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28 Anthropocene and Design. The Role of Design in the emerging Territorial Scenarios of Contemporary Ruins in the Anthropocene Epoch. 36 Residual Spaces. 37 Emerging Taxonomies in Higher Education: Exploring Student’s Housing Experiences. 55 Interior Design as the New First Design Phase: Leveraging Academic 56 The Role of Design in the Development of an Environmental Therapeutic System for the Enhancement of Well-being among People with Dementia and Caregivers. 64 New Uses of Unused. A comparative Analysis of Social Design Practices in the Context of Contemporary Abandoned Spaces. 73 Designing the Empathic Experience. A Workshop. 85 Design Workshop Practices for Local Development: Analysis of Cases from Turkey.
2 Anthropocene and Design. The Role of Design in the emerging Territorial Scenarios of Contemporary Ruins in the Anthropocene Epoch
Silvia Maria Gramegna1, Barbara Camocini1, Silvia Piardi1, Alessandro Biamonti1 1Design Department, Politecnico di Milano, Italia. [email protected]
Abstract: The influence of human behaviour is deeply affecting and modifying Earth. This leads experts to introduce a new geological Epoch, named Anthropocene. We can read those changes also from a cultural point of view, related to philosophy, literature and arts. The Anthropocene concept stakes relations between major and primary themes such as human beings, artefacts, nature and time. Specifically, existing built environment and
artefacts can be considered direct testimonies of the interaction of humans with nature, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT space and time In fact, Contemporary Ruins, such as incomplete or abandoned structures, are increasing in their number, both in terms of case studies and territorial extensions. If, in the past, this phenomenon was mainly absorbed through conversion of use processes, nowadays their assimilation is becoming more and more difficult, and hard to be re-metabolized, because they are sometimes made up of new technologies or because of their huge and growing territorial dimensions. Moreover the economic crisis aggravates the emergency, and the fragile background circumstances make hard to intervene with an effective Adaptive Reuse approach. Historically, this Design activity, and more broadly Design discipline, was referred only to skilled and trained experts. As a consequence, tools, products and spaces represented the tangible results of this creative process. Nowadays, Design assumed a more spread attitude; in fact we are living in a huge and diffuse designing society. Therefore a growing number of individuals undertake ‘diffuse design’ actions that often lead to big social changes and territorial transformations. This widespread attitude can be considered as one of the main features of the Anthropocene cultural groundwork that deals with the major relationships between human beings, nature and time. Accordingly to the three topics outlined, we proposed an exploratory paper with the aim to investigate the role of design attitude in the process of intervention on new fragile and complex territorial scenarios due to the growing dimensions of Contemporary Ruins. A critical reflection, supported by the cultural framework of Anthropocene’s concept, in which natural elements and results of human activity become elements of the same scenario, complex as homogeneous, on which design actions can be activated, with the involvement of a new designing society.
Keywords: design, anthropocene, contemporary ruins, design approach, cultural model Introduction In recent times, the influence of human behaviour on Earth's atmosphere is so significant to suggest the identification of the beginning of a distinct new geological Epoch, named with the term Anthropocene. It would be the last Epoch of the current Quaternary Period (starting 2.58 million years
29 ago), following the current Holocene Epoch (starting 11.700 years ago). Anthropocene could also be readago), asfollowing a cultural the concept,current Holocene related toEpoch philosophy, (starting literature11.700 years and ago). arts; Anthropocene a concept through could also which be Humanitiesread as a culturaldeal with concept, complex related questions to about philosophy, the relation literature between and human arts; a beings, concept artefacts, through nature which andHumanities time. Asdeal a with consequence, complex questions this relationship about the becomes relation between relevant human concerning beings, the artefacts, existing nature built environment.and time. As In a consequence, fact, Contemporary this relationship Ruins (hereby becomes meant relevant as the concerning dismissed, the incomplete, existing built and abandonedenvironment. heritage In fact, built Contemporary less than a Ruins century (hereby ago) meant are increasingly as the dismissed, recognized incomplete, as a growing and phenomenon,abandoned heritage both in terms built of less increasing than a numbers century of ago) reported are increasingly case studies, recognized and their rising as aterritorial growing extensions.phenomenon, Moreover, both in terms in the of past increasing decades, numbers dismissed of reported buildings case where studies, easily and reabsorbed their rising through territorial a processextensions. of re Moreover,-functionalization, in the past conversion decades, of dismisseduse, or