Special Issue 01 OUT OF WASTE LANDSCAPES ri-vista 2018 Ricerche per la progettazione del paesaggio seconda serie
FIRENZE UNIVERSITY PRESS ri-vista Ricerche per la progettazione del paesaggio Rivista scientifica digitale semestrale dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze seconda serie Research for landscape planning Digital semi-annual scientific journal University of Florence second series Fondatore Giulio G. Rizzo Direttori scientifici I serie Giulio G. Rizzo (2003-2008) Gabriele Corsani (2009-2014) Anno XVI n. 1/2018 Direttore responsabile II serie Registrazione Tribunale di Firenze Saverio Mecca n. 5307 del 10.11.2003 Direttore scientifico II serie Gabriele Paolinelli ISSN 1724-6768
COMITATO SCIENTIFICO Daniela Colafranceschi (Italia) Hassan Laghai (Iran) Christine Dalnoky (France) Jean Paul Métailié (France) Fabio Di Carlo (Italia) Valerio Morabito (Italia / USA) Pompeo Fabbri (Italia) Carlo Natali (Italia) Enrico Falqui (Italia) Carlo Peraboni (Italia) Roberto Gambino (Italia) Maria Cristina Treu (Italia) Gert Groening (Germany) Kongjian Yu (Cina)
REDAZIONE Associate Editors: Claudia Cassatella, Anna Lambertini, Tessa Matteini, Emanuela Morelli, Section Editors: Debora Agostini, Enrica Campus, Sara Caramaschi, Gabriele Corsani, Elisabetta Maino, Ludovica Marinaro, Emma Salizzoni, Antonella Valentini Managing Editor: Michela Moretti
CONTATTI Ri-Vista. Ricerche per la progettazione del paesaggio on-line: www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ [email protected] Ri-Vista, Dipartimento di Architettura Via della Mattonaia 14, 50121, Firenze in copertina The landscape of waste.
© The Author(s) 2018. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0). If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original (CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode).
progetto grafico © 2018 CC 2018 Firenze University Press Laboratorio DIDA Dipartimento di Architettura Università degli Studi di Firenze Comunicazione Università degli Studi di Firenze Firenze University Press Dipartimento di Architettura via della Mattonaia, 8 Borgo Albizi, 28, 50122 Firenze, Italy Università degli Studi di Firenze 50121 Firenze www.fupress.com Index OUT OF WASTE LANDSCAPES. ‘Waste Architecture’ 01 approaches and opportunities 2018
Editorial 5 Rethinking the Spaces of Waste Management 118 Less Waste and Waste Towards Landscape: needs Infrastructure: towards integrated urban strategies and opportunities to avoid urban solid waste in contemporary city Gabriele Paolinelli Saverio Massaro Introduction 9 Reclamation and architectural requalification of 134 Reversing the waste paradigm: Waste Architecture an old landfill using in situ aeration, phytotreatment Platform and beyond of leachate and energy crops Anna Artuso, Elena Cossu Anna Artuso, Elena Cossu
Waste Architecture Eco-Innovative solutions for wasted landscapes 146 Marina Rigillo, Libera Amenta, Anna Attademo, Lorenzo Boccia, Enrico Formato, Michelangelo Russo Developing associative models to guide typological 12 strategies for better integrating Community planning activities for rehabilitation 160 Waste to Energy plants in an urban context projects in Italy. The positive case of the children Hanif Kara, Leire Asensio Villoria, Elisabet Höglund participatory design on the area of Vergomasco landfill in Odolo, Brescia The Architecture of Waste. Designing new avenues 36 Monica Vercesi, Claudia Zaninelli, Piero Simone, for public engagement with trash Lorenzo Nettuno Jeannine Muller Rehabilitation of the Hiriya Landfill, Tel Aviv 54 Tilman Latz A recovered landfill in the construction of a 68 metropolis: Valdemingomez Forest Park, over time Israel Alba Wasteland rehabilitation in rural landscape: 90 a project in the Verona plain Andrea Bortolotti, Marco Ranzato Afteruse of Landfills. Methodological 102 approach, project requisites and relationship with the surrounding area Anna Artuso, Elena Cossu 01 01 2018 4 seconda serie ri-vista Paolinelli 5 - - - - -
the landscapes and the systems that compose and compose that systems the and landscapes the are these same variables them. However, connote the design synthesis, which can- for fundamental In design research, not avoid the joint consideration. the experiment as the labo- and experience coincide with its peculiar identity of place, ratory reality, with landscape and population. is it empirically, argument an on focus to order In necessaryavailability of a numerical- find the to or ex performed ly significant set of ‘experiments’ periences made, becoming part of the change of a a made,of periences part change the of becoming place, a landscape, of a population. The availability through theme a studying allows experiencedata devel conceived, the of perspective multiple the address design solutions to oped and implemented relation into entering necessarily generalities, their we number the is the case of the specifics. This with publish, in which a question is precisely investigat in more cases realized, a set of projects, ed through Fo problems. specific many in it faced have which requires of a magazine in the form cusing on a topic it, one volume to at least that you dedicate which configures of these articles the thematic profile for In this case, the unique prove a special number. ------Received: June 2018 June 2018Received: / Accepted: 4.0 Attribution-ShareAlike Commons of the Creative article under the terms distributed This is an open access 2018. © The Author(s) the under your contributions you must distribute or build upon the material, If you remix, transform, 4.0). BY-SA (CC License International as the original.same license - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ DOI: 10.13128/RV-23750 In scientific research it is normal to investigate a a investigate it is normal to In scientific research It assumes way. by empirical specific question also the field in to according connotations different design research which it is experienced. However, ex of its various denominator assumes as common facing page facing A. (Photo Scippa). 2007. Roma Gasometro, perform to that it is not possible pressions the fact andexperiments. reasons substantial This is due to involves morecondition. It is than one significant the re the experiment isolate not possible to from avoid the ef nor to ality in which it is performed, on it,fects which are of the indic also substantial the of experience. the capacity of places The ative belong to which they and the landscape to project It is then laboratory. the only practicable constitute replicate the experimentnot possible to a number statis obtaining for suitable of times and in ways unique space-time the fact, In evaluations. tical ness of the ‘laboratory’ does not allow it, and be it them, the execution Finally, times and costs. fore the experiment through perform is not possible to the partial, are necessarily They reality. of models matic, complex however and sensitive. Therefore, simulations of the models do not allow complete and the dynamics ofthe structures, the operations Needs and Opportunities and Needs Less Waste and Waste Towards Landscape: Landscape: Towards Waste and Waste Less Paolinelli Gabriele di Firenze [email protected] degli Studi Università — DIDA, Dipartimento di Architettura Editorial 01 01 2018 6 seconda serie ri-vista mental protection, precluding any other use and any mental protection, anyotheruseand precluding purpose oftheir storage for hygiene andenviron- for thesole as to completely beconsidered reserved Ultimately, dowehaveto let waste to occupyare or‘energy’? ‘matter’ production underanyusefulform, cycle beingit to the andwecannotreturn or lessintelligent use, weabandon,after amore do wewitheverything andeffectivenessefficiency What requirements. but still far from reaching optimal dissemination, sumption? Thelatter processes stillunderway, are ofwastecycling generated byproduction andcon- sidering efficient processes re fortheselectionand the waste anyway, thatmustbestored even con- of environmental engineering. What do we do with ed, notonlyinthetechnical andtechnological terms Thesubjectisincreasingly treatthis specialissue. waste andhabitatship between isthe themeof interpretation - of theThe relation contemporary to trigger setups. possibletheoretical formation to research as also practical applications of scientificpublishing.return significantin- They formsthus notassumingthetypical andcontents to related specificapplications, cal aspectsdirectly Some deal articles withtechnical andtechnologi- a specialcontextualization for ascientificjournal. ence feature also determined afurther thatrequires nance ofthecontributions from atechnical confer - - - - nificant. Itisessential to studytheproblem alsonificant. er, itisnot onlythestrikingcasesknown to besig what has been rejected and accumulated. Howev- much thelandscapecandevelop avital layer on centrality, intomarginality precious ofhowand thrust ofchangingthemore tions ofthepossibility of Hiriya landfill. These are convincing demonstra man Latz ustheproject to explain oftheconversion Tel Aviv metropolitan area, for which we invited Til sif; ofNewYork, KillsPark; theoneof withtheFresh lona, withtheVall d’en Joan,intheElGarraf mas like experiences zation. are There those ofBarce regeneration andidentificationsocialcoloni- sites towards stages ofenvironmental andvisual meaning intheevolution ofthe that they express effectivenessthe particular andthedemonstrative cases emerge ontheinternational scene dueto proaches thatlookbeyond sectoral needs.Some ly demonstrating thepotentials ofintegrated ap- tivation stages. increasing are Manyexperiences as withspecific conditioning, even during the cul- spaces, once exhausted, their load capacities are from excluded the transformationes are of these not mean thatecological andsociologicalprocess However,functioning andmanagement. thisdoes waste storage andtreatment sites havetheirown Itisevident part? thatthescape ofwhichthey are other functionofthespaces involvedintheland------Paolinelli 7 - - - - Florence, June 2018 in its most common expressions,in its most common in the smaller di- finan- as well as the available mensions of the sites, cial resources and, last but not least, in the differ ent cultures expressed in the land- by the territories scapes and in the populations. (IWWG) Group Working Waste International The - of the Sardin has a well-established organization initiative international a two-year Symposium, ia The Arcoplan and storage. management on waste Ar Waste the responsibleis for Padua in studio publish We symposium. the of section chitecture selec a on based them by proposed works some of 2015 discussed in the editions tion of what was numberthis introduce who colleagues The 2017. and us in the history accompany pages on the following and structure initia- of this articulated international research for point reference a constitutes that tive and managers. technicians ers, 01 01 2018 8 seconda serie ri-vista Artuso, Cossu 9 ------industrial and infrastructural projects. In the specif projects. industrial and infrastructural ic context of Waste Management, prac in common ic context of Waste architects re cases) a few made for (exception tice conception, the from absent conspicuously main major related of design, and implementation works landfills, treatment facilities, (waste-to-energy in the of waste the collection for plants, systems cities, etc.). Architecture is a new and relatively unex Waste design topic, and plored conceptual which aims to and between a lively debate environmental trigger design professionals. architecture/urban Architecture is of Waste One of the fundamentals waste use the most advanced that «it is possible to - interdiscipli promote to processes management nary struc in which the architectural, cooperation com suitably aspects, thermodynamic and tural urban units with new politi- bined, would generate et al., 2017).cal and social contents» (Kara in 2015 created was Architecture Platform Waste unexpressed the of aim exploring specific the with of these evolution the proper of architecture for role - the full realiza to the planning stage from projects, - is a complex pro Architecture Platform tion. Waste [email protected] - - - - - Received: June 2018 June 2018Received: / Accepted: 4.0 Attribution-ShareAlike Commons of the Creative article under the terms distributed This is an open access 2018. © The Author(s) the under your contributions you must distribute or build upon the material, If you remix, transform, 4.0). BY-SA (CC License International as the original.same license - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ DOI: 10.13128/RV-23751 Speaking about waste management, nowadays management, waste about nowadays Speaking differ the link to plan global a therefor need a is facing page facing Arcoplan 2017 by Studio were sessions at Sardinia coordinated WA sit land and drive the correct of the ent features pub them into transform to order ing of plants in improperly a lack of use of the areas From lic spaces. in evolved now has it disposal, for past the in used use new applications to generates that a process to these spaces. man the of stage design and planning the Indeed, disposal plants of waste development and agement a sort of landscape design focussed may comprise urban the surrounding into the site on integrating of public interest and use) than rather (area area The need representing the result of an emergency. envi- an into disposal