tradition makes possible to identify the needs of and give back space to the neighborhood ad- social and environmental comfort of the hering to international trends of slow food. neighborhood.

154 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 155 animations (Canary Wharf, London), play- Happy places grounds (the trampoline along the Seine, Agnese Follari, Arianna Fuccio, Rita Paris), sculptures in urban scale (like the giant rabbit in Stortorget, Orebro) and strange Iervolino shows (like the one in Piazza Carità, Napoli) make curious passers, becoming elements of attraction and stimulus of happiness. If the collective happiness is considered as • Cleanliness and maintenance: an ad- the sum of individual happiness, then there equate state of cleanliness and maintenance are happy cities. According to some Ameri- must be respected. (M. Sepe) can scholars, the individual factors that af- Again Central Park (New York) is an example fect the perception of well-being are the role as well as Piazza dei Miracoli (Pisa). Interest- played by nature and by habitat; Haybron, ing (in terms of maintenance) is a project for example, studied the benefits brought by funded in Rho (Milan), where the potholes, the Central Park of New York highlighting before being asphalted, are "colored" in order the collective dimension of the park and the to provide a warning signal in the event of a feeling of happiness that results. collapse of the road surface. There are people, like Manzini, which de- • Sense of ownership: the feeling of being velop the idea of public happiness not as able to contribute to the life of that place quiet rest in the tradition, but as a range of increases the feeling of belonging of it. (M. transformation and innovation, where start- Sepe) ing relational, cultural and social processes, The sense of ownership can be explained which are connected to the topic of territo- with a few examples such as: the cultivation rial ecology . of urban gardens (Chiasso, Canton Ticino), Therefore, the ways to "transform" the city cleaning of green spaces especially involv- in happy places are: the sharing of urban ing children (Conegliano, Treviso), or the space (and its socialization), that increases practice of bizarre activities, as yoga in the the sense of belonging to a place revitalizing streets (Time Square, New York) or randomly (sense of ownership, cleaning and mainte- playing the piano in public places (Centraal nance); the testing of social and urban in- Station, Amsterdam). novations aimed , first and foremost, to the • The use of color. It is an example: the enhancement of the existing (artistic forms use of colored chalks placed behind and playgrounds and multi-functional in- the bicycle wheels that, moving, draw stallations); the use of color. strange patterns on the ground, as well In summary, therefore, the key principles, as the cars that travel the roads on which for the achievement of a "hypothetical" sense buckets of paint are spilled (Rosenthaler of happiness in the city, are: Platz, Berlin). Or the projection of col- • Polyfunctionality: a public space should ored light beams on the ground (Shang- allow different types of functions (game, hai), or the boulevard with colorful breaks, movement). It is also desirable to umbrellas (A'gueda, Portugal) that deter- have the possibility to perform gymnastic ac- mines the identity of the place. tivities with the presence of small equipment W. Kandinskij wrote: "The color is a medium or a dedicated lane. (M. Sepe) that allows you to exercise a direct influence Central Park (New York) puts together the on the soul", so it interacts with human emo- concept of polyfunctionality . Indeed, it is a tions; each color is related to a mood and the multifunctional place, because it lends itself colors mutually generate sensations that to the practice of different activities thanks alone could not activate. Thus, in the city the to the installations located here. color is another source of urban happiness. • Artistic forms and playgrounds: the pres- It is, however, achievable and durable ence of sculptures, games, or other elements through the development, within the soci- and amenities which can cause a smile to a ety, of a systemic logic, namely the sense of person favors a state of happiness.(M. Sepe) participation and care of a place in a time Urban forms of entertainment such as: 3D unlimited.

156 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 157 identity architectures that enclose them. Upgrading Urban Areas A project of the green system thus conceived as Public Green Areas to determine a new dimension of use of space by determining a dynamic scenario that Promote People’s “Good is further enriched with the changing sea- Living” sons thanks to the chromatic values and the Caterina Gattuso, Philomène Gattuso scents of species. The valorization process is even more effective if the choices and the maintenance of the environments of the spaces are activated The presence of vegetable elements may with the involvement and active participa- play an important role in contributing to tion of local people. redevelop urban public spaces such as small To make explicit the methodology also to squares, plazas and areas that are in a rather demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability widespread in the city. These spaces could to modern urban centers, has been illustrat- acquire more liveability and identity and ed as a representative application using as a encourage the improvement of quality of reference the historical center of Cosenza. life if one could implement an junction ac- To this end, they have been selected three tion with the architectures of the context. In areas, among many other areas of the histori- many cases they are in fact bordered by pres- cal center, characterized by the presence of tigious historic architecture , with facades churches with portals in which it is clear and characterized by great ornamental varieties abundant the presence of decorative motifs not infrequently constituted by floral motifs. floral. To make an idea about the atmosphere The critical reading of the decorative part of to generate they have been selected the em- the buildings can be guidance to interpret blematic images that allow to define inter- and identify the botanical species represent- esting design scenarios. ed in order to make a transposition from the The enhancement system proposed is delin- monument to urban furniture in order to eated, giving voice and meaning to a unique make the environment more harmonious resource, which is determined by the appa- and comfortable. ratus of the decorative historical architec- It can thereby determine a revitalization of tures, easily available if critically elaborated, places and access routes through interven- able to to provide creative activities favoring tions that can reshape the space, using an in- consequently the economical and cultural novative and original way the elements of growth of the center.