physiologically buildings where assimilated easily reabsorbedby nature. Nowadays, through a theseprocess phenomena of re-functionalization, become visible. conversion These of tangible use, or physiologically evidences of assimilated traumatic events,by nature. failures, Nowadays, and transformations,these phenomena often become remain visible. as evident These presences, tangible because evidences they ofare traumatic made up of events, new materials, failures, built and intransformations, contexts that don’t often have remain the as ability evident to presences,re-metabolize because them they or because are made of up their of new huge materials, and growing built territorialin contexts dimensions. that don’t have Historically, the ability Design to re represented-metabolize them the creative or because engine of their that huge generated and growing tools, products,territorial spaces, dimensions. etc. It Historically,was an activity Design carried represented on only by the few creative and skilled engine experts. that generatedToday, it seems tools, assumingproducts, anotherspaces, etc.direction, It was aan more activity spread carried and on expanded only by character.few and skilled The so-experts.called Today,‘diffuse it design’ seems refersassuming to design another activities direction, undertaken a more byspread a growing and expanded number of character. individuals. The These so-called actions ‘diffuse often leaddesign’ to largerefers transformations, to design activities bringing undertaken about bigby asocial growing changes. number Apparently, of individuals. Design These could actions be seen often as a sharedlead to attitude.large transformations, This attitude bringing is so about widespread, big social expanded changes. Apparently, and shared Design that could becomes be seen part as aof shared the aforementionedattitude. This attitudecultural model is so that widespread, deals with the expanded fundamental and sharedrelationships that between becomes human part beings, of the natureaforementioned and time. cultural model that deals with the fundamental relationships between human beings, nature and time.
Anthropocene InAnthropocene Geology the concept of recent is dramatically different from our everyday life, and concerning the topic,In Geology the International the concept ofCommission recent is dramatically on Stratigraphy different (ICS) fromis the our official everyday institution, life, and which concerning designate the Eons,topic, Eras, the InternationalPeriods, Epochs Commission and Ages of on the Stratigraphy Earth’s official (ICS) timeline is the inofficial the last institution, 4.6 billion which years. designateRecently, ICSEons, reported Eras, Periods, that human Epochs behavior and Ages has of noticeably the Earth’s affected official timeline Earth’s atmosphere,in the last 4.6 modifying billion years. its features,Recently, dueICS reportedto the influence that human of important behavior anomalieshas noticeably such affected as global Earth’s warming atmosphere, phenomenon, modifying or even its mutatingfeatures, itsdue chemical to the influence composition. of important ICS had someanomalies perplexities such as and global decided warming to entrust phenomenon, a multidisciplinary or even mutating group ofits 40chemical experts composition. (including meteorologists, ICS had some oceanographersperplexities and anddecided palaeontologists) to entrust a multidisciplinary called Working Group group onof 40 the experts Anthropocene (including (WGA)meteorologists, to further oceanographers inquiry those and changes. palaeontologists) WGA, in 2009,called Working advocated Group the identificationon the Anthropocene of a distinct (WGA) new to geological further inquiry Era, named those with changes. the term WGA, Anthropocene. in 2009, advocated The term the Anthropoceneidentification comes of a distinct from two new ancient geological Greek terms: Era, named anthropos with ( the term Anthropocene.eans human, The term and Anthropocene comesh from identifies two ancient subjects Greek related terms: to novelty.anthropos From ( a terminological pointeans of human, view, andthe h identifies subjects related to novelty. From a terminological point of view, the composition, led Antonio Stoppani, an Italian geologist and professor at Politecnico di Milano, to introducecomposition, the ledconcept Antonio of an Stoppani, Anthropozoic an Italian Era, geologistin 1873. Stoppani and professor proclaimed at Politecnico the Anthropozoic di Milano, Era to, introduce the concept of an Anthropozoic Era, in 1873. Stoppani proclaimed the Anthropozoic Era, strength (Stoppani, 1873). Most recently, the term Anthropocenestrength has been informally used by biologist Eugene (Stoppani, Stoermer 1873). in the Most mid recently,70’s (Steffen, the et term al., 2011),Anthropocene but it has has been been Paul informally Crutzen, usedDutch by Nobel biologist Prize Eugene winner Stoermer for chemistry, in the to mid characterize 70’s (Steffen, and makeet al., popular2011), but the it term, has been claiming Paul “WeCrutzen, are noDutch longer Nobel in the Prize Holocen winner for chemistry, to characterize andduring make a conferencepopular the in term, 2000 claiming (Lewis, “Weet al., are 2015) no longer. Therefore in the Anthropocene Holocen would be our new, current,during Epoch, a characterizedconference in by2000 the (Lewis, relevant et al., alteration 2015). Therefore of Earth Anthropocene due to human would activity. be our Thus new, one current, of the Epoch, main challengescharacterized for bythe thescientists relevant is to alteration identify a of global Earth marker due to of human our environment activity. Thus able one to ofindicate the main the challenges for the scientists is to identify a global marker of our environment able to indicate the