systems waste integrate to planning strategy the land- to connected ronmental scape, requires spaces urban and extra-urban an to multidisciplinary a activityand planning integrated approach. once aspects, technical perspective, the this From engineering, exclusive domain of environmental an interesting give rise to synergynowadays with architecture. in the design of architects play a minor role Today, Waste Architecture Platform and beyond and Platform Architecture Waste Reversing the waste paradigm waste the Reversing Anna Artuso, Cossu Elena Italy Padova, e Architettura, di Ingegneria Associato Arcoplan Studio Introduction 01 01 2018 10 seconda serie ri-vista Resort onOctober 6 heldat Forte Village Thisfirst appointment, ment. cussing onwaste collection, disposalandmanage fonars onenvironmental- designandinterventions thefirst ofaseriesthematicsemi- represented The International Workshop onWaste Architecture bles, designworkshops, publications,etc. disciplines in the framework of seminars, round ta fessionals, from waste andexperts architects related of aseriesinitiativesinvolvingenvironmental pro- conceptual by means ly unexplored and design topic, plan withtheaimofdeveloping anewandrelative agement of waste. It was conceived by Studio Arco to thecollection,ventions relating disposalandman- environmental inconnection architecture withinter ject conceived as a container of initiatives devoted to worldwide. Since thenthesymposia haverapidworldwide. - ing readily available to professional communities veloping fieldof waste management andlandfill - to make ideas intherapidly and experiences de tional Sardinia Symposia established in1987 were from allover theworld.TheInternaly 800experts - event the registering attendance of approximate ment andLandfill Symposium, aworld-renowned Sardinia 2015 /15thInternational Waste Manage The workshop was organised asa parallel event of bilitation ofoldlandfills. on thearchitectural,- functionalandlandscapereha th -7 th 2015, was focused mainly ------prerogative, it would be of interest particular to With thethis community and thus yield a benefit. to provide anopportunity newspaces forrepresent sionals revealed modern landfillscan howexisting withdifferenttense workandnetworking profes practical landscape days ofdesign in- lab. The two fessionals inthefieldorganized and coordinated a for Onthesecond day, discussionanddebate. pro- thematic sessionsto befollowed byopportunities oforalsisting inthepresentation contributions in The workshop lasted 2days,withthefirst day con- the world. of thesituationinItaly andtherest ison between tion andstate-of-the-art, encouraging a compar landscape quality,- withsite reclama compatibility aspects,includingarchitectural/alyse allrelated debate on the requalification of landfills and an The purposeoftheWorkshop was to stimulate a ofPadua.University ofIndustrialEngineering/ sari andtheDepartment of Sas Design and Planning / University chitecture, ofAr oftheDepartment with thescientificsupport Arcoplan coordinated theInternational Workshop waste management. es anddiscussnewconcepts andtechnologies of theirrelevantcials andscientistspresent experienc years two planners, operators,every public offi- ly become theinternational reference forum where ------Artuso, Cossu 11 - - - , CISA-Centro di Ingegneria Sanitaria Am Sanitaria Ingegneria di CISA-Centro , bientale, Cagliari. Ar A.,L., Villoria, H., Asensio Georgoulias 2017. Kara References 1997. Discariche (CTD), Tecnico R., Comitato Cossu so rifiuti di controllate discariche le per Guida Linee urbani lidi A (Re)Planned Obsolescence. chitecture and Waste. Barcelona, New York. Actar, - - - - study during the design stage, potential function- stage,study during the design potential not only existing landfills, but also spe al uses for cifically landfills that have yet to be developed, ap developed, to be yet have that landfills cifically the from account into that takes plying an approach a technical outset the future use of the plant from viewpoint.and economical the interesting experience of the Inter Following Architecture, in 2017 on Waste national Workshop - included in the main pro Architecture was Waste 2017 Waste / 16th International of Sardinia gramme Symposium. The purpose and Landfill Management Architecture Waste to sessions dedicated of the oral the en- on architecture a debate stimulate for to was the architecture of and, more specifically, vironment management. waste related to major works context,In this international the thematic sessions in-depth discussion on this the setting for provided - topic,specific pro aimed at not only environmental but also experts in architecture,fessionals, land- rep - planning, town and design, and planning scape with the contact resented an opportunity make to interest expertsSeveral in the field. world-leading of contribution potential on the focused ing talks an enhanced architecture and design in promoting of the structures the local context into integration (incinerators) waste energy obtain from to needed their to linked aspects multiple the addressed and reusepotential in the future. Developing associative models to guide typological strategies for better integrating Waste to Energy plants in an urban context ri-vista Hanif Kara Professor in Practice of Architectural Technology at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design [email protected] Leire Asensio Villoria Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Urban Design at the Melbourne University Melbourne School of Design leire.asensio@ unimelb.edu.au Elisabet Höglund Tyréns [email protected]
01 2018 Abstract Despite many advantages may be offered including architectural expertise in the design and delivery of industrial buildings and power plants, in recent times it has generally been excluded seconda serie from this process, probably because of the lack of clearly defined roles for architecture to play in the formulation of these, typically complex and technical, buildings. As population densi- ties increase, growing numbers of Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants may be needed to cope with mounting volumes of waste, particularly in urban areas. The two-year investigation on WtE by the Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design: “Architecture and Waste: A(Re)Planned Obsolescence” (2017), offers guidelines and tools allowing designers, the public and other ma- jor stakeholders to reconsider the role of architecture in the design of industrial facilities and demonstrate that architects’ contributions can be crucial to integrating WtE plants within their context and counteracting negative public perceptions of such facilities. This paper provides a detailed account of the development and application of these design tools to waste to energy architectural projects. Keywords Waste to Energy, Industrial Typology, Associative Modelling, Parametric Design
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 12 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22996 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 13 ------ban contexts to facilitate the transformation of en- the transformation facilitate to ban contexts energy clean practic ergy towards infrastructures es (such as waste to energy like to in countries as waste plants) es (such the engage Sweden, present an opportunity for et al., 2017). ment of architects (Kara this trendOne of the pressing is needs surrounding that allow for of design strategies the development ur closer to these facilities sensitively integrating trans keep which are its fuel source.ban areas, To WtE plants level, a sustainable to costs portation A urban centers. to closer placed would be better operations the with associated reduction in traffic in decrease corresponding a and facilities these of siting urban an such for benefits are likely pollution (Fig.1) strategy. disciplinarythe as well as skillset The profes and sional remit of the architect, them well placed makes in addressing how these often-large agents as key pro and physically both integrated be may buildings in within urban or suburban contexts grammatically manner as well as addressing how thean appropriate of industrial buildings perception negative generally design.may be addressed through design strategies develop sought to This research and envision to architects allow which tools, and con- plant of different feasibility the technical test varietytofor a of plant sizes that allow figurations in an ur coexist with residential programs or other - - - Introduction described in this paper project The design research - initiative con funded research part of a larger was faculty of efforts collaborative the through ducted the Harvard School from Graduate and researchers covered by project of Design. The specific research En- to carried out by the GSD Waste this paper was aegis of overall under the ergy operating Design Lab between and 2017 led 2014 and was WtE Design Lab of this paper. by the authors Energy (WtE to Design Lab Design Lab) The Waste identify to mandate with a general tasked was that Architecture may play in the design the roles exploreas well as the energy to facilities waste of sup- to that may be developed and processes tools spon- was The Design Research port this process. Trust. sored by Tyrens of trans the emergence In the last decade despite formational infrastructural and industrial projects projects and industrial infrastructural formational challenges, and ecological borne out of economic and specifically the architect of the designer the role remains minor or non-existent in this field. This is in that there of is the perception the fact part due to roles that architects can a lack of a clearly-defined be perceived to it has come as play in the process and engineering concerns. technical solely through in the construc increase the projected However, tion of industrial buildings within urban and peri-ur ri-vista
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14 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 15 - - - - - Associative modelling and design areAssociative a matur ing area of exploration in architecture of exploration and areing area be These field. professional the by widely adopted ing are support used to the often and processes tools complexdesign of technically building types such as - engineer com high rises or are reverse also used to there are no However, buildability. for plexforms known precedents models developed of associative to waste design of for the architectural specifically of the first and the development energy facilities example by the WtE lab is the subject of such tools of this paper. of an account The aims of this paper are provide to the de for how this novel associative modelling tool developed. was energy to sign of waste facilities methods considerations, the outlines paper The reflectionsas well as ef its on tool the for aims and ficacy in application. included opportunities track to process The research ac in a few tool of the the application evaluate and The paper will describe thesetual design processes. exercises actual and reflectevaluate on as well as on applicability Reflections these tools. of practical be will models associative the of applicability the the in- on how seamlessly by considerations framed how was, process design the in tool the of tegration with other collaboration for it functioned as a tool engi- as (such process partiesdesign the in involved - - for use in use in for 1 ban context, thus potentially strengthening the context,ban strengthening the thus potentially areas. WtE plants in denser case for and survey our research Through - of existing pro that in the found we jects at the WtE Design Lab, in involved is architect an when occasions rare be re can often their role these types of projects, duced to the scope of designing the envelope and designing the envelope and of the scope to duced - organiza involved with the interior arethey rarely partiallyis this that believe We plants. these of tion - and design handbooks/litera a lack of tools due to - with the tech ture engage that allows architects to nical complexity with of the equipment associated these buildings. inquiry of lines parallel werepursued several While this paper will specifi- within the WtE Design Lab, of associative dig development the lab’s cally cover as design operate models that are to ital intended of elaboration the in designers for tools and aids energy to waste facilities. models associative of development The opposite pageopposite Smead strategy by Laura integration 1 — Large-scale Fig. Lab. WtE Design Jr, Oropeza and Felipe by Michael developed 2 — Thermal Grove,Fig. project Graduate Jonhson at HarvardClapp and Mike University, and under the supervisionSchool of Design Kara of Hanif Villoria. Asensio Leire - allevi design can help to or associative parametric architects, particularly for hurdle this technical ate The tool design process. of the stages in the earlier generate allow architects to to has the potential facil- that allow these other building configurations within existing urban or integrated be better ities to technical for accounting still while fabrics suburban feasibility. ri-vista
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Fig. 3-4 — Thermal Grove, project developed by Michael Clapp and Mike Jonhson at Harvard University, Graduate School of Design under the supervision of Hanif Kara and Leire Asensio Villoria.