158 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 159 Soft places in the The paradox of the new open space, especially in housing ensemble, is its ambiguity: threshold between public it attempts to be both private and public; it and private domain is always more or less part of the surround- Francesca Genise ing network of urban spaces; the open space within the ensemble is situated aside from the street but it is not closed off from it, in The urban planning concepts of the modern fact the relation between the open space in city proved to be very vulnerable, because of an ensemble and the city is primarily deter- a number of fundamental weaknesses. First mined by the site context. What’s new in was the great overabundance of public space, the open space are the informal inner spaces impossible to control. The second problem surrounded by the buildings. So the architec- lay in the programmatic definition of the dif- ture is a setting for the open space and only ferentiation of public space. The third weak- if it is able to be anonymous and non func- ness involves the impossibility of individual tional, the open space around it could be re- changes being made without affecting the lated to the public realm and could be a node urban planning concept as such. in the network of space related urban places. Beginning in the 1970s, an attempt was The opening of the block means that the made to develop a different sort of urban private space can spread out in the city and planning practice as an answer to the rigid the public space can penetrate the domestic egalitarianism and functionalism of the sphere, then masterplans and architects de- Modern Movement. More emphasis, again, signs should amplify their notion of ‘hous- came to be placed on the clear and recognizing’ to a more ample concept of ‘dwelling’ able distinction between the public, private in which the city and the home are not sepa- and collective domains; at the same time, the rated spheres but interdependent realms (ref. street as an element in urban planning made “Cenni di Cambiamento” – social housing via a signal comeback (ref. Diagram by A.and Cenni, Milano). P. Smithson). From this perspective A. Van These in-between spaces do not have the Eyck’s playgrounds, a work for the Depart- form of an assumed order, but constantly rement of Public Works of Amsterdam, made ceive new definitions from the inhabitants in collaboration with C. Van Eesteren from demand for accessibility and connectivity. 1947 to 1978 (ref. Playground by A.Van Eyck), So a permeable network of open spaces in have an historical significance, not only as a meaningful morphology constitute nowa- a successful individual design case, but also days one of the most essential urban design as an alternative to prewar CIAM congresses tools. As well as wide scale planning ap- urban practice, as a critical event opening a proaches, projects on a smaller scale can be new window onto new potentials of place important catalysts for future development where there had been nothing before but a of the urban cultural landscape. void and empty space.

160 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 161 Public Space as Landscape place for relaxation is close to a contemporary dense city where human beings may Experience of Happiness: dwell and explore its natural ecosystems A Surprise Public Garden of fauna and flora. It represents a series of amidst Water and Large gardens-platforms and large blocks of wood- Blocks of Woodland land close to the water edge which achieve similar dislocations of space and incitements Julia Georgi, Christos Constantinides, to the imagination. It is a peripatetic garden Anna-Maria Vissilia that shares its place between the movement through the natural ecosystem and the archipelago. It is a fictional place of happiness A Surprise Public Garden amidst Water made out of enclosures and and Large Blocks of Woodland as a openings, views towards the sea and the Model for the Development of Urban natural ecosystem, large blocks of woodland, Green Space a garden path between the visual and the The suggested ecological concept of urban tactile. Water adds a touch of magic to the green space is a series of gardens by the wa- scenery. It reflects the many moods and col- ter edge connected through a network of ors of the sky, and its surface is patterned and footpaths with large blocks of woodland, cre- textured by the multiple landscape elements ating therefore a natural framework at the and forms. city’ s waterfront perimeter. Nature reserves The proposed large blocks of woodland are also located around the edge of the city bring immense value to the overall scheme, and linked via the woodlands to man-made including from environmental benefits and ecosystems which penetrate into the urban physical health to the more subtle compo- fabric and encourage wildlife. It is a design nents of well being like stress levels and hap- scheme about how multi-sensory experienc- piness. Urban woodlands may contribute to es can be merged with landscape architec- the kinds of vibrant spaces that people want ture in order to integrate humans into spa- to inhabit and the kinds of cities that resi- tial landscape elements creating meaningful dents can’t help but feel connected to once places, and producing distinctive memo- landscape architects admit and celebrate rable designs which harbor extraordinary their role in creating vibrant urban environ- experiences that promote happiness. By art- ments. fully exploring and applying multi-sensory The series of gardens-platforms and large experiences as a key design tool to the field blocks of woodland become as a result of of landscape architecture, designers can inte- body/space, feeling and felt, viewed beyond grate the mind, body, and soul into the senses the ordinary “ways of seeing” landscape and to create optimal experiences. The designed touched, addressing the walking experience, peripatetic pathways and platforms are sim- a poetic matrix of a living zone of vegetation, ple in architectural synthesis since it was wood and stone, a utopian project that may limited in the use of simple geometric forms be a lesson for the contemporary practitio- of small dimensions: square surfaces 4.00 x ner of landscape design. Colors and textures 4.00m and orthogonal surfaces 4.00x8.00m create a bubble of happiness, a tribute to sci- in a stark contrast with the complexity that ence and wonder, an earthly paradise where characterizes the city fabric. visitors will be able to connect with nature The proposed illusionary designed natural and ultimately with their own human souls.