30 Holocene Epoch, started 11.700 years ago (Certini & Scalenghe, 2011). Holocene is an important period years ago), following or overlapping the current, the Subatlantic one (started 2000 years ago) phase of 2016). differentdimensionaskeletonancestor,andpresentits 1950s, than the the since world, the over all diffused specimen current the chicken; the and pollution, with related elements other oceans, the in accumulated waste plastic certain of of amount extinctionincreasing the mass species, the are markers possible Other spike. golden a such for candidate best the as emerging is test bomb nuclear from elements radioactive on focus a positions, those Among positions. different their withscientists, involvesseveral spike golden of kind this arounddebate The 2016). (Giannuzzi, future the into years, of millions even means that geology in time, long scientists by recognizable and visible be to enough clear be should marker This age. new the of point starting f e tcnlge ad h avn o ms pouto eald uaiy o hp society, shape to humanity enabled production mass of advent the and technologies new of the parallel, In design process society. should involve society, finding the new strategies for social of engagement. The development understanding wide and deep a requires it consequently, and clear, is designer the of responsibility moral and social the Respectively, society. whole the consequently environments,andandtools its shape imagineand humanitycan which throughtoolspowerful most the of one as discipline Design describes he (1971) World” Real for “Design book his In designers. of Victor Accordingly, life. environmentalandresponsibility social the out point to theorists designfirst of the of one was Papanek quality and well-being enhancing himself, man consequence, a as and, rea to how understand practically and scenario, alternative an imagine creatively to capability the by followed matrix underlyingsummarily deconstructed in the ability to critically foreseen things that are not working in the primary society, the as design of value, inherent thing- a it make to design, separate to attempt Any process. designthe constitutes end foreseeable desired, a towards act any of patterning and planning “the (1971) Papanek by described As has. everyone that capability human a as design defined theorists design Historically, Design represented the creative engine that generated tools, products, spaces, etc. Many Design Attitude in the Anthropocene epoch Moreover landscapes. the affect to begun the been ushered by the Industrial Revolution (Douglas, 2002). Moreover, as a wider horizon of discussion, case, there are doubts no about the fact that the main importantimpact humansof theon planet has the goal of adapting the environment to the needs of a growing human society (Tzedakis, 2015). In any aforementioned profound modification of the landscape”landscape, looks even Earth’s more like the a long of slow process modification with profound a starting grown, progressively period glacial the to compared water, more and temperatures warmer with favorable, where conditions environmental global when Holocene, humanfor society. In fact, even humans if werepresent in the Pleistocene, they flourished only the in complex questionscomplex about therelation between human beings, artefacts, nature and time. with deals humanity which in concept a arts; and literature philosophy, to related concept, cultural fact, In rethought. be to needs culture of role the scenario, that On it. dominating in succeeding moreover, nature, challenging of capable force new a become force. geological strong clear, and consequently, it requires a deep and wide understanding of the society. In parallel, the parallel, In society. the of understanding wide and deep a requires it consequently, and clear, is designer the of responsibility moral and social the Respectively, society. whole the consequently environments,andandtools its shape imagineand humanitycan which throughtoolspowerful most the of one as discipline Design describes he (1971) World” Real for “Design book his In designers. of Victor Accordingly, life. environmentalandresponsibility social the out point to theorists designfirst of the of one was Papanek quality and well-being enhancing himself, man consequence, a as and, rea to how understand practically and scenario, alternative an imagine creatively to capability the by followed matrix underlyingsummarily deconstructed in the ability to critically foreseen things that are not working in the primary society, the as design of value, inherent thing- a it make to design, separate to attempt Any process. designthe constitutes end foreseeable desired, a towards act any of patterning and planning “the (1971) Papanek by described As has. everyone that capability human a as design defined theorists design Historically, Design represented the creative engine that generated tools, products, spaces, etc. Many Design Attitude in the Anthropocene epoch Moreover