opposite page Fig. 5 — Waste, Reuse, and the PARKspace, project developed by Felipe Oropeza Jr. at Harvard University, Graduate School of Design 16 under the supervision of Hanif Kara and Leire Asensio Villoria. Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 17 - - - - ations and internal organization of these types of organization ations and internal consid One considerations. siting as well as plants - involved the genera by the team adopted eration of tion of a manual/handbook that indexes each these plants. The WtE that form the components both an inventory developed Design Lab of the dif these plants, speci- that form components ferent dis fying their spatial requirements (dimensions, accessibility other components, and main- to tance describing their function as needs, etc.) tenance erational integrity of WtE facilities as well as the ca- integrity of WtE facilities erational of the measurable evaluation real-time pacity for of these transgression and potential performance design instantiations. limits of different technical the crucial oper on decoding focused This project - - - neers) and its capacity to allow for the developmentthe capacityits and for allow to neers) - configu of schematic designs of novel WtE facility - tech for checks real-time for while allowing rations sys urban on wider its effects and nical feasibility Method and Materials Method theon emphasis specific place will we paper, this In data integrating for methods that we developed in- with WtE facilities associated and parameters and urban design architectural a computational to More spe process. as well as evaluation generation tems as well as contexts.tems of as in the development this culminated cifically, spatial sociative design models that link digital and limits that define the op- parameters models to ri-vista
01 2018 well as dimensional and spatial constraints. These WtE plants in a series of urban and rural contexts, constraints were integrated into a spatial 3D digi- each of them with their specific population densi-
seconda serie tal model as modeling limits that would allow archi- ties, urban fabric and thus varying typical urban tects to test a variety of organizations while check- block sizes. The sites used for this test were Barce- ing for technical performance in real time. A second lona, Beijing, New York, Boston, Stockholm, Phoenix equally important consideration was the generation and Preston, CT. of a tool that would allow to test the viability of dif- A second and third test was conducted in the con- ferent scenarios for locating such facilities in differ- text of an upper level graduate design studio as well ent sites (with their associated constraints) also in as a graduate seminar course offered at the Har- real-time. vard GSD where the associative models as well as a A parametric framework for design and analysis range of design strategies were handed to a group was generated by integrating information from the of students to aid them in the development of WtE inputs and outputs required and generated by these schemes that responded to a number of contexts, plants as well as the technical handbook that de- two sites in the US, Preston and Bridgeport in CT, scribes the dimensional and spatial constraints of and two sites in Sweden, Vasteras and Hogdalen each of the plant’s components2. District in Stockholm. The WtE Design Lab developed two associative mod- The associative models account for a range of plant els to help designers test various options to better in- sizes as well as populations densities. The waste tegrate a WtE plant in a given context. These tools collection catchment area, strength of the energy were tested in a series of sites with a varying set of network and the diversity of waste delivery trans- conditions and constraints, allowing us to assess the portation (such as road, train, boat, or ENVAC sys- effectiveness of the proposed tools, offering insights tems) are greatly impacted by the size and densi- and findings on their applicability and the extent of ty of the surrounding communities. These metrics support it offers designers in devising design propos- of communities are also a major consideration for als for specific WtE buildings. which plant size (physical footprint) and capacity Within the WtE lab’s design research team, a series will work best. of design explorations were conducted by using the The associative model developed in the lab ac- 18 associative models to test the implementation of counts both for the district-heating output display- Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 19 - - Associative Model I - Measuring associations be associations Measuring - I Model Associative networkstween collection with electricity waste the city is possible at distribution systems and heat scale. inputs and energy The waste outputs asso- are scales of WtE plants made with various ciated in real-time and stakeholders designers to available by the lab. model developed the associative through as an(such users offer to The model is constructed the plant operator) engineer, architect, city planner, (urban density, of inputs range capacity define a to programs desired plant size and the projected WtE be servicedto the plant) by that are then evaluated catch- collection and return outputs such as waste serviced urban area ment area, in electricity and maximumthe plant,by the heat for datum a and be served that could area vacuum by an associated (Fig.6). system collection waste - devel to Lab Design WtE the by used platform The the digital op this associative model is a plugin for three-dimensional modeling software Rhinoceros - com with additional customized called Grasshopper language. in the C# programming ponents scripted a relate to to The associative model is established urban city fabric, city’sgiven density, population as well as size, production, parcel waste density, - and electricity Howev per capita. consumption heat district to barriers geological for it does not factor er, trans losses in electric and heat potential heating, - -
ing the area that would be servedwould be that the area ing giv- plant the by distribution density urban the en programmatic and possibility the with of compensating as well as for some of them al- energy-intensive program a large in the model. coded ready at are much more effective Because WtE facilities and heat combined than electricity, heat generating plants are considered the more efficientpower (CHP) - than electricity pro and less polluting model rather alone.ducing boilers In contexts where district-heat ing networks are available, WtE facilities are more networksing are available, facilities WtE and efficient sources of energy. cost-effective twoWhen comparing of the primary of study sites Sweden and the this design research; for adopted networks are found district-heating States, United - com Locating in the US. less prevalent be far to strategy is a plant the plementary near programs this lack of district-heat for that can compensate such as a large Programs ing networks in the US. hospital, a stadium, like energy-intensive facility a more localized heating create or university could Various efficiency. network the plant’s and improve energy (usually systems of district-heating forms but also related with local renew- gas run on natural Ulloa, able fuels (Henning and Gabremedhin, 2011; business 2007) within central located are already districts, university campuses and medical centers States. in the United Fig. 6 — Large-scale integration strategy by Laura Smead and Felipe Oropeza Jr, WtE Design Lab.
opposite page Fig. 7 — Scales of WtE Facilities by
ri-vista Georgios Athanasopoulos and Felix Raspall Gali, WtE Design Lab.
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20 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 21 ------waste the complex is providing to the plant and how the plant and to the complex is providing waste much of its energy needs are covered (Fig.8). locating these the capacity for Besides offering the plants in a variety densities and fabrics, of urban configurations plant alternative into investigation test allow for by an ambition to also framed was volumes building WtE of different feasibility the ing for that may be more suitable and configurations with other programs. or hybridization integration This complementary relationship with or integrated and environmental has efficiency, other programs asso- benefits while also establishing operational potentially could that facilities these with ciations positively address public perception of urban inte industrial buildings. grated oper WtE that associate Morecomplex scenarios us hybrid different of combinations with ations as capabilities are also integrated es and programs the associative model, within the model. Through is WtE program a complete for proposals realistic while also allow- designers made more to accessible scenar different the study of comparatively ing for related to aid in the decision-making process ios to siz plant identifying optimum or most appropriate programs. specific locations and hybridization es for systems or diagrammatic notation different Two ------hold size. existingof density urban on based inputs range A in as defaults coded are already model urban areas are values input the While model. associative the the urban by the user, customized and easily variable Ching Eixample, Beijing’s densities of Barcelona’s Phoenix’s Manhattan, Back Bay, wenmen, Boston’s and Södermalm in Glendale, Preston in Conneticut as well as three industryStockholm typical plant siz of waste), tonnes me 200,000 to small (100,000 es; dium (300,000 of waste) and tonnes 400,000 to of waste) are tonnes es 750,000 (550,000 to large input options in the associa- as default tablished tive model (Fig.7). that could A series of programs servedbe hospitals, residential, as such plant the by swimming pools, or malls are as de also established the user the offers This options. measurable fault the efficiency general and test ability and measure to For example,may one scenarios. different of metrics Buildings a me how many Empire State investigate the and how that affects dium-sized plant can feed the mod- input and output of the urban grid through be the examination could of anel. Another scenario existingAmericas, whereof Mall the as such model us the ability see how much to the model affords mission, land values, transportation costs or house costs transportation mission, land values, ri-vista
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are established for representing or visualizing the Offering the user the ability to test different design input and output data. For the first notation sys- scenarios with ease and allowing for the search of tem, a planimetric interface is adopted to allow better integration of the plant into a given urban for the clear visualization of the typical urban fab- context, all the information in the associative model ric, size of the WtE plant, waste collection catch- can be modified and updated in real time. For exam- ment area (green), urban area served electricity by ple, the ratios between inputs and outputs of each the plant (blue), urban area served heat by the plant plant type size are similar, however when adapting (red), and the potential use of vacuum waste collec- these ratios to different cities, we may see where tion system (represented by a dashed line). some types may be more optimal than others. Associative Model II - A second notation system A second associative model was developed to ad- adopts a systems visualization format that reso- dress the more immediate and tangible spatial and nates with the Odum diagram, which place the da- formal consequences of organizing the constitu- ta and information variables into a flow diagram of ents of the WtE plant into different configurations. associated or relational inputs and outputs. WtE The WtE Design Lab produced this model to allow plant size as well as the size of other programs for the generation of a variety of possible configu- served by the plant are linked by lines of varying rations that a WtE plant could adopt, while allowing thickness that represent that value of the specif- for a real-time evaluation of each organizational in- ic input and output. One graph visualizes the rela- stantiations technical and economic feasibility. This tionship between the city and the plant in terms of model accounts for all the components that form spatial ratios of inputs and outputs while the latter a WtE plant as well as all the constraints attached 22 translates it in a quantitative manner. to them. It allows designers to move components Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 23 — WtE components in typical in by Daniel components 9 — WtE Fig. order WtE Gali, Raspall Felix Mavroeidi, Alkistis Hemmendinger, Lab. Design pageopposite Mavroeidi, and outputs by Alkistis 8 — Hybrid inputs Fig. WtE Design Lab. ri-vista
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24 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 25 ri-vista
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26 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 27 - - - - in these pages — WtE associative model network comparisons 10-17 Fig. WtE Design Lab. by Alkistis Mavroeidi, where novel WtE configurations create to around and stacked, rotated, can be moved, components such as problems, detect to and the model is able and more in real constraints, proximity collisions, - end pro front faster a designers time. This offers locating a allows for that designing iterative of cess designs within a given of facility integration better urban context and plot size. (Fig.9) premise underpinning the developmentThe central of this associative model is that every component that or others to connections has plant a WtE of energy to waste works this within nothing system and parame connections in isolation. The relevant so that a qualified and for be accounted need to ters relatively design decision making is ena- efficient this process bled. The associative model facilitates by re-computing and at ease these connections - may be provi so they of conflict highlighting areas de within the early sionally addressed seamlessly sign process. Lab With this associative model, the WtE Design adapting better for of strategies number a tested The strat of urban contexts. a range WtE plants to frag stacking, egies were as compacting, coded and burying surrounding, bridging, menting, and threein contexts—Manhattan, wereurban tested Södermalm. and Stockholm’s Back Bay, Boston’s ri-vista