162 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 163 dients that abstractly mimic the form of its Wall of Happiness skyline. The light house becomes one of Blue Nasim Razavian Mosque’s minarets. During high tide parts of the space become wet. There is a layer of water on top of the foundation that creates narrow runners be- The intention of Wall of Happiness was for its tween the walls. The foundation creates a users to achieve mental and physical well- platform that makes it possible to stand on. being through psychological restoration by The zigzag form of the building controls the focusing on two notions: nature and play. speed of water then Bosphorus transforms to a It is located in the city of Istanbul on coast swimming/fishing pool. line of Bospforus, a strait that divides the city The over layering of different walls creates a to Asian and European parts. The plot was labyrinth- like space that gives the building chosen in an urban part of Istanbul in order features of a playground. Hanging columns to challenge the necessity of escaping from that move with the movement of water and the city for gaining psychological restora- wind and are also interactive with the body, tion. In the urban scale the building works and flexible weaved floorings accentuate the as a filter, creating an experience of a walk on notion of play as well. coastline of Bosphorus. The space will be opened to any kind of The material of the whole building is steel transformation by its users. The users can mesh. The choice of the material made the have the possibility to explore their envi- possibility of creating a space that is per- ronment by the process of re-creation. Dif- ceived differently from different distances ferent phenomena can emerge in this space. and different angles of view and thus it cre- The changes of the spatiality of the proposal ates an interactive space. The visual effects can be imagined. For instance, the space will create a vague- surreal space leaving room drastically change while people start hang- for imagination of the mind. ing objects from the mesh or they start doing The material together with the articulation graffiti, but this is part of the intention of the of space through layering different densi- design to create a framework for bottom-up ties of walls results in different gradients of activities. the mesh. It creates diverse spaces like light The wall creates a playground, an environ- or dark spaces, hidden spaces, and frames to mental exploration lab that seeks for the show certain elements in the surrounding. happiness of its users. It creates an invisible The transparency of the material makes the border between the seemingly contradictory environment part of architecture. elements of its environment such as nature The building is constantly changing with and city, old and new, and east and west but time. Shadows add another layer to the it immediately challenges the existence of a space. The building is sensitive to different defined border with its blurry appearance. hours, seasons, and temperatures. By creating a playground inside this wall it By standing precisely at certain points ironically talks about the fragileness and around the building the facade reacts to narrowness of this border and through creat- some elements of the surrounding. For in- ing frames of the surrounding it reminds us stance, Blue Mosque is seen through the gra- of the things that are there yet we don’t see.

164 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 165 The Urban Eutopia in Casal dans un champ, une culture ou une forêt gérée est faible en comparaison du nombre recensé di Principe-Casapesenna-San dans un délaissé qui leur est attenant.Considéré Cipriano (Campania-Italy). sous cet angle le Tiers-paysage apparaît comme Nature wins on built: from le réservoir génétique de la planète, l’espace du waste to resource futur”... (Clément Gilles Manifeste du Tiers Maria Maddalena Simeone, Luisa paysage, 2004, Editions Sujet/Objet). If you Mauro, Valentina Grasso, Germano stop to look at the landscape as the object of Sessa human activity now it turns out a lot of un- decided spaces without function on which The experiment is one of the products of the it is hard to put down a name. This set does cultural project “Degradation Beauty”, in the not belong to the area of light or shade. It is second edition called “Prototypes of Beauty”, located on the edge. Where the woods fray, which involved students, artists, designers, along roads and rivers, in the recesses for- academics. Concerned the study hypothesis gotten by the crops, where cars do not pass of transformation of degraded landscapes of ... between these fragments of landscape no Aversa ground; They were carried out theo- resemblance of form. Only one point in com- retical studies, readings investee landscape, mon: all are a land of refuge for diversity. The multidisciplinary interventions for the re- city produces many waste ... the landscape use of assets confiscated from the mafia or constitutes a third territory for many species degraded. that have no place else.