landscapes. the affect to begun the been ushered by the Industrial Revolution (Douglas, 2002). Moreover, as a wider horizon of discussion, case, there are doubts no about the fact that the main importantimpact humansof theon planet has the goal of adapting the environment to the needs of a growing human society (Tzedakis, 2015). In any aforementioned profound modification of the landscape”landscape, looks even Earth’s more like the a long of slow process modification with profound a starting grown, progressively period glacial the to compared water, more and temperatures warmer with favorable, where conditions environmental global when Holocene, humanfor society. In fact, even humans if werepresent in the Pleistocene, they flourished only the in Holocene Epoch, started 11.700 years ago (Certini & Scalenghe, 2011). Holocene is an important period years ago), following or overlapping the current, the Subatlantic one (started 2000 years ago) phase of 2016). differentdimensionaskeletonancestor,andpresentits 1950s, than the the since world, the over all diffused specimen current the chicken; the and pollution, with related elements other oceans, the in accumulated waste plastic certain of of amount extinctionincreasing the mass species, the are markers possible Other spike. golden a such for candidate best the as emerging is test bomb nuclear from elements radioactive on focus a positions, those Among positions. different their withscientists, involvesseveral spike golden of kind this arounddebate The 2016). (Giannuzzi, future the into years, of millions even means that geology in time, long scientists by recognizable and visible be to enough clear be should marker This age. new the of point starting f e tcnlge ad h avn o ms pouto eald uaiy o hp society, shape to humanity enabled production mass of advent the and technologies new of design process should involve society, finding new strategies for social engagement. The development complex questionscomplex about therelation between human beings, artefacts, nature and time. with deals humanity which in concept a arts; and literature philosophy, to related concept, cultural fact, In rethought. be to needs culture of role the scenario, that On it. dominating in succeeding moreover, nature, challenging of capable force new a become force. geological strong Anthropocene Anthropocene Anthropocene Anthropocene lize it. The ultimate aim of Design is to intervene and transform man’s environment, toolsenvironment, man’s transform andintervene to is Design of aim ultimate The it. lize lize it. The ultimate aim of Design is to intervene and transform man’s environment, toolsenvironment, man’s transform andintervene to is Design of aim ultimate The it. lize , , should includethe early modern erathe as starting period in which human actions should includethe early modern erathe as starting period in which human actions would be the last Epoch of the current Quaternary Period (started 2.58 million 2.58 (started Period Quaternary current the of Epoch last the be would would be the last Epoch of the current Quaternary Period (started 2.58 million 2.58 (started Period Quaternary current the of Epoch last the be would
The same humans that were initially sheltered inside the caves today have today caves the inside sheltered initially were that humans same The The same humans that were initially sheltered inside the caves today have today caves the inside sheltered initially were that humans same The , , in the in . in the in . “ “ From that period, the human impact on the planet has planet the on impact human the period, that From From that period, the human impact on the planet has planet the on impact human the period, that From Anthropocene Anthropocene Anthropocene Anthropocene f life” of f life” of epoch, human activities represent a represent activities human epoch, epoch, human activities represent a represent activities human epoch, Gallus gallusGallus Gallus gallusGallus by p3. ein rcs cn be can process Design (p.3). by p3. ein rcs cn be can process Design (p.3). -itself, works counter to the to counter works -itself, -itself, works counter to the to counter works -itself, could also be read as a as read be also could could also be read as a as read be also could (Carrington Damian, & (Carrington Damian, & Krh 05. The 2005). (Kirch, Krh 05. The 2005). (Kirch, 31
DESIGN & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT environment and people. Furthermore, the continuous technological and productive progresses made this constant process more and more easier and faster. “From this perspective, we are beginning to be able to define and isolate problems, to determine possible goals and work meaningfully towards them” (Papanek, 1971). Since 1972, Thomas Maldonado in his book “Design, nature and revolution: toward a critical ecology” describes the human environment as “one of the many subsystems that compose the vast ecological system of nature” (Maldonado, 1972). Moreover, he claimed that among subsystems, the human environment is the only one able to provoke substantial and irreversible changes to all other subsystems. In his vision, designers are conniving actors in this process. Global warming, terrorism, poor nutrition and the spread of untreatable diseases on one side threaten society; but they also represent big challenges to work on aiming at enhancing the common good. Nevertheless, Maldonado is aware