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28 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 29 ------tem. However, in colder climates (such as Boston, (such climates in colder However, tem. heat input requirements for the waste USA), ing consumption surpasses that of the volumes volumes surpasses that of the ing consumption these electricitysupply and therefore for needed at dif will be distributed resources two different radii. effect ferent gies emerged out of this application process with with process out of this application gies emerged the from emerging of novel arrangements a range of the requirementsnegotiation of the plant build- while still retaining limitations, ings with strict site viabilityits technically (Fig.19). (Back Bay) Boston Bay Back urban development, A notable Boston’s consolidation on of infill and re a pattern follows Back restthe the Boston, of Unlike land. claimed streets narrow of grid planned a in plotted was Bay dense most the of one is it Today sidewalks. and of consisting generally in Boston, areas ly populated ur relatively small a with buildings mid-rise to low- ban grain. reducing the building is aimed toward This scenario - associative model 2: the application explora For the capaci- associative model 2 leverages tions for of theconfigurations different test to the tool ty for varying arrange to WtE plant components building addressvolumes that may better a diversity of site design strate Several and conditions. constraints - - - - - mal with smaller plants. However, conversely, a a conversely, mal with smaller plants. However, it as plants, larger-scale citydense from benefits energy substantial can produce while minimizing costs. transportation waste passes the size of the city itself in low-density ru- WtE large Locating Preston). as (such areas ral one of is often areas plants in low-density rural integration however, the most popular solutions; are large in these cases is minimal. The input radii corre to fail outputs electricitywhile heating and ratio. an analogous spond to with the capacity for in areas WtE plants located ar than higher significantly is heating district sys that cannot support a district heating eas Output and Data AnalysisOutput the im- in testing used was The associative model series of urban of WtE plant within a plementation of them with their specific contexts, each and rural and urban fabric population densities, grid systems, thus varying typical urban block sizes. - explora different these of the findings from Some sections, where tions are in the following outlined to found the design opportunities and efficiencies are models associative the by offered been have model 1: the associative For (Fig 10-18). elaborated more is opti ratio input/output the Generally, • opposite pageopposite network associative model 18 — WtE Fig. by comparisons Lab. WtE Design Mavroeidi, Alkistis sur plants generally of larger radius • The effect • The effectiveness and economic advantage of of advantage economic and effectiveness The • ri-vista
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30 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 31 - - - -
This speculative proposal involves elevating cru elevating involves proposal speculative This done is This components. and processes WtE cial with- so that the plant may be accommodated ac pedestrian for allowing yet citythe in fabric at a scale that currently ex the fabric through cess of with the introduction ists. One major challenge associat is contexts urban in facilities industrial and blank nature of these typolo- ed with the large conti- in the gies, which can pose significant breaks nuity of the existing urban structure. This strategy address to this by opening parts of the is a means as right of ways. parcel plane of the facility ground - devel for strategies creative forge need to velopers opment. con- urban the into flexible achieve integration To text, of the of the components the fragmentation - can be tech strategically WtE plants, if developed - of con This will enable the location nically feasible. different of number a across facility the of stituents difficultthan the potentially parcels rather available existing house to of consolidating task properties the full plant building (Fig.22). of a WtE the integration Another strategy for developed urban fabric, plant within Sodermalm’s of the associative model is achieved the use through - conven a of potential the of exploration an through assembly of WtE components. tional horizontal - - - - footprint and height which was achieved through through achieved was and height which footprint fit and oper to the WtE components compacting (Manhattan) New York with high- is compact urban fabric Manhattan’s Such practice. being the common rise development serious chal- pose a conditions dense contextual typical industrial applications. for lenge by A significant reduction of building footprint process of WtE organization the overall stacking (Södermalm) Stockholm settlement,Södermalm, a historic is the largest in boroughs and one of the most densely populated is now development While pressure for Stockholm. building are scarce and de high, opportunities for ate within the limits of a typical thisa in of block limits urban the within ate plant of the operations various The neighborhood. efficient sequence. but An in a linear are arranged to made is respect existing parcel boundarieseffort buff for perimeter an accessible while maintaining purposes (Fig.20). ering and maintenance and access Proper requiredis es application. this in delivery of waste means are the tipping hall to prin- new spatial creates the stacking cipal. However, space, relationshipsheat, rethinking by way the section in dynamically enclosureand operate can (Fig.21). opposite pageopposite strategy — Medium-scale context, per urban 19-23 Fig. WtE Alberto matrix by Embriz de Salvatierra, comparison Design Lab. ri-vista
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32 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 33 - - - - It is intended that these tools can help facilitate the can help facilitate that these tools It is intended participationof much-needed the of introduction these major of planning for architects in the process countries In specific facilities. energy infrastructural WtE of adoption an is therewhere Sweden, as such of the national as crucial components technologies - of the pro energy stewarding plans, the successful en built wider the within integration their of cess by how well ac may well be determined vironment and engi- of the technical the management to cess giv- be may projects complexitiesthese neering of through architects. Indeed, as demonstrated en to within the GSD WtE conducted the design research with option studio, the advanced and through dLab of and design guides, the role the help of these tools beyond go can certainly the architect process in this simple aesthetic flourish (Fig.24-27). the effec regarding feedback valuable gather To - tiveness and applicability in pro of the design tool of contexts a wide range jects that encompassed exit-inter informal we conducted and conditions, - evalua more established formal we well as as views and their experiences, judgements, tions regarding In the WtE lab, wetheir use of the associative tools. of design sample generated a large also developed - - - - duce transportation costs, allow for the implemen- allow for costs, transportation duce possible or make heating, of efficient district tation that integrate of hybrid facilities the development the plant. into public life School of De Graduate at Harvard’s The WtE dLab design computational in developing sign invested a taxonomy as well as devising tools of design strat in urban these facilities integrating better egies for help guide and ed- These arecontexts. to intended morebeing in resourceful designers de when ucate plantsWtE integrated better for proposals veloping while being mindful of their often-complex- techni cal constraints. Conclusion wisdom that industri- accepted There is a generally for al plants, including WtE plants, are suited better or single-zoned contexts.However, industrial rural - an urban con the location of a WtE plant closer to ben- great of number a has text-evencity a center- to mini- and has the potential to its operation efits waste footprint. Receiving mize its environmental help re could surroundings a plant’s directly from The associative model helped to test the technical technical the test to helped model associative The of such an option. (Fig.23). feasibility — Progressive purification, project developed by David Hamm and Snoweria Zhang at Harvard University, Graduate School of Graduate by David Hamm and Snoweria Zhang at Harvard developed project purification, 26 — Progressive Fig. University, Villoria. Asensio and Leire Design under the supervision of Hanif Kara pageopposite Design School of Graduate at Harvard and Dana McKinney by Haggerty developed currents, University, — Catalytic project 24-25 Fig. Villoria. Asensio and Leire under the supervision Kara of Hanif ri-vista
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34 Kara, Asensio Villoria, Höglund 35 - - - - - .> A (Re)Planned Obsolescence, Best Practices and (Re)PlannedA and Obsolescence, Practices Best
.> http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/ESTdir/Pub/msw/sp/SP5/ Mathematical Modeling of Solid Waste A. Solid Waste Mathematical Modeling of Asgharinejad 2013, Engineer of Applied Sciences, Journal , «Research Incinerators and the in Sweden Missed Opportunities: Waste-to-Energy Barcelona, New York , Actar, States United in- Transformation Association, Management Dutch Waste EnergyUp Drives Efficiency, Status R1 Energy to Factories: -
01 2018 Abstract The system of waste processing currently exists as a linear process: trash flows from cities of high densities to sprawling landscapes of waste, but as cities grow and densify, critical systems seconda serie of waste infrastructure must be re-evaluated. Instead of today’s isolated and linear processes, urban and waste ecologies can become an interconnected and cyclical system. Current practic- es call for industrial processes to be pushed to the periphery of cities, thereby severing the rela- tionship between the urban environment we inhabit and the one that is required to support the way we live. If architects and designers become engaged in the conversation of waste manage- ment and other industrial processes that support the demands of the city, they can begin to re- pair the physical and mental separation of waste and public activity while introducing cultural, economic, and environmental value in waste infrastructure. Keywords Waste Infrastructure, Public Engagement, Urban Design, Waste-To-Energy, Sustainable Cities
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 36 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22990 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Muller 37 ------complete isolation from one another; it is time to it is time to one another; isolation from complete that lies between area the gray and embrace change and the pub of infrastructure black and white stark lic realm. «Larger than life but part of it, than life infrastruc «Larger lic realm. ture presence; has an immediate it shapes our envi- authentic, in vital, and often life and urban ronment look at the physical elements of We […] messy ways they sites marginalized and the often infrastructure a meaningful to as possible contributors produce infrastruc for What if a new paradigm public realm. ture existed? the very What if between lines hard landscape, architecture, and urbanism engineering, (Manfre find a moreconvergence?» could synthetic 6). p. di, 2015, containing ecosystems, as cities of think can We that and systems complex networks of organisms in nature. ecosys A successful are self-sustaining using an support is one that is able to itself, tem another as an input for one system output from occurring in a cyclicalsystem, nature. Unfortunate do not function in this way; most American cities ly, one- a in solely operate systems waste cities’ most and ex collected, is generated, waste fashion: way a landfill, whereported to it fu- remains without any - ture use. examines Pierre the city Belanger Kalund Denmark as an example indus successful of a borg, one industry from that uses waste trial economy as 2007). cit American If (Belanger, another for fuel - - - - - Waste and the City Waste in the United processing of waste The system trash currently process: exists as a linear States sprawling of high densities to cities flows from in size and landscapes of waste, but as cities grow infrastructure of waste critical systems density, can we think of be re-evaluated. longer No need to is that process isolated an as management waste - that work togeth the other systems removed from These systems supporter to the needs of a city. way must be planned and designed in an integrated as possi- function as efficiently and sustainably to more ever complex.ble as cities grow urbaniz all over the world arerapidly countries As ing, with cities increasing in population, density, and in population, density, increasing with cities ing, manage the current method of waste land area, States, ment, landfilling in the United most often their about decisions and questioned be to needs futures be made. must Is there a more sustainable, more holistic, cyclical type we can envi- of system that current the burden sion that will help alleviate are placing on our cit practices management waste exam- Michael Manfrediies? As and Marion Weiss ine in their book Public Natures: Evolutionary- Infra structures, within the complexities cit of modern between and pub ies lie synergies infrastructure designed in- through that can be enhanced lic life terventions. These two cannot be viewed in realms Fig. 1 — Export of New York City’s Solid Waste (Image: author).