Eutopìa Not by chance we wanted to recognize, even Overturn the current sense of things and rein a symbolic sense, a crucial value to mar- build an image of Campania Felix, it was the ginal areas, so as to be able to overturn the basic idea. This idea is based on corrispon- way and turn them into new life urban. The dence between idea of happiness with the residual spaces selected, if connected to all force of nature and fertility of the land. The urban green areas through routes and lines starting point is the study methodology- of vegetation, can become a real reserve of definition of the Third Landscape of Gilles biodiversity, in the very city where the nat- Clement: "Le Tiers-Paysage – fragment indé- ural fertility is the connotation oldest and cidé du Jardin Planétaire – désigne la somme now tarnished by widespread degradation. des espaces où l’homme abandonne l’évolution du The project idea is to create an ecological paysage à la seule nature. Il concerne les délais- corridors union of wasteland and fallow ur- sés urbains ou ruraux, les espaces de transition, ban, and make the new urban structure the les friches, marais, landes, tourbières, mais aussi city, the new network capable vital also to les bords de route, rives, talus de voies ferrées, etc rehabilitate the archetypal image of the lo- … A l’ensemble des délaissés viennent s’ajouter cal landscape , linked to the history of the les territoires en réserve. ….. le Tiers-Paysage con- places. With the freedom typical of artistic stitue l’espace privilégié d’accueil de la diversité procedures We designed the poster – mani- biologique. Les villes, les exploitations agricoles et festo of finality, and a new structure of the forestières, les sites voués à l’industrie, au tour- conurbation, where nature has regained its isme, à l’activité humaine, l’espace de maîtrise value and its strength, such as to reverse and et de décision sélectionne la diversité et parfois cancel the task of built. “Eutopia”, the happy l’exclut totalment. Le nombre d’espèces recensées place, translates this idea.

166 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 167 we have included some surveys that form The possibility to perceive the second phase: graphical survey (signs different sensations and symbols), photographic survey (fixed images) and the perceptive survey. The per- coming by the environment ceptive one covers sensory perceptions such provides a feeling of as smell, sound, taste, tactile and visual sen- happiness sation, and overall perception, focusing on location, type, quantity (low, medium, high) Mariarosaria Perna, Anna Pirozzi and quality (classifying perceptions as: non– influential, pleasant or annoying). More- over, we have quoted a study made by the FAI The poster is an excerpt from the degree the- – Fondo Artistico Italiano –. It set up Human sis on the case of Bisaccia, an Irpinia’s village Highway* an online survey project in order in Southern Italy. This village was hit by the to measure our understanding of the natu- earthquake of the 23 November 1980 and the ral, artistic and cultural heritage of our coun- reconstruction that followed, moved on two try. The aim was to investigate the level of different paths: rebuilding or the construc- awareness, emotions and involvement with tion of a new town. For Bisaccia was chosen the theme. The emotional responses before a the replacement. Our analysis inquires about beautiful, unspoiled landscape, a monument the problems not resolved by reconstruction, or a work of art were diverse. People taking and search for an answer about the opportu- part in the survey were invited to write down nity to reestablish this urban and social fab- up to three words to describe their emotions. ric whose identity has been distorted. The Almost 20% of the people that answered methodology of analysis adopted provides spontaneously mentioned happiness first for the use of the PlaceMaker method (1), that followed by a wide range of positive emo- allows us to "identify those elements, which tions: from joyous ecstasy to peacefulness, are not recognizable through traditional car- from fascination to enchantment. tography and constitute the contemporary We have chosen this place, because it is rec- identity of places" (2). In the poster, between ognized by the community as a symbolic the various places analyzed, we have under- place and the recognition of the place as a lined the place that allow us to be reconnect- symbolic for the neighborough improves ed to the landscape and where the landscape the perception of its identity. is not only just a sense, rather it is a feeling, a way of being "entered by the world" (Besse, 1. Sepe M., (2013), Planning and Place 2008). It is this liminal experience, through in the city. Mapping place identity. which at least for a moment "men become Routledge - London New York. 2. Mazzoleni. D., Sepe M., (a cura di), whole" (Simmel, 2006), that pushes us to (2005), Rischio sismico, paesaggio, seek a deep bond with the earth. This place architettura: l’Irpinia, contributi per is Piazza Convento. The PlaceMaker Method un progetto, CRdC AMRA - Napoli. comprises eight phases and in the poster

168 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 169 Green Bridge in via San panoramic lift serving the "promenade". The lift connects the promenade with the equip- Giacomo dei Capri ment inside the architecture parasite and the Roberta De Risi park below.