of the fact that autonomous and spontaneous design actions require a big effort in any social system, but through his book he urged designers to play a substantial role activating and sustaining a process of social change to contrast the growing degradation of the environment. According to this, on one side, Design has always been intended as a way of putting together problem solving capability and sense making, to create a link between being able to do something and having a production of meaning about what is being done. The past decades of emerging design has seen the conversation oriented only towards the problem-solving and pragmatic side, leaving aside the cultural dimension (Manzini, 2015). This has resulted in a “solutionist” line of thought focused on the idea that everything can be reduced only to find solutions. On the contrary, the environment that surrounds humanity is much more complex and demands for hope, a system of meaning, sense and stories. Nowadays, we are facing a new dimension for design discipline. We are experiencing a “diffuse design attitude” (Branzi, 2006). Due to this “diffuse design attitude”, society appears as an extensive experimental lab, which aims at defining new meanings, tools, solutions and social forms. Audacious design actions, social and economical paradigms are needed, in order to achieve real transformative activities. In this new context, designers have to be considered as social actors in a society in which “everybody designs” (Manzini, 2015) and in which a host of active minorities, the creative communities, are inventing new ways of being and doing things. In particular, designers have to accept the fact that they can no longer aspire to a monopoly on design and that today Design is not only executed in design studios, but everywhere. At the same time, they have to understand that these contemporary social changes lead the role of design, and of the design practitioners, to acquire even greater importance. In fact, designers are part of this great “diffuse” design arena (Branzi, 2006), playing the active role of “solution promoters”, bringing their specificities, such as their capacity to produce visions of the possible and to develop strategies to transform potential visions into real solutions (Manzini, 2015). Designers are certainly among those whose positive contributions are essential to the building of a more humane world. Trained in many disciplines - whether product design, architecture, visual communication, or service design - they are responsible for the artifacts, systems, and environments that constitute the social world. Therefore, Design seeks to enhance its innovative, research-oriented and cross-disciplinary attitude, in order to responsively answer to the true needs of society. All these considerations, leads us to think that we are now in a new age of morally and environmentally responsible Design, in which design practitioners should promote and guide radical social changes, in order to understand the possible futures in the ruined, and unexpected landscapes of the Anthropocene.
Adaptive Reuse and Contemporary Ruins within the Anthropocene epoch
32 areas through small inter small through areas regenerationsocialalsoand institutionallevelledat to re tool, specialized shape and performance. In addition, the reuse of abandoned space is exploited as an urban highly require placesthat covers destinationrarely final therefore,the services; and ICT of use the to relatedhybridleadfunctionsto they often capillary,increasinglybecomingas areandfluidprocesses nin Rmn tutrs ae en bobd n h ubn oorpy f eivl cities. medieval of topography urban the in absorbed been have structures Roman ancient nor m leftovers, significant no with process, natural and organic an of part as place took it process; similar frag including constructions, building strategies and tools Today we are witnessing a variety of approaches in the conversion of use practice, differing in timelines, considered, at least in Western society, as an important heritage recognized by all. Ancient buildings Ancient all. by recognized heritageimportant an as society, Western in least at considered, of testimonies structures, monumental ancient major the Nevertheless, h wrd Teeoe e a fn sm refere some find can we Therefore world. the whichbecoming is an emerging indebate the topic on the sustainable developmentand future the of buildings, and infrastructures structures, disused or abandoned of heritage the by generated been and deforestation to due consumption on impact soil man's of part relevant a the scientists, by studied currently being development, to species, some of extinction the to emissions, An named epoch, new mentioned above the introducing Holocene, the of end the propose to scientists led has undergone have changes these that acceleration the and absorbed hardly be can habitat human the on impact Their 2011). al., et (Kaplan surface Earth the on changes significant producing are activities Human within the operations aimed at expanding and re and expanding at aimed operations the within use of existing structures is also one of the prevailing tendencies for the 21st century economic growt transformed to serve new recreational uses while preserving the area's rich history and history rich area's the preserving while uses recreational new serve to transformed adapt of example now is industries, coal and steel the