opposite page Fig. 2 — Timeline of designers engaging in waste infrastructure (Image: author). ri-vista
01 2018 taxpayers an immense financial burden and harm- ing the environment with all the pollution associ-
seconda serie ated with motor vehicles (Accuardi, 2011). Accord- ing to Pierre Belanger’s Landscapes of Disassembly, «When long-term post-closure remediation is con- sidered, estimates now place the full cost of waste dumping, including downstream impacts and greenhouse gas emissions, somewhere between 50 to 100 times the original price paid at the scales» ies are going to continue to grow and thrive in the (Belanger, p. 84). This equates to 2.3 billion US tons future, they must begin to think of themselves as of trash per year plus unsustainable costs to sus- self-sustaining ecosystems. tain a city of 8.5 million people. This linear meth- Imagine a city that is able to sustain itself: it pro- od of waste infrastructure cannot be sustained in a cesses its waste within city limits, using municipal healthy way. solid waste generated from its citizens to feed an energy plant that eliminates the waste and in turn Valuing Waste produces energy and heat to feed into the city’s en- This short lived, linear method of waste manage- ergy system to power people’s homes. This closed- ment in which the lifecycle of trash ends quickly at loop system would not be required to rely on out- the landfill illuminates the fact that there is no val- side resources to sustain the needs of the city; it ue placed on waste. This notion needs to be chal- could begin to sustain itself. lenged as land and natural resources become scarc- In stark contrast to this ideal city, New York City cur- er while cities are growing larger, demanding more rently exports 6.4 million US tons of trash per day and more resources. If cities begin to place value (Figure 1). None of this trash is processed within the on waste rather than spending resources of time, city limits since the closing of Freshkills Landfill in money, and fuel to simply dispose of it, waste can 2001, but rather exported to nearby states such as become a resource in its own right. It can become Pennsylvania and Ohio, and as far away as 700 miles a fuel: producing energy to power people’s homes, 38 away via truck, rail, and boat to landfills; costing metals to be recovered and reused, and ash to be Muller 39 - - - - ronment, with- should be considered and therefore design. we environment urban the of scope the in ar from backgrounds all from designers However, landscape architects to urban designers to chitects of these in the creation had no role have historically outleft completely been has designer The systems. infrastructure. If de on waste of the conversation design thinking to creative can apply their signers the infrastructure, from of waste the challenges of the build- of city the level level planning down to the moreing design and the landscape it sits within, be.can solutions the thoughtful and If integrated of design can be given the level the industrial realm pub the traditional that is given to consideration down the bound- break we can begin to lic realm, inhabit we environment between urban aries the think can begin to and the one that supports us. We overlapping and blur the lines be of these realms tween buildings, landscape, and infrastructure. with the industrial land- Because of this disconnect scapes that support our urban needs, as well as lack - - Waste and the Designer – a Missing Link Missing – a and the Designer Waste the periphery to relegated zones, Urban industrial areenvi- cities partbuilt of a the of nevertheless used in construction and agriculture.used in construction can be If waste as a resource,recognized and valued shift its’ it can becoming to itself, the problem being identity from part of the solution. and other industrial in- in waste The lack of value the physi- itself into has manifested frastructures arecal design of cities. These systems inextricably on a daily basis, yet cities operate the way tied to public the removedarebe they to from designed andeye, the public invisible to essentially becoming between envi relationship urban the the severing that is required we inhabit and the one to ronment we live.support the way between The disconnect devaluation societal the furthers two these realms support to the notion of ex continues and of waste outside the city that a location far to porting waste it. the people that generated to has no connection ri-vista
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40 Muller 41 - - - portunities that lie when these worlds collide (Fig portunities collide that lie when these worlds ure 2). These projects range from buildings to land- to buildings from range ureThese projects 2). work, to work, in-progress conceptual from scapes; in the way that are works multi-functional completed of waste. The analy- process with the engage they involves not only placing them sis of these projects them on a spectrum but also placing chronologically, float landscape: to building to allowing projects from in between these two binary conditions. are Many of the buildings in this analysis recycling and plants facilities, waste-to-energy areand the majority mul- of the landscape projects over capped landfills. created parks ti-functional lies landscape’ Within this spectrum of ‘building to typologies and ideologies of of program a variety treat to ways management, from waste ranging reof ways to stream waste the enters it as trash residualas left been have that landscapes claiming disposal. waste from West in are located projects these majority of The the Neth- such as Denmark, countries ern European of constraints a variety erlands, and Spain. Due to energy and needs, geographic, political, as such requiredbeen in- have to countries these of many strategies. management waste vest in alternate more- and even primitive alterna The most common waste.technologi- landfilling is burning With tive to plants have become Waste-to-Energy cal advances, - - of environmental and economic motivations, it is it is motivations, and economic of environmental and em- understand to public the general for hard occurring in the advances technological the brace management.waste field of By including designers po- management about waste in the conversations recycling, such as urban waste-to-energy, tentials, in industrial en- value can create they composting, communities. healthier and promote vironments - new design con of opportunity, this space «Within clean generate to solutions hybrid offer can cepts activ- social and cultural cities’ to contribute energy, wider urban atmospheres and mi- ities, and protect 2015). croclimates» (Georgoulias, we are at a critical junction in establishing Today, strategies management waste for best practices as population density patterns and consumption it isin cities increase. advances, With technological put in place be to infrastructure sustainable for time support currentto Design- trends of consumption. have the opportunityers bring the industrial pe to and Waste Design Relinking explore to of the designer within theIn order the role management,waste field of a timeline of projects by architects, landscape ar imagined and completed riphery- the intercon back to of urban environments of public activity. realm nected historyvisual a artistsand creates chitects, op- the of opposite pageopposite Disposal Plant Waste 3 — Delft Fig. (Image: curtesy of UNStudio). Urban 4 — Recycling for Plant Fig. (Image: curtesy of Abalos Waste & Herreros). ri-vista
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both a significant waste management strategy and its people. The programmatic requirements of the a source of energy, as evidenced by their use across space include a recycling facility, compression facil- Europe for a significant amount of time. However, ity, and transfer station. The movement of vehicles not all Waste-to-Energy plants are created equal: and waste determines the fluid form, while its gently the projects of interest in this analysis are those sloping concrete surface wraps over itself to form a that go beyond the pure functional requirements plateau, which separates the delivery and the sorting of the prescribed industrial needs and add architec- facilities from the public view to the river. tural value to the built environment. The programs The Recycling Plant for Urban Waste (Figure 4) in of the buildings examined include waste-to-energy Madrid, by Abalos & Herreros in 2001, is another ex- plants, recycling, sorting, and composting centers. ample of a building that is industrial function is ex- Many of them link an aspect of public outreach to panded through the architect’s design. The recy- them, whether it be a visitor’s center, museum ar- cling plant is «part of a wider political initiative to ea, display area, public promenade, or other public reevaluate and regenerate an area southwest of amenity. Madrid, which has been used as a large dumping One example of a building that goes beyond its pure ground and suffered social and environmental dep- function to engage local culture is the Waste Dispos- rivation as a result» (Phaidon Atlas). The objective al Plant in Delft, Netherlands (Figure 3). The architec- of this facility is to reconstruct the hillside through ture firm UNStudio elevated the program beyond its the generation of compost from organic waste. The traditional use to serve as a symbol to its communi- building’s function is greater than purely gathering ty: using the building’s design and form to commu- waste from the surrounding region, but extends be- 42 nicate the waste management policy of its city to yond to mend the scars of industrialization that the Muller 43 — Diagram of Amager Bakke Waste to Waste Bakke of Amager 6 — Diagram Fig. Energy plant (Image: author). Recycling Center of Sydhavyns 7 — Diagram Fig. (Image: author). pageopposite 5 — Freshkills (Image:Fig. curtesy of Park Operation). Corner/Field ri-vista
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44 Muller 45 - - - - city has imposed on the landscape. The complex landscape. complex the The on city imposed has of twois comprised and a weigh station buildings a pavilion. The two from are buildings constructed be disman- structure steel can easily that bolted the futurein tled recycleda in and enclosed polycar structurebonate.single pitched green is a The roof with the sloping landscape around that merges roof it. with recy building constructed Not only is the - also the entire but - cled materials, complex is con a lifetime that is designed for trived as a built form this time,easi- After it can be years. of twenty-five ly dismantled and elements recycled elsewhere. By of the building as part of thinking about the lifespan it is merely that is plugged system, a piece a larger whole. the building from This elevates a larger into pure a part function to the urban landscape that of its everydayto adds value functions. in this analysis are compiled The landscape projects that have been giv- landfills examples of former can be re These landscapes of waste en new life. and used by inhabited claimed as environments build people. majoritythe and of the While wildlife examplesing were Europe,these in of number a where States, are United the in projects landscape dispos waste of means landfills are the prominent al. These designed landscapes are foster able to habi- wildlife multiple activities such as recreation, tat,- and energy One of the most prom production. - transforma inent examples of a landfill-to-park Island, New York tion is the Freshkills in Staten Park was the major(Figure 5). this landfill Closed in 2001, and of New York all boroughs from recipient of trash — Diagram of Ecopark (Image: author). of Ecopark 8 — Diagram Fig. of Flow City (Image:9 — Diagram Fig. author). pageopposite Plant (Image: to author). Place of From 10 — Diagram Fig. ri-vista
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Fig. 11 — Theoretical design proposal of Sunset Park Waste to Energy plant and park (Image: author). seconda serie opposite page Fig. 12 — Layers of movement: waste, people, and landscape (Image: author).
was the largest landfill in the world. Designed by These are places where urban dwellers can connect Corner/ Field Operations, the first phase of the park in a new way to the waste they are generating and opened in 2008. Its uses include a variety of public understand the critical link between themselves and spaces and facilities for recreation, wildlife habitat, this larger system they are an integral part of. energy production, art and culture, and education. Starting in Europe, we can look to Denmark and Spain, where necessity dictated finding innovative Engaging the public with waste ways to deal with waste. The waste-to-energy plant As mentioned earlier, cities are complex ecosystems has less of a negative connotation here than in the with many interwoven systems. As we think about United States, and people are quicker to embrace the opportunity to engage waste networks with oth- the need for innovative, efficient systems. In Copen- er urban networks, we can start to look for synergies: hagen, two projects by Bjark Ingles Group show that places that require us to abandon our binary view of it is possible to integrate public activity with waste the urban environment: building vs landscape, pri- management functions: with both a waste-to-en- vate vs public; and instead turn to nature where com- ergy plant and a recycling center. The first, Amag- plex systems overlap and any synergy between two er Bakke Waste to Energy Plant, open in 2018, com- improves efficiency. Therefore, in analyzing these bines waste treatment with public amenity to cre- waste-oriented projects, the hybrid condition elic- ate a hybridized building typology. Figure 6, as well its further analysis. Several projects, both conceptu- as the accompanying diagram for each of the follow- al and completed in recent years, allow us see ways ing projects, shows the layers of the project and how in which designers were able to engage the general different systems, waste and people, flow through population in the process of waste management. All the project. By incorporating a public ski slope into a of these projects take place in cities: varying from Co- waste to energy plant, the building is elevated from 46 penhagen and Barcelona, to New York and Chicago. a typical industrial building to a new typology that at- Muller 47 ri-vista
01 2018 tracts and encourages public interaction with what is rather orchestrate all aspects of daily life, from con- typically regarded as negative and ‘off-limits’. Locat- sumption to recycling, from infrastructure to edu-