The architecture parasite The project retrains an area forgotten and Today the vegetation has taken over on the degraded to direct it at the service of the dis- abandoned structure. Hence the idea to cre- trict as a multipurpose equipped park. The ate a structure parasite which clings to the project worked on a place inaccessible today, existing one. The functions that develop perceived as hostile and dangerous, to turn within this architecture parasite are: bar, it into an accessible, friendly and perceived reading room, wi fi area, gym and bathrooms. as reliable and joyful from different age Externally they appear as colored boxes char- groups, gender and status. Hence the use of acterized by large windows. At night the forms added (almost a game of Lego giant); place becomes more suggestive: these archi- the bright colors and cheerful (both of the tectural boxes colored, lit from within, creat- elements that made the natural elements); ing a play of light very particular, in an area the introduction of water as a vital element; that today is no lighting. Another landmark the game of the night lights that reinforce is the panoramic lift that connects to the the perception of the new park as a liveable lower park and collaborating, along with ar- element at all hours. The main themes are chitectural colored boxes, to create this play evolving at different heights: the bridge, the of light and color. architecture parasite and the park. Main reference was the 'High Line in New York: the The park project aims to transform the broken bridge The design of the Park is dictated by the ex- and its areas of sediment in a big rig with isting vegetation, very varied, and includes strong urban landscape quality and land- fruit trees (medlar, orange, fig), as well as scape architecture. mimosas, oaks and elms. The park is characterized by a variety of plants, which create The reuse of bridge as urban a sensory journey sinusoidal, in which the equipment colors are mixed to odors. In addition there The project plans to rebuild the urban con- are also here the box colored multipurpose tinuity, but only in pedestrian. At the end contributing to increasing this play of colors of the bridge it enters a pedestrian walkway and forms. Another element characterizing that connects the existing structure with Via the park is the steps that take you on via San Giacomo of Capri. The bridge itself be- San Giacomo of Capri, along which you can comes a pedestrian green space . His under- admire the waterfall that is the end of the lying areas are redesigned as an urban park bridge. The area is very busy and bustling, it with everyday functions. Is inserted, also a is "dominated" by the sound of water.

170 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 171 The existing urban conditions of Al-Hada Taif Municipality’s Steps and Ash-Shafa are represented in a) visu- for Achieving Happier, al pollution resulted from unintentional Healthier and Livable abuse of nature, b) lack of public awareness Communities: The Case of the value and importance of integration with environment, c) lack of comprehensive of Al-Hada and Ash-Shafa, vision for urban planning, urban design, Saudi Arabia landscape and architecture guidelines that Hisham Mortada, Mohammed are inline with surrounding nature, and d) absence of identity and character. Almokharrij The improvements of built environment of Al-Hada and Ash-Shafa through Taif Mu- nicipality’s efforts in order to bring back the City of Taif, west of Saudi Arabia, is consid- domination of natural environment of these ered a desert oasis of the Arabia Peninsula sites have been in three spatial scales. The due to its remarkable moderate climate first is urban, and the solutions provided and unique vegetation resulted from its here varied from setting up entry points to high mountainous topography. Al-Hada complexes, and clustering buildings, to de- and Ash-Shafa are the most distinct sites fining the different topographies by land- of Taif. Their cooler climate, varieties of marks, as well as enhancing quality of pub- fruits, vegetables, as well as natural land- lic spaces, and developing neglected ones. scape attract millions of tourists through- In the landscape level, the Municipality has out the year. decided to set up green ways or corridors for However, Al-Hada and Ash-Shafa have a comprehensive development of sites and recently suffered from urban develop- their surrounding. This is in addition to us- ments that are not in harmony with the ing indigenous plants and emphasizing the surrounding nature. Accordingly, Taif natural edges and views of the mountains. Municipality took the responsibility of Architecturally, measures implemented by preserving the natural environment of Taif Municipality focused on façade (ma- these sites and enhancing the quality of terials, heights, and colors) improvements its life and built environment together so they buildings will compliment the sur- with raising the awareness and improving rounding nature. Also, shop signage and local perception of nature through active elevations have been modified in a way that public participation and interaction with reduced their appearance. Special treat- residents, who live there to serve tourists ments of building entrances, fences, side by renting their houses and hotels, work- walks, and natural shading elements have ing in restaurants and cafes, farming and been recommended to owners to consider selling products and handcrafts. their in existing buildings.