with Europe's of heartland East, the once Germany, in district Ruhr Far the as such facilities, industrial from dismantled come Reuse, Adaptive of examples rege similar recent more some 1982), for artists. If the first evidence of this kind of transformation dates back to the 70's in New York (Zukin, the as such spaces, conceived as a creative of reuse of dismantled typesindu interesting new to specialized rise high given with has ones features, the specifically facilities, abandoned these of reuse the cases, some In the of disposal the to related led facilities built by have humans, going 2011), along with Rifkin, the difficulty 2007;in their re (Sassen, Age Digital Global the and revolution pow electricity of use the engine, steam the of introduction the through time over out carried revolutions, technological great the rubble, and ruins including infrastructures and urban areas. If we exclude great natural disasters or great wars, with their the to referring expression international milestone, in t in milestone, of sort a topics, design major and first the of one is Revolution, Industrial the of heritage the Indeed, Pleistocene interglacial phases’ since the start of previous the Industrial of or Holocene the of that from distinct signature stratigraphic global a leave to sufficient conc studies the within chairman o chairman changes to all other subsystems. In his vision, designers are conniving actors in this process this in actors conniving are irreversible designers vision, and his In substantialsubsystems. other all provoke to changes to able one only the is environment human the subsystems, of system ecological vast the a his in MaldonadoThomas 1972, Since 1971). (Papanek, able to define and isolate problems, to determine possible goals and work meaningfully towards them this constant process more and more easier and faster. environment and people. Furthermore, the continuous technological and productive progresses made Adaptive Reuse and Contemporary Ruins within the Anthropocene epoch the of landscapes unexpected and ruined, the in futures possible Anthropocene the understand to environmentally order and morally of age new a in inchanges, social radical guide andshouldpractitionerspromote design which in now Design, responsible are we that think to us leads considerations, these All society. needsof true the to responsivelyanswer to order attitude,in cross-disciplinary and innovative,research-oriented enhanceits Therefore, seeksto world. Designconstitute the social that visual architecture, design, product whether environments and systems,artifacts, the for responsibleare - they - designservice or communication, disciplines many in Trained world. humane more a of building the to essential are contributions positive whose those among certainly are Designers the 2015). (Manzini, solutions real of into visions potential visions transform to strategies producedevelop to and to possible capacity their as such specificities, their bringing promoters”, “solution designersgreatfact,partareInthis “diffuse” design of arena (Branzi, 2006),active playingthe role of importance. greater even acquire to practitioners, design the of and design, of role the lead changes social contemporary these that understand to have they time, same the At everywhere. but studios, they can no longer aspire to a monopoly on design and that today Design is not only executed in design are inventing newways of being and doing things. In particular, designers haveto accept the fact that “everybody designs” (Manzini, 2015) and in which a whichhost in of society active a minorities, in the actors creative social communities, as considered be to have designers context, new this In activities. extensivetransformative real achieve to order in needed, anare paradigms economical and social actions, design as appears society attitude”, Audacious design forms. social and solutions tools, meanings, new defining at “diffuse aims which lab, experimental this to Due 2006). (Branzi, attitude” stories. and sense meaning, Nowadays, we are facing a of new dimension for design discipline. system We are experiencing a “diffuse design a hope, for demands and complex more much is humanity surrounds that environment the contrary, the On solutions. find to only reduced be can everything dimension (Manzini, 2015). This has resulted in a “solutionist” line of thought focused on the idea that conversation oriented only towards the problem-solving and pragmatic side, leaving aside the cultural the seen has designemerging of decades past The done. being is what about meaning of production environment. solving capability and sense making, to thecreate a link between being able to do something and having of a degradation growing the contrast According to this, on one toside, Design has always been intended as a way of putting together problem change social of process a sustaining bookheurgedsystem,substantialplayactivatinganydesignershis social role but tothroughin aand autonomousthatawarefactisMaldonado theandof design spontaneous actionsbig requireeffor a but they also represent big challenges to work on aiming at enhancing the common good. Nevertheless, warming, terrorism, poor nutrition and the spread of untreatable diseases on one side threaten society; critical ecology” critical neration of former industrial district 798 Art District in Beijing. On a territorial scale, the large the scale, territorial a On Beijing. in District Art 798 district industrial former of neration ajor breaks with the past, as part of a whole and main flow of time. Thus, for example, the great f the f . he Anthropocene Working Group of Geologists of Group Working Anthropocene AdaptiveReuse describes