seconda serie ed in an industrial area not far from the central his- cation, from the practical to the playful into a sin- toric district of Copenhagen, the building serves as a gle integrated urban landscape of work and play» destination for visitors and locals alike. (Bjark Ingles Group, 2015). This integration between Another project by Bjarke Ingles Group that plays buildings and landscape in the urban environment with the idea of how industrial functions can be is an important shift in design thinking. By realizing combined with public activity is Sydhavyns Recy- that all spaces, both buildings and landscapes are cling Center, conceptually planned in 2016. It is lo- constructed entities within the city often combin- cated in the Sydhavyns district of Copenhagen, ing complex networks of infrastructure, it can be ar- southwest of the historic city center. Located near gued that any design needs to address the overlap the water within a light industry area, this recycling of architecture and landscape. center imbeds itself into the landscape, connect- By acknowledging that these buildings of industri- ing with a large park (Figure 7). The project acknowl- al use are a necessary and integral part of our cities, edges that industry and public activity can be inter- they can become part of the fabric of the city. A built woven into a coherent space. «As a society, our in- project in Barcelona by the architecture firm Abalos vestment in waste management often ends up as & Herreros in 2004, Ecopark does just that: it is an utilitarian facilities of concrete boxes that consti- expansion of a waste treatment facility that stiches tute grey areas on our city maps,» explained BIG in across layers of urban fabric to tie the recycling facil- a statement. «What if they could become attrac- ity to a public promenade and beach amenity (Fig- tive and lively urban spaces in the neighborhoods ure 8). Located in the North Eastern area of Barce- they form part of?» Rather than acting as a building lona, the design blends programmatic services in- separated from its natural context, the building in- to the landscape, creating a hillside that acts as a stead tucks itself underneath and within the altered buffer to ease the tension between the extending landscape. As stated by BIG, the recycling center promenade and the nearby highway. The public pla- is «[…] a way to start thinking of our cities as inte- za weaves between this hillside, a facility building, grated manmade ecosystems, where we don’t dis- outdoor facility elements and shifted topographic 48 tinguish between the front and back of house. But changes to navigate the public from the edge of the Muller 49 ------rial through the common and heroic work of trans and heroic the common rial through ferring it from land to water and back to land, to the land, to and back to water land to it from ferring flow of theto the physical River, flow of the Hudson p.201). themselves» 1996, visitors (Ukeles, ‘vi the experience to residence exhibit enables This of dumping’ bring to in an attempt olent theater has people that their garbage to consciousness that fantasy «The it away. throw they after a life is that it exists many people have about garbage such denial in- of time.outside the realm There’s people are In Flow City, p.10). 1996, volved» (Ukeles, - that run paral of moments a sequence led through and the station as it enters the flow of trash lel to Freshkills to trash the bring that barges into moves the ‘pas walk through first 9. They Figure Landfill, passage grate metal which is a narrow ramp’, sage Next,that runs above a floor strewn with trash. they barg into observetrash unloading trucks of act the end at the they Finally, es along the ‘glass bridge’. wall of screens that show the a wall’: ‘media flow of series a through trash the of journey continued and models of as well as images cameras, live feed final resting place. garbage’s the Freshkills Landfill, ar an by project design a not is project this While chitect, it is extremely pertinent the conversation to manage of waste of exposing the invisible process the public public. This affords the general to ment put between they the connection the trash make to ------Street Marine Transfer Station along the Hud- Station Marine Transfer Street th son River in 1983. It was completed by artist Mierle completed It was son River in 1983. describes her work as who in her manifesto Ukeles, art»«maintenance and has been the unsalaried art ist-in-residence at the New York City Department of at the New York ist-in-residence «I own words: In the artist’s 1977. since Sanitation CITY because it embodies a multiplic call it FLOW mate waste the endless flow of ity from of flows: highway along the facility, to the beach. By linking the beach. to along the facility, highway along both build- of the public plaza pieces various it be of the facility, ing and landscape elements comes an integral backdrop to the beach amenity. amenity. the beach to backdrop an integral comes illuminate planned, and built both projects, These rec the public through the possibility of engaging activityreational with the industrial nature of waste twosee that the can do not need management. We but can exists in a designed ecosys be separated, to has thinking design innovative This together. tem most States; United the in realized fully be to yet by landfillingis still dominated management waste is of conversation recycling. The with some efforts projects conceptual some and however, beginning, this new typology for show the potential of inte facilities. waste public-industrial grated that is a unique project project,The first Flow City, captures the desire op- link the public with the to pro This York. New in movement trash of eration as an exhibition along the constructed ject was 59 ri-vista
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to the curb for the garbage man to collect, and the ing, pushing, and bending. This allows a range of ur- aggregate mass of trash produced by everyone in ban experiences that respond to the season, such as the city, along with the labor required to handle it. a beach during the summer with surplus sand from Moving from waste management to the broad- the winter or sledding parkland during the winter by er logistical needs of a city, is the project From Place blowing filtered snow from urban collection. On their to Plant by Lateral Office, which reimagines McCor- way up to the roof, through transparent cores, visi- mick Place in Chicago as an opportunity to simulta- tors can catch views of the storage space. This pro- neously «address and celebrate Chicago’s impressive ject has a two-fold set of functions. It serves the urban logistics while extending the city’s project of needs of the city itself by storing and managing ur- open space by creating a new urban park experience». ban materials and the citizens of the city by providing Lateral Office (2011). This speculative project repur- a public park. Rather than achieving these two func- poses the building as a plant for the management tions completely divorced from each other, which is of urban materials such as soil, trees, salt, sand, and common practice throughout American cities, Later- snow. Conceptually, the programmatic needs of ma- al Office has intertwined these functions in a symbi- terial storage shift through the seasons, and the ur- otic relationship in which both functions inform and ban park located on the roof of the building acts as a strengthen each other. receptacle for these materials and repurposes them The final speculative project, informed by the re- to suit the needs of the varying public amenities be- search and analysis of the projects proceed- ing offered, again shifting throughout the seasons. ing, was completed by the author as final compo- Waste flows in and out depending on the season nent of a thesis project. It attempts to connect ur- and current need of the city and then up to the roof ban and waste ecologies at the scale of the city as to serve the public in the roof parkscape (Figure 10). well as connect people to the trash they generate The proposal includes transforming the roof through in a meaningful way. The proposal creates new av- 50 a series of strategic moves: folding, punching, pull- enues for public engagement with waste process- Muller 51 - - - - - processing that is a spectacle to behold. People are behold. to that is a spectacle processing overwhelmingly with the connect able to scale large under and better operate at which these facilities stand the role they play in the cycle play in the they of waste. the role stand ecology urban waste an integrated Towards rethinkBy to the relationship examining be ways tweengenerate, they people, and the waste cities, servesthis research of en- the conversation open to specula- This processing. waste in designers gaging that sup- along with the research tive design project discus further for catalyst a as act to seeks it ports the perception, man- reevaluate to sion about ways agement, of waste. and treatment shine a light on what has his All of these projects designers: been a missed opportunitytorically for and dis the ability neglected design the often to management. of waste industrial realm connected more complex a grows in our urban ecosystem As seize to quickly urbanizing world, now is the time waste the opportunity and connecting of engaging that benefits all a system into and urban ecologies these projects can see through We of the city. facets public activity connect with in- that it is possible to - can add intro and that designers dustrial processes economic, value ducing cultural, and environmental infrastructure. in waste - - peels apart the es through the design of a waste-to-energy plant plant the design of a waste-to-energy es through only in- not and public space. This design proposal manage of waste the process the public into vites ment but also frames garbage as a resource for the as a resource for garbage ment but also frames shift the no- to in order space public of production This infrastructures. waste in in of placing value tion Bay in Sunset along the Gowanus is situated project underuti- along a largely New York Brooklyn, Park, lized and derelict industrial waterfront, (Figure 11), and landscape design architectural incorporating one fluid into experience. Figure 12 the flows through by guided design: the of layers of waste, the flow of landscape, flow the project: mul- in public. of flow the and operate flows These tiple directions and dimensions. The design extends in Figure seen of the city 13, the edge fabric, from the water’sdown to to with a design agenda edge - fa of a Waste-to-energy join the industrial process cility with and ben- with public activity that engages plant.Waste-to-energy the efits from the public with unique actively engages The project along the areas at key processing aspects of waste called out in Figure 14 as the length of the facility, ash theater, the crane and recyclingvisitor center, point. and barge and skylight plaza, Within walk inter the public and trash one of these areas, each locations, In carefully crafted sect in a unique way. of waste with a stage engage the public is able to opposite pageopposite entry13 — Public Fig. into sequence (Image: author). center waste-to-energy ri-vista
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52 Fig. 14 — Key moments of interaction between people and trash (Image: author). Muller 53
- - - . Trash with Affair DirtyOur Garbology: Love - ,
Tilman Latz Latz + Partner Landscape Architecture Urban Planning, Kranzberg, Germany [email protected] ri-vista
01 2018 Abstract Hiriya, a closed domestic waste landfill, is situated on the wide river plain in the southeast of Tel Aviv. The impressive landmark is part of the future Ariel Sharon Park. It is getting rehabilitat- seconda serie ed since 2004. Aim is to preserve its captivating silhouette and to develop the landscape of and around the mountain by using construction techniques that take into consideration the waste tip’s instability and make use of local materials whilst incorporating the region’s traditional land uses and specific climatic conditions. The artificial appearance of the landscape and its origins become a part of a positive experience of the site – a convergence of nature and culture. Keywords Landfill Rehabilitation, Stormwater Retention, Resilient Park Landscape, Recycling & Educa- tion, Transformation
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: April 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 54 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22991 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Latz 55 - - - city of the the centre which rail alongside through mo- 20 1 and Highway and the Highway tracks way torways were extensive aligned. Due to soil sealing retention ca- and the resultant reduction of water pacity well as the as within the river catchment area its area, retention city the the of growth into rapid size became insufficient and flooding became more be severe. not least The canal cannot be enlarged, cause of the existing infrastructure. transport Aviv region of Tel The expanding and ever-denser and increases spaces out many recreation crowds - landscape. open the develop This to distance the being parks through ment can only be compensated the safely incorporate enough to and robust large visitors, interests of recreation-seeking divergent conservation, nature control, flood politics, science Ari- part is only one of the vast and the arts. Hiriya tip the waste project. Park el Sharon Transforming a much larger is the symbolic start of constructing ca- landscape,park provide to have also will which metrescubic million retaining of seven pacityfor River and its tributar the Ayalon from floodwater the differentiation, its internal 2). Despite ies (fig. in the new land- as a monolith Hiriya landfill appears land- and a prominent scape, peak a spectacular 3). the plain (fig. mark as seen across of the ‘mountain’ appearance The fascinating politicians as well as artists the scene to brought
- - - - landfill, possibly the largest waste tip in in tip waste largest the possibly landfill, (fig. 1). The heap has has 1). The heap (fig. and Shapirim Ayalon River was converted into a large open canal canal open large a into converted was River Hiriya The The of a the site on East, 1952 in be came to the Near in the Arab-Israe abandoned village Palestinian li War. It is situated on an agricultural plain in the plain in the on an agricultural It is situated li War. encircledis and two the by Aviv Tel of southeast rivers 1 kilometer, the impressive dimensions of nearly in height, meters 16 and 87 in length, contains and of household waste. The annu- million cubic meters of the mesa’s foot the around wash floods al river un- and large the of risk the to adding slopes, steep collapse. result This would pollution in hill’s stable Dan- proportions. environmental of uncontainable posed a problem and gas of water leakages gerous the onset.from for also became a danger The site Airport Ben Gurion as it attracted flying near aircraft the Hiriya these reasons, For birds. thousands of sea closed in 1999. was landfill alone. the case, seldom come is often As problems - all coun of Israel, in that fateful seems It almost by a shorttries, the long dry pe is followed season that cause severe flooding to rains riod of winter Dur days. several for often Aviv, Tel of areas some hundred hectares several ing the British Mandate been earmarked of the city had already southeast for a tunnel flood and plans drawn up retention for Ay the Eventually sea. the into rainwater drain to alon ri-vista
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Fig. 1 — The Hiriya landfill, aerial view 2004 (© Beracha Foundation).
opposite page Fig. 2 —Centennial floodwater scenario in the future Ariel Sharon Park (© Latz + Partner). Fig. 3 —Hiriya - a monolith protruding from the Ayalon plain 2004 (© Latz + Partner). Fig. 4 —Hiriya - from the viewpoint of an artist (© Mischa Ullman).