172 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 173 Choice,”2 the event thus offered the possi- erybody can understand, appropriate, and SUPERELEVATA bility to experience this hidden line com- bring forward; a spontaneous collectively FOOT[PRINTS] prise between the land and the water in shared practice that right know is proba- the shadow of the Sopraelevata highway, bly also the only possible strategy for com- Recycle, reuse, urban aiming to sensitize the citizens on the rel- munitarian policies and urban planning, happy mood evance of the ground in the experience of at all levels5. Recycle is a very contempo- Sara Favargiotti, Jeannette Sordi public places and highlighting the ability rary attitude, which has the potential of of citizens to imagine new uses for urban transforming invisible places into livable spaces. For one day, the dream of a con- urban spaces. Urban happiness can be found in the dis- tinuous urban promenade along the city- covery of new emotions as well as in the coast line becomes reality. 1. Event organized by the RE-CYCLE GENOA sense of security that familiar and liv- LAB, Department of Architectural Science, able places provide, but we believe it also SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] has been Polytechnic School, University of Genoa and in collaboration with the Municipality has to do with the feeling of being part also thought as a call for projects open to of Genoa, Amici della Sopraelevata of the process of contributing to the cre- public and private entities: citizens, arti- Association, Professional Association of ation of a better place to live in. The poster sans, architects, artists, enterprises, com- Architects of Genoa, Recycle Italy | New Life presents the results of SUPERELEVATA munities, cooperative societies, informal Cycles for city and landscape infrastructure FOOT[PRINTS], an operation of tempo- groups, students and every form of private and architecture (PRIN 2012-2015). Event rary recycle and a successful injection of or public association3. Everybody was in- funded by DAAD Hochschuldialog urban happiness. On the 21 of September vited to participate in the construction of mit Südeuropa program 2014-2015. 2. The European Mobility Week 2014 aimed 2014 one of the most interesting spots in an urban performance with visions and to re-evaluate the way we think Genoa – the industrial shipyards next to proposal that would express and construct about urban space and to explore the the Ancient Harbour – has been temporar- a conceptual manifesto for the recycling relationship between land use and ily opened to the public. For one day, this of urban spaces. This performance offered quality of life. The 2014 year’s slogan, area stretched between the city and the one day to experiment, communication, “Our streets, our choice”, encourages sea, the only part of the central waterfront experience share and disseminate the idea people to create the city that they want of the city that hasn’t been transformed by of a possible future. The selected propos- to live in. www.mobilityweek.eu. the conversion of the city of Genoa into a als4 ranged from temporary urban furni- 3. More information about the call for public space, has become the theatre for ture, interactive installations, to social projects, the selected and realized projects, 40 installations that connected the indus- plays, urban performance and happening. and the event are available on the following official website: https://www. trial past of the city to its contemporary Every group have realized one “Footprint facebook.com/superelevataimpronte, touristic connotation. Manifesto” whose shape resembles the re- superelevata.wordpress.com. cycle symbol and that have been personal- 4. The projects have been selected SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] was or- ized using different materials, preferably by a committee of members of ganized by the Recycle Genoa Lab of the wasted or recycled (i.e. textiles, gypsum, the Recycle Research Project, the University of Genoa, in collaboration with sand, chippings, plastic, colors). Each in- Municipality of Genoa, the Amici the Municipality of Genoa and other pri- stallation was easy to transport, and it was della Sopraelevata Association and vate and public association1 underneath mountable and demountable in few hours. the Professional Association of Architects of Genoa, that judged the the most representative urban infrastruc- best concepts and their feasibility. ture of the city: Strada Sopraelevata, the The SUPERELEVATA FOOT[PRINTS] man- 5. Ricci M., “Tre falsi assiomi.” In highway running between the coast and ifestos became temporary installations Infrastrutture minori nei territori the historical center of Genoa. Organized expressing a conceptual interpretation dell'abbandono. Le reti ferroviarie, in occasion of the 2014 edition of the Eu- for urban recycle. Recycle is indeed a well- edited by E. Corradi and R. ropean Mobility Week “Our Streets, Our known and not-elitarian practice, that ev- Massacesi, Arcane, Roma, 2014.