Cmcn, 2016) (Camocini, thropocene (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000). In addition to the carbon dioxide carbon the to addition In 2000). Stoermer, and (Crutzen thropocene rig h Atrpcn epoch. Anthropocene the erning ventions and renewal inj renewal and ventions the human environment as “one of the many subsystems that compose that subsystems many the of “one as environment human the
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DESIGN & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Human activities are producing significant changes on the Earth surface (Kaplan et al., 2011). Their impact on the human habitat can be hardly absorbed and the acceleration that these changes have undergone has led scientists to propose the end of the Holocene, introducing the above mentioned new epoch, named Anthropocene (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000). In addition to the carbon dioxide emissions, to the extinction of some species, to the soil consumption due to deforestation and development, being currently studied by scientists, a relevant part of man's impact on the Earth has been generated by the heritage of abandoned or disused structures, infrastructures and buildings, which is becoming an emerging topic in the debate on the sustainable development and the future of the world. Therefore we can find some references to the Adaptive Reuse discipline - which is the international expression referring to the change of use of disused buildings (Latham, 2000) – also within the studies concerning the Anthropocene epoch. Zalasiewicz, the British stratigrapher, chairman of the Anthropocene Working Group of Geologists, states that Earth has endured changes sufficient to leave a global stratigraphic signature distinct from that of the Holocene or of previous Pleistocene interglacial phases’ since the start of the Industrial Revolution. (Zalasiewicz, J. et al., 2008). Indeed, the heritage of the Industrial Revolution, is one of the first and major design topics, a sort of milestone, in the Adaptive Reuse discipline due to the conversion of large disused industrial facilities, including infrastructures and urban areas. If we exclude great natural disasters or great wars, with their ruins and rubble, the great technological revolutions, carried out over time through the introduction of the steam engine, the use of electricity power, up to our new frontiers generated by the digital revolution and the Global Digital Age (Sassen, 2007; Rifkin, 2011), have led to the disposal of the related facilities built by humans, going along with the difficulty in their re-absorption, as a critical topic. In some cases, the reuse of these abandoned facilities, specifically the ones with high specialized features, has given rise to new interesting types of spaces, such as the loft typology, which was conceived as a creative reuse of dismantled industrial spaces and warehouses to get homes and atelier for artists. If the first evidence of this kind of transformation dates back to the 70's in New York (Zukin, 1982), some more recent similar examples of Adaptive Reuse, come from Far East, with the regeneration of former industrial district 798 Art District in Beijing. On a territorial scale, the large dismantled industrial facilities, such as the Ruhr district in Germany, once the heartland of Europe's steel and coal industries, is now example of adaptive reuse of industrial heritage buildings, being transformed to serve new recreational uses while preserving the area's rich history and identity. The use of existing structures is also one of the prevailing tendencies for the 21st century economic growth within the operations aimed at expanding and re-enabling our ecosystem (Storm Cunningam, 2002). Today we are witnessing a variety of approaches in the conversion of use practice, differing in timelines, tools and strategies (Camocini, 2016). In large urban centers, for example, the conversion of use processes are becoming increasingly fluid and capillary, as they often lead to hybrid functions related to the use of ICT and services; therefore, the final destination rarely covers places that require highly specialized shape and performance. In addition, the reuse of abandoned space is exploited as an urban and social regeneration tool, also led at institutional level to re-energize urban suburbs and degraded areas through small interventions and renewal injection. In ancient times, the reuse of spaces and building constructions, including fragments of relevant buildings, had sometimes undergone to a similar process; it took place as part of an organic and natural process, with no significant leftovers, nor major breaks with the past, as part of a whole and main flow of time. Thus, for example, the great ancient Roman structures have been absorbed in the urban topography of medieval cities. Nevertheless, the major ancient monumental structures, testimonies of the past, are preserved and considered, at least in Western society, as an important heritage recognized by all. Ancient buildings generate popular appeal and people are conscious