(fig. 4). In the late 1990s, the Beracha Foundation Our main objective is not to hide the technical na- under Martin Weyl worked with artists and inter- ture of structures, but to develop a new aesthetic national experts to help their search for solutions. realm of experience around them that is resilient in They consulted waste disposal and hydraulic en- its cultural context. From a distance, Hiriya has the gineers, urban planners and landscape architects. appearance of a ‘mystical mountain’ amidst the In 2004, an international design competition was wide plain of the Ayalon and Shapirim rivers. launched with the brief to develop ideas for rehabili- Our aim is to preserve its captivating silhouette. The tating the landfill (fig. 5). The objective was to make landscape of and around the mountain gets now it a positive landmark and solve technical problems developed by using construction techniques that of instability, which, in addition to gas leakages, take into consideration the waste tip’s instabili- were the main factors that rendered it unusable. A ty and make use of local materials whilst incorpo- competition for the 840-hectare site of what was to rating the region’s traditional land uses and specific become Ariel Sharon Park followed in 2009 with the climatic conditions. The artificial appearance of the aim of turning the flood retention area into a park landscape and its origins, not neglected, are a part (fig. 6). The concepts by Latz + Partner convinced of a positive experience of the site – a convergence 56 both competition juries. of nature and culture (fig. 7). Latz
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Preserving the mountain to maintain and perpetuate the traditional historic The Ayalon and Shapirim rivers have been realigned cultural landscape (fig. 8). more than one hundred meters from the mountain and meander freely through broad ‘wadis’. The exca- Preserving the waste vated material plus several millions cubic meters of The three plateaus of the refuse heap and the oases construction demolition waste is used to build a cir- are sealed with a combination of natural and syn- cular landscape terrace around the foot of the slope thetic materials, and the biogas is safely extracted in order to stabilize it and so retain Hiriya’s unique and utilized. Water is still seeping from the tip and landform. A new tree-covered space has been cre- gets collected and treated in separate ‘green sedi- ated for a variety of recreational, play and sports ac- mentation tanks’. A layer of gravel made of recycled tivities. Characteristic agricultural patterns found in construction waste, and clean soil cover the pla- the local environment, will be planted on the site, teaus and the inner slopes of the mountain. A large mostly in the form of olive groves and orchards. amount of this material is produced in a recycling 58 They require little water, provide shadow, are easy plant on the eastern mountain slope where a mas- Latz 59 - - - ervoirs during the rainy season. (Fig. 10) It is em- 10) ervoirs (Fig. season. during the rainy in dry areas densely planted irrigate to ployed peri- - along the freely mean ods. Much of the vegetation is expected es and Shapirim rivers to dering Ayalon spontaneously. tablish - the oasis Exploitingtopography the of the moun- A sheltered depression in the center dis of a noisy and dusty the site once waste tain, terraced into posal plant, has been transformed in- for landscape’ slopes and an open ‘spring water in the center, use.tensive platform A solid concrete only is Hiriya’s machines stood, large where once and collected in underground res in underground and collected ed on the plateau ------and the steep slopes, a drought re drought a slopes, steep the and sive sheet pile wall secures the large levelled work levelled secures the large sive sheet pile wall — The Ayalon plain - becoming both a flood retention basin and a spacious park (© Latz + Partner).Latz + both a flood park (© basin and a spacious plain - becoming retention 6 — The Ayalon Fig. pageopposite Partner).Latz + and oasis (© slope, steep terrace, foot plateau wadi, plan and five landscape elements - 5 — Competition Fig. the vegetation Establishing plateau the On ing platform against pressure from the mountain. the mountain. pressure from against platform ing attrac visitor The recycling plant is one of Hiriya’s RDFtions and is currently being extended by a large of students, Coachloads waste-to-energy-plant. the inter and politicians workers, administration to visit the site Israel all around public from ested how and of waste treatment the sustainable learn 9). live with it (fig. to as it resistant, is prevailing, mostly low vegetation is harvest water quires little maintenance. Storm Fig. 7 — Silhouette of Hiriya with foot terrace and dislocated rivers in the wadi (© Latz + Partner). Fig. 8 — The different landscape elements in the masterplan 2011 (© Latz + Partner).
opposite page Fig. 9 — Waste products in the visitor center (©
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Fig. 10 — Drainage and subterranean reservoirs enable an oasis in the center (© Latz + Partner). 01 2018 opposite page Fig. 11 — Service facilities built on a concrete platform - the landfill’s only stable area (© Latz + Partner). Fig. 12 — Dry stone walls adapt to the mountain’s movement (© Latz + Partner). seconda serie
stable area. It accommodates central functions in will enjoy the day (fig. 17). We reach a gently sloping the park and a café/restaurant (fig. 11). Tradition- ramp that follows the contours of the terrain and in- al dry stone walls of recycled construction materi- vites us to walk up to the top of the mountain. First, al stabilize the slopes around the valley (fig. 12). The we look across to the recycling plant on our left. Im- walls are able to adapt to movement in the moun- mediately above the working platform and secured tain and provide the best conditions for the type of by a sheet pile wall, a long promenade allows the vegetation that is characteristic of the Mediterra- recreation area to sit alongside the fascinating ac- nean and for a variety of small-scale spaces. Buried tivities at the waste recycling plant – the origins of layers of gravel serve as cool storage areas for har- the park. We continue through the terraced valley vested rainwater that is used to top up small bod- on the inner mountain slopes until we reach the cool ies of water throughout the year (fig. 13). The use and refreshing oasis where we pause – perhaps to of communal supply water to get through the dry have a drink and to listen to the sounds of the water season is to be kept to a minimum. A lush vegeta- (fig. 18). Finally, we continue to the plateau where tion of palms and other trees, shrubs, aquatics and we enjoy stunning views of Ariel Sharon Park, the flowering plants has been created in the center of sea and across the green agricultural land towards the park as a symbol of nature and Mediterranean Jaffa and the dunes of Holon. However, before we culture (fig. 14). get there, we pass a sheltered ‘indentation’ on the northwestern side of the plateau. We sit down un- Mise-en-scène der spectacular wooden structures that look like After arriving by car, bus or on foot (fig. 15), we first over-dimensioned parasols, and we learn that they cross the Shapirim and Ayalon ‘wadis’ (fig.16). We adjust to movement in the mountain just like tum- cross the large terraces where, at the foot of the bler toys (fig. 19). All the same, it feels safe enough steep mountainside, after construction work is fin- to cast our gaze across the Ariel Sharon Park and to- 62 ished families will have picnics and people exercising wards the white city of Tel Aviv (fig. 20). Latz 63 ri-vista
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Fig. 13 — The oasis 2014 (© Latz + Partner). Fig. 14 — The contaminated landfill - transformed into a symbol of nature and mediterranean culture (© Kobi Li).
opposite page Fig. 15 — Future multifunctional groves in Ariel Sharon Park (© Latz + Partner). Fig. 16 — Image of the Shapirim and Ayalon wadis (© Latz + Partner). 64 Latz 65 ri-vista
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66 Latz 67 — Approaching the Belvedere and its shady19 — Approaching Fig. Company). Park umbrellas (© Ariel Sharon Aviv’s skyline (© Tel admiring 20 — Visitors Fig. + Partner). Latz pageopposite 17Fig. on the patterns of agricultural — Image + Partner). (© Latz terrace foot + Partner). oasis (© Latz Hiriya’s 18 — Crossing Fig. A recovered landfill in the construction of a metropolis: Valdemingomez Forest Park, over time
Israel Alba ri-vista Israel Alba Arquitectura [email protected]
01 2018 Abstract The project for the recovery and transformation of the Valdemingomez landfill in Madrid re- quired the application of complex environmental engineering processes, as well as new archi- seconda serie tectural strategies. Today, it is a place which can be incorporated, with full guarantees, into the city structure, as long as it is viewed as a ‘monumental’ public space. It is recovered ground which is capable of becoming a new, free metropolitan space that can respond to the current and future needs of society, especially if it remains as such over time. The architectural project which was undertaken involved the proposal of new strategies for creating an area which will be open, flexible and dynamic throughout time, in a search for equilibrium between city and na- ture. The Valdemingomez landfill constitutes an example of a proposed model of continuity be- tween the forest and the surrounding area; a pseudo botanical garden with indigenous spe- cies seeking integration into the Parque Regional del Sureste (Southeast Regional Park). It was transformed into a free, public area with pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes, along with woods and wetlands which have helped to create small, localized ecosystems. Within it, one can ob- serve the life of both nature and the city. Keywords Landfill, Recovery, Landscape, Territory Planning, Community
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 68 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22989 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Alba 69 - - an increasing cycle of waste production that put the production cycle an increasing of waste the capacity of landfills.necessity enlarge to S.A. , y Construcciones de Obras Fomento In 1972, the of company bidder successful the (FOCSA), by the Madrid City Council organized competition of the area the central renew for to the collection the mu- to includes the temporarycapital, transfer nicipality in the in Madrid, lands located of certain 14 of the at kilometer called Valdemingomez, area and at a (Madrid-Valencia), III National Highway 15 kilometers it and from 3 kilometers of distance limit of It is the southeastern the city center. from - the municipality of Madrid and the limit of the Val lecas District. lands. deteriorated and arid aregypsiferous, These Their little or non-existent landscape or agricultur - bound the citythe (on from value,al distance their ary were and the topography of the municipal area) fu the as were chosen they which for reasons the for Madrid. ture landfill was inaugurated landfill area The Valdemingomez - and con gateway the access and formed in 1978, 1) and one of thenection point between the city (fig. of of the Community projects metropolitan largest of pocket a Park, Regional Madrid: the Southeast en- land on which the city irreversibly was protected be incorporated and which will eventually croaching its infrastructure.into - - century in th century was th century. The amount and The amount century. th marked, in relation the municipality to of Madrid, bymarked, Contextualization The analysis of the recovery of and transformation studyto landfill permits waste the Valdemingomez manage and treatment the in development the ment of waste caused by the rapid growth in popu- growth caused by the rapid ment of waste lation that the city of Madrid has experienced since half of the 20 the second The Valdemingomez landfill, Madrid. 1978-2000 Madrid. landfill, The Valdemingomez The entry in the 20 of the seventies La China, located called La was Madrid, opened in 1950, The in the south and next River. the Manzanares to the city of growth half unstoppable second in the close down the landfill and to forces of the century, a re As lands outside the city. marginal move it to landfill materializes. sult, the Valdemingomez places in landfills locate to fails cityThe Madrid of do not they so that the center, enough from distant at the avoiding, of its inhabitants disrupt the health the service make same time, not to long itineraries more expensive. composition of the waste deposited in the landfill in the landfill deposited of the waste composition decades, and as in a few substantially have changed a result and at the same time, of the the last third in plan century the implement of a spatial-temporal too. with this purpose will begin. A new conscience 20 the landfill of waste urban The first ri-vista
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Fig. 1 — Madrid, aerial photograph. Relationship between the Valdemingomez landfill site and the city. (Photo: GoogleEarth 2014).