174 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue special issue - URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI | 175 176 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue | 177 Indice degli autori

Mohammed Almokharrij Fabio Ciaravella Delia Evangelista Caterina Gattuso Rita Iervolino [email protected] PhD Architect in Dr.Arch., Department of Department of DiBEST, [email protected] Architecture and Architecture, University (Biology,Ecology and Serafina Amoroso Urban Phenomenology, of Naples Federico II, Earth Sciences), Univ. Annamaria Kisslinger Department of Università della [email protected] of Calabria Rende (CS), IEOS-CNR, Naples, Architecture (DIDA), Basilicata Italia, caterina.gattuso@ Italy, Fondazione GENS School of Architecture, Milena Farina unical.it Onlus, Italy University of Florence, Carlos Alberto Cioce Dipartimento serafina.amoroso@ Sampaio di Architettura, Philomène Gattuso Mark Kleyman unifi.it Post-Doctor in Università degli Studi Department of DiBEST, Department of Ecosocioeconomy Roma TRE – Factory (Biology,Ecology and Philosophy, Ivanovo State Mariella Annese and Corporative Architettura, m.farina@ Earth Sciences), Univ. University of Chemistry factory architettura, Cooperativism, factoryarchitettura.it of Calabria Rende (CS), and Technology, mark. Rome, m.annese@ Professor on the Post- Italia, pgattuso@gmal. kleyman2712@gmail. factoryarchitettura.it Graduation Program Francesca Fasanino com com Ellen Antonello (PPG) in Environment PhD student in Architecture, Department Francesca Genise Stefano Lamborghini Department of and Development at [email protected] Universidade Federal do of Architecture (DIARC), [email protected] Architecture and University of Naples Urbanism, School of Paraná and on the PPG Julia Georgi Michele Letteriello in Regional Development, Federico II, francesca. micheleletteriello@ Architecture, Federal [email protected] Department of Landscape University of Pelotas, one of the Coordinators Architecture, Neapolis googlemail.com [email protected] of the Public Politics Sara Favargiotti University of Pafos, Chen Lijing Nucleus at Universidade Department of [email protected] Andrea Boeri CRH (Centre de Regional de Blumenau Architectural Science, Recherche sur Department of (FURB),carlos.cioce@ Polytechnic School, Giuseppina Giugliano Architecture, Bologna [email protected] l'Habitat)/ Le gmail.com University of Genoa, Laboratoire Architecture University, andrea. [email protected] [email protected] Christos Constantinides Barbara Goličnik Marušić Ville Urbanisme Department of Landscape Maria José Gomes Urban Planning Environnement - UMR Salvatore Borruto Architecture, Neapolis Feitosa Institute of the Republic CNRS 7218 LAVUE, architetto paesaggista, University of Pafos, [email protected] of Slovenia, barbara. [email protected] [email protected] urbanista. Membro della c.constantinides@nup. Alessandro Marata Giunta nazionale Agia, ac.cy Ian Fisher Manchester Metropolitan Valentina Grasso Dipartimento di e del Gruppo di dialogo Luzia Neide Coriolano Diarc, University of Architettura. Università Civile ‘Direct Payement Universit, I.Fisher@ Doctor in Geography. mmu.ac.uk Naples Federico II di Bologna. alessandro. and Greening’ Permanent Professor on [email protected] Gabriele Fiocco Luca Guardigli Else Caggiano the PPG in Geography, Department of Mariano Marmo on Professional [email protected], [email protected] [email protected] Architecture University Department of Master in Tourism of Bologna, luca. Architecture - DiArc, Business Management Sinval Cantarelli Xavier Agnese Follari [email protected] University of Naples Department of Graphic and Coordinator of “Federico II”, mariano. Tourism and Territory agnesefollari@gmail. Design, School of Civil com Simon Andreas Hansen [email protected] Engineer, Federal Studies Laboratory MA Student at University of Rio Grande, at Universidade Simone Calistro Fortes the Department Assunta Martone sinval.xavier@pelotas. Estadual do Ceará. Bortolossi of Architecture, IRISS-CNR, a.martone@ com.br CNPq Researcher, Doctoral student in Sustainability and iriss.cnr.it luzianeidecoriolano@ Urban Management at Design, The University Salvatore Carbone gmail.com Pontifícia Universidade of East London, Damjan Marušić DiARC - Department of Católica do Paraná [email protected] Dinamika-Ideja-Prostor, Architecture, University Maria Lodovica Delendi damjan.marusic@ Department of Civic (PUC-PR), Master in Federico II of Naples, Regional Development Christian Henríquez dipstor.si salvatore.carbone@ Engineering and Doctor in Human Architecture, University and Researcher in Luisa Mauro unina.it the group NEcos, Sciences at Universidad of Studies of Udine Italy; Austral de Chile Diarc, University of Lijing Chen [email protected] luminaegestora@gmail. Naples Federico II com (UACH). Professor and School of Architecture Researcher at Center for Serena Micheletti and Urban Planning, Roberta De Risi Environmental Studies [email protected] Arianna Fuccio [email protected] Huazhong University of [email protected] (CEAM) Universidad Science & Technology, Jonathan Edkins Austral de Chile, Nicolas Mitzalis Wuhan, China, Vusa Collaborative, Pietro Garau [email protected] Architect I.U.A.V., [email protected] eThekwini, KwaZulu- International Ph.D. N.T.U.A.,Ilias 28, Coordinator, Biennial Sara Iaccarino 26224, Patras, Greece, Giulia Chiummiento Natal, South Africa, sara.iaccarino@studenti. [email protected] of Public Space, pietro. [email protected] giulia.chiummiento@ [email protected] unina.it uniroma1.it