of the advantages of retaining them, and can see generate popular appeal and people are conscious of the advantages of retaining them, and can see the benefits in term of archaeological motives, aesthetic appreciation, economic - tourism and leisure the benefits in term of archaeological motives, aesthetic appreciation, economic - tourism and leisure --,, functionalfunctional value, psychological need. This approach doesn’t fitfit to every kind of disused structure. -, functional value, psychological need. This approach doesn’t fit to every kind of disused structure. Specifically, the same attention and respect are not directed at abandoned, or never finished,finished, Specifically, the same attention and respect are not directed at abandoned, or never finished, structures created by humans activity in recent times. Indeed, today we are detecting an increase in structures created by humans activity in recent times. Indeed, today we are detecting an increase in number of newly constructed, disused or unfinished built structures. These Contemporary Ruins cancan number of newly constructed, disused or unfinished built structures. These Contemporary Ruins can be formerformer highly specialized structures, entire urban areas, or even largelarge common structures, thus be former highly specialized structures, entire urban areas, or even large common structures, thus representing a relevant issueissue inin the contemporary era, due to the high impactimpact they have on the representing a relevant issue in the contemporary era, due to the high impact they have on the environment and on citizens living around them. They are too large or complex to undergo plain and environment and on citizens living around them. They are too large or complex to undergo plain and cost-effective-effective conversionconversion processes,processes, thereforetherefore theythey cancan bebe barelybarely assimilatedassimilated withinwithin thethe physiologicalphysiological cost-effective conversion processes, therefore they can be barely assimilated within the physiological processes of urban and territorial development; they cannot be swallowed, deconstructed or processes of urban and territorial development; they cannot be swallowed, deconstructed or reinterpreted. They are belonging to our recent history, witnesses of human’s failure.failure. They stand inin reinterpreted. They are belonging to our recent history, witnesses of human’s failure. They stand in space and cannot be concealed, but they can be attraction elements for a few interested visitors, or space and cannot be concealed, but they can be attraction elements for a few interested visitors, or they resist as an admonishment or a monument. they resist as an admonishment or a monument.
Discussion Discussion Accordingly with the three outlined topics, we conducted an investigationinvestigation on the role of Design Accordingly with the three outlined topics, we conducted an investigation on the role of Design attitude inin the process of interventionintervention on new fragilefragile and complex territorial scenarios due to the attitude in the process of intervention on new fragile and complex territorial scenarios due to the growing dimensions of Contemporary Ruins.. Our critical reflection isis supported by the cultural growing dimensions of Contemporary Ruins. Our critical reflection is supported by the cultural frameworkframework ofof Antropocene’’s concept, in which natural elements and results of human activity become framework of Antropocene’s concept, in which natural elements and results of human activity become featuresfeatures ofof the same complex as homogeneous scenario, on which design actions can be activated, features of the same complex as homogeneous scenario, on which design actions can be activated, with the involvement of a new designing society. Design can intervene in this context, without denying with the involvement of a new designing society. Design can intervene in this context, without denying or hiding these outstanding presences, but assigning them a new meaning. The term 'adaptive', in the or hiding these outstanding presences, but assigning them a new meaning. The term 'adaptive', in the Adaptive Reuse expression,expression, introducesintroduces anan attitude,attitude, borrowedborrowed formform biology,biology, thatthat refersrefers toto thethe abilityability ofof Adaptive Reuse expression, introduces an attitude, borrowed form biology, that refers to the ability of livingliving beings to adapt themselves to major changes occurring inin their habitat. ItIt also introducesintroduces the living beings to adapt themselves to major changes occurring in their habitat. It also introduces the variable of ‘time’, assigning to spaces the ability to deal with subsequent requirements of upgrading. variable of ‘time’, assigning to spaces the ability to deal with subsequent requirements of upgrading. Design thus, can work upon these leftover spaces as if they were a substrate, without modifying them, Design thus, can work upon these leftover spaces as if they were a substrate, without modifying them, but by supporting their nature and re-absorbing them, as if they were petrified, fossilized testimonies but by supporting their nature and re-absorbing them, as if they were petrified, fossilized testimonies of a past life. of a past life.
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