178 | URBANISTICA INFORMAZIONI - special issue Rita Monfort Salvador Adriana Portella Ann Sharrock Zhang Wei Architect. Doctoral Department of Manchester Metropolitan AHTTEP Laboratoire Candidate, Program in Architecture and Universit, I.Fisher@ (Architecture Histoire Architecture, Building, Urbanism, School of mmu.ac.uk Technique Territoire Architecture, Federal Town Planning and Cesarina Siddi Patrimoine), École Landscape, Universitat University of Pelotas, adrianaportella@yahoo. Department of Civil, nationale supérieure Politència de València com.br Environmental d'architecture de Paris- (Spain). Research Engineering and La Villette, wzhang@ Student, Bartlett Maria Quarto Architecture - DICAAR, outlook.fr School of Planning, Dpt.of Physics University University of Cagliari, ritamonfortsalvador@ Federico II of Naples, [email protected] Italy gmail.com Maria Maddalena Talita Cristina Zechner Doctoral student Hisham Mortada Inês Quintanilha Simeone Department of Diarc – Agrorinasce – in Geography at Taif Municipality & King Universidade Federal Abdul Aziz University, Architecture and Sun marilena.simeone@ Urbanism, School of alice.it de Santa Catarina. Saudi Arabia, Researcher for NPP- [email protected] Architecture, Federal University of Pelotas, Jeannette Sordi FURB. talita.zechner@ Mohamed Ali Msolli [email protected] Center for Landscape, gmail.com François Rabelais Ecology and Urbanism, University, France; Nasim Razavian DesignLab, Universidad University of Jendouba, Department of Adolfo Ibanez, Santiago, Tunisia, mmsolli@ Architecture, Delft [email protected] gmail.com University of Technology Master of Architecture Mario Spada Roberta Nivuori Graduate, nassim. Coordinator, Biennial of robertanivuori@gmail. [email protected] Public Space com Alan Ripoll Alves Chiara Testoni Sara Omassi Licenciate degree in Department of sa.und.sa architects, sara. Biological Science Architecture, Ferrara University, chiara. [email protected] (2004) and Masters in Development and [email protected] Federico Orsini Environment (2009) Donatella Tramontano DA, University of at Federal University Fondazione GENS Onlus, Ferrara, via Quartieri 8, of Ceará (UFC), Italy, Dpt MMMB, Ferrara, [email protected] and Doctorate in University Federico Eva-Leticia Ortiz Environment and II of Naples, Italy. National University of Development at Federal Corresponding author Mexico, evaleticiaortiz@ University of Paraná DT [email protected] gmail.com (UFPR), alanripoll@ gmail.com Angelo Triggianese Alessandra Pagliano Department of Department of Andressa Rocha Architecture, Università Architecture - DiArc, Department of degli Sudi di Napoli University of Naples Architecture and “Federico II”, angelo. Urbanism, School of [email protected] “Federico II”, pagliano@ Architecture, Federal unina.it University of Pelotas, Luca Venturi Mariarosaria Perna andressa_mmr@outlook. [email protected] perna.mariarosaria@ com Anna-Maria Vissilia gmail.com Marichela Sepe Department of Landscape Violeta Pires Vilas Boas IRISS-CNR, marisepe@ Architecture, Agricultural Iuav School of Doctorate unina.it University of Athens, [email protected] Studies in Urbanism, Germano Sessa v.piresvilasboas@stud. Diarc, University of Silvia Viviani iuav.it Naples Federico II President of INU, the Anna Pirozzi Italian Urban Planning Javairia Shahid Institute [email protected] [email protected] Sundas Shahid [email protected]

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