In its 22 years of activity (fig. 2), the Valdemingomez ious layers of inert material of a thickness of about landfill accumulated more than 21 million tons of 20cm. These layers served to prevent the presence waste. This rose to a maximum height of 652m of rodents and bad odors, to avoid the dispersion of above sea level (Ayuntamiento de Madrid, 2003, material by wind and to prevent fires. p.10), around 40 meters higher than its original level Valdemingomez quickly became the nucleus around and that of the surrounding terrain. The record year which successive environmental infrastructures be- for waste deposition was in 1991, when 1,301,336 gan to grow: Madrid’s most important plants for the metric tons were dumped there, the equivalent of treatment and elimination of solid urban waste, 98.6% of the refuse generated in Madrid for that which now form the so-called Parque Tecnológico year. This percentage shows that, at the time, only a de Valdemingomez (Valdemingomez Technological small amount of waste was sent for recovery or com- Park – fig. 4). posting. The everyday use of the landfill was planned In 1993, an important event occurred in the history according to techniques which had been in use in Eu- of the Valdemingomez landfill: the renewal of the rope for years, especially in England. This planned waste collection contract for the Peripheral Sector system consisted of three stages: shredding of the of the capital, a contract which was awarded to FOC- waste in a plant; transport to the discharge platform, SA in 1968. The offer submitted by this company in- known as a landfill; and finally, the spreading and cluded, as an improvement, the definitive assign- compacting of the waste (fig. 3). Every two days, this ment of the ownership of the land to Madrid Coun- 70 process was supplemented by the spreading of var- cil. From that point forward, the Valdemingomez Alba 71 - - - formation of the Valdemingomez landfill involved, of the Valdemingomez formation basic operations: standpoint, a technical from four of the installation of the entire surface; the sealing accumu biogas the networkextract to degassing a of a pow- the construction within the mass; lated electrici- produce to which uses said gas er station in- of the surface the transformation ty; and lastly, A 5). (fig. moreto Park than 110 hectares of Forest built alongside said ar was center research waste (Envi- Medioambiental Tecnológico the Centro ea, using the recovery Center, Technological ronmental waste aforementioned the of transformation and Landscape recovery 2000- and transformation. 2003 landscape recovery the for The project and trans - - of 2000, the Valdemingomez landfill landfill the Valdemingomez of 2000, nd ing of biogas from the landfill, to harness its energy. to harness its energy. the landfill, from ing of biogas was in sight and useful life The end of the landfill’s alternative look for to started the Council therefore uses, ones which were the new de more to suited legislation.mands of current environmental On March 2 landfill became a land which was owned in full by by full in was owned which land a landfill became the a public place. or in other words, In 1995, the city, harvest the potential into took place research first — Trucks unloading waste into the Valdemingomez landfill, the Valdemingomez into unloading waste 2 — Trucks Fig. century). in the 90s of the 20th Madrid Council, Madrid. (Photo: Formation the recovery. landfill, before 3 — Valdemingomez Fig. (Photo: 1980-1985-1995-1999. aerial photographs: process, Madrid Council). closed its doors for good, after a 22 year existence. a 22 year after good, for closed its doors VALDEMINGÓMEZ TECHNOLOGICAL PARK
1. Valdemingómez Forest Park, degassing and forest surface maintenance 2. Environmental Technological Center 3. Bicycle paths 4. Wetlands and bird-watching refuges ri-vista 5. Meadow areas 6. Biogas energy recovery 7. Biogas purification and concentration 8. Classification and separation of recyclable materials, energy recovery 9. Classification and separation of recyclable materials, composting, processing of plastics, incineration of dead animals 10. Maintenance of the sealant layer of the inert waste landfill 11. Biomethanation 12. Classification and separation of recyclable materials and composting 13. New landfill with cells 01 2018
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0 100 200 72 Alba 73 - each and these these and each 2 served which two of wetland around as small areas were refuges built.bird-watching mass the inside biogas the of component main The expulsion methane and its is the exteri to - of waste was formed of the following basic components: 1. A components: basic of the following formed was gasA 2. of the landfill surface; leveling the for layer A layer 4. layer; impermeable An 3. layer; drainage An5. percolation; from rainwater of drainage the for The vegetation. and support of soil upper layer for as individually and of the layers of each formulation two slopedto adapted types was whole surface: a of 6). (fig. or plateau area and the crowning areas - of wa the effects against the topsoil protect To to was the plan on the sloped surfaces, erosion ter - an anti-ero and therefore use a synthetic sealant quan- A large was installed. fiber sion mesh of jute the en- tity of bushes were and lastly, then planted a carpet of create to hydro-seeded tire slope was from the surface which would protect vegetation look as giving it a natural as well any initial rainfall the sur it into integrating the beginning, right from landscape.rounding were used on mesh nor hydro-seeding Neither jute ap- was sealant although a universal the plateau, the to limited were instead operations The plied. planting of trees, bushes and seeds. These activi- two of construction the by weresupplemented ties 1500m measuring of water areas - - - - - which avoid contamination, which avoid contamination, 1 shredding plant which was built in Valdemingomez. Valdemingomez. in built shreddingwas plant which of monitoring includes environmental The project years. for a period of over 30 the landfill delivery of uninterrupted 22 years of solid ur After ban waste, there were two objectives fundamental to en- was landfill. The first the Valdemingomez for waste of the mass of confinement sure the general site, on the deposited particularly the methane gas material. of organic by the decomposition produced sup adequate provide to was objective second The of the structures installation the designed port for and subsequent revegetation. the degassing for of differ of layers this, a succession achieve To and one over the surface spread was ent materials was a dou- layers of these significant most of the the gas to ble sheet of polyethylene: impermeable the exterior. from water and to the interior es from zone each applied to solution was The most suitable techni- of the landfill, based on the most advanced the time, of criteria order in and environmental cal the maximum and stability in the produce to safety supplement was layer mass of waste. The covering prevent which systems drainage rainwater by ed an- accumulating on the landfill surface, from water systems ti-leachate — Valdemingomez Forest Park, aerial Park, Forest 5 — Valdemingomez Fig. 2003). City Madrid (Photo: Council photograph. pageopposite Park. Technological 4 — Valdemingomez Fig. Alba 2015). Israel (Photo: and supervision and surveillance- through systems out the entire landfill. itand employed was system coverage multi-layer A ri-vista
01 2018 or would have negative repercussions on the envi- planted plants form an arboretum that is truly repre- ronment, seeing as said gas is an active generator sentative of the vegetation of the Community of Ma-
seconda serie of the greenhouse effect. Therefore, a network of drid and they were provided with an automatic irri- 280 gas collection wells covering the entire landfill gation system which uses water obtained from the surface was constructed (with each well having an nearby Estación Regeneradora de Aguas Residuales area of influence of about 25m and a depth of 20m) Sur (Southern Waste Water Regeneration Station). along with 42.5km of transport pipes which take Due to the large size of the former landfill, it was the gas to one of the 10 Regulation and Measure- deemed necessary to divide the surface to be vege- ment Stations (RMS) with 14 entry points each, pri- tated into zones (fig. 7). The two basic factors which or to its arrival at the waste-to-energy facilities. characterize said zones are their slope and their ori- One of the main objectives of the landscape transfor- entation. Orientation only affects the sloped are- mation consisted of returning the area to as natural as (fig. 8) and these are divided into shaded slopes a state as possible and therefore it was vital to carry and sunny slopes. The shaded slopes are more at out a suitable planning of the activities. This required, risk from freezing, they undergo less evapotranspira- in turn, a profound knowledge of the components tion and therefore the planted vegetation is less xe- of the existing ecosystem and its behavior, particu- rophilous than in the sunny areas. In the latter were larly its natural development. It was very important planted species which require greater humidity: ma- to cover the landfill with topsoil and to instigate the ples and Portuguese oaks. The south-facing slopes primary colonization by the pioneer plants, which, by are more similar to the typical terrain of the Regional contributing to the formation of the soil with their or- Park. On the plateau (fig. 9), the choice was made to ganic material, prepared the medium to sustain more plant natural-looking woodland, very similar to that advanced species. In this way, an inert medium such of the nearby (indigenous) areas, using species such as a landfill was able to be transformed, via the devel- as Portuguese oaks, olive trees, pine trees, almond opment of a biologically productive soil, into a com- trees, holm oaks and cork oaks. plete and self-sustaining ecosystem. All the possible The plan was to establish small colonies which plant formations in the area were taken into consid- would grow over time, expanding and becoming eration and the recommendations of the Master Plan more complex, responding to local conditions, and 74 for the Southeast Regional Park were followed. The this has indeed occurred (fig. 10). Alba 75 - - - - 14 5 m. 7 16 8 7 PLATEAU 13 1 6 5 0 15 3 Mass of waste Jute mesh Kermes oaks Protection berm Drainage layer of 0.50m of gravel 0.25m gas drainage layer Portuguese oaks, Pyrenean oaks, holm oaks... Riparian vegetation 9 9. 12 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. BERM 6 8 11 In the spring of 2003, the landfill, having been having been the landfill, In the spring of 2003, of almost 110 Park Forest a great into transformed hectares those of and with dimensions similar to its life Madrid, began of in the center Park El Retiro of leisureenjoyment, and freea as area with guid- and exhibitions or conferences ed visits, courses, ganized in the Environmental Technological Centre. Technological in the Environmental ganized the and element a welcoming as used center, This point between connection the city and the Forest the most ‘public’ has become Park, representation of the recovery be and it has in some ways process of the project. or symbol the icon come re projects of content the frequentlyoccurs, As are materialized flects desires which in practice and, as previously mentioned, time differently quite recovery complete the in trans and factor key a is yet, As of these areas. it is still not possi- formation 7 10 6 - - - - 5 3 4 SLOPE 2 1 Environmental inspection road Gabion used as a contention wall Runoff water drainage ditch Ø200 Grooved pipe for collection of rainwater from percolation Min. 1m soil Synthetic Geodren Polypropylene geotextile Polyethylene sheet 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. CROSS-SECTION OF THE SLOPE-BERM-PLATEAU OF THE CROSS-SECTION Integration and use of the transformed landfill. landfill. and use of the transformed Integration 2003-2030 multi-disciplinarya by developed was project The and its biologists and architects) (engineers, team the planting of the landfill sur starting point was face with species of trees with typical so as of the area, face Park, Regional Southeast the it into integrate to A se green lung of the city. a new, it into converting recoverythe were to added facilities public of ries bike a paths, trails, reforestation: the after project 11), small the rest to of the citylane connected (fig. and two with woods, picnic areas wetland lagoons observing eco developed for newly the both areas will which this new area into and the city, systems will as spaces The public-use soon be incorporated. for needed suredly be redefinedyears the 30 after monitoring. environmental — Valdemingómez Forest Park, aerial Park, Forest Fig. 8 — Valdemingómez Madrid Council). (source: photograph of the slope-berm- Fig. 9 — Cross-section Valdemingómez of the plateau crowning Alba). Israel (photo: Park Forest pageopposite waste Valdemingómez Fig. 6 — Former plant,treatment the recovery, before (2000). Alba Source: Israel view. interior Environmental Fig. 7 — Valdemingómez (information, Center Technological thepublication and education), after Eduardo view (photo: interior recovery, Sánchez). vegetation
2 5
1 7 2
5 3 3 ri-vista 2 8 SPeCieS: 3 6 5 1. Portuguese oak 8 2. agroecosystem 3 2 3. olive tree 5 4. Juniper tree 7 5. Holm oak 4 6. Cork oak 2 3 7. Riverbank vegetation 8. Hydroseeding + Mediterranean scrub
a. northern orientation - less xerophilous vegetation
b. Southern orientation - more xerophilous vegetation
alignment trees 01 2018 Fig. 10 — Slope with an anti-erosion mesh of jute fiber in the Valdemingómez Forest Park, after the recovery (source: Madrid Council). Fig. 11 — Vegetation layer, organization of surfaces based on orientation and slope (source: Israel Alba).
seconda serie opposite page Fig. 12 — Valdemingómez Forest park, topography and vegetation of the slopes (photo: Miguel de Guzmán).
ble to open the park to the public for a free and con- er to the new models of free, metropolitan areas; tinuous use of the space, mainly due to the fact that making visible what was once hidden and form- the extraction process for the biogas stored in the ing a relationship between the metropolis and the landfill causes constant subsidence in the terrain surrounding land, via a recovered and transformed (fig. 12). In some cases this can be dangerous, seeing landscape which is based on a natural topography as it can cause the possible release of methane gas brought about by an artificial process. Thus, the and because instantaneous subsidence can some- Valdemingomez Forest Park supposes new type of times exceed two meters. For this reason it will be public space that combines the derivation of en- partially closed until the surface has stabilized, once ergy from accumulated waste and continuity be- all the biogas has been extracted. The situation also tween the landscape and the immediate surround- occurred in the Fresh Kills landfill of New York and in ings, with its connection to the Southeast Regional El Garraf of Barcelona. This may lead us to think that Park. Valdemingomez witnessed the construction methods and processes other than the current ones of a top quality, free, metropolitan space (fig. 13) for should be used, seeing as it will take more time to citizens’ leisure and enjoyment, although at pres- make the land suitable for park use, due to hav- ent, visits are limited to guided tours so as to guar- ing to wait for the degassing process to conclude, antee that the landfill surface is not overloaded, than it took for the landfill to be formed by the daily which might cause additional subsidence or acceler- dumping of thousands of tons of waste. New strat- ate the processes which have to occur in a controlled egies must be devised, ones which allow more im- manner. The plan is for the park to be opened to the mediate and different uses, even if they are merely public in 2030. This however, has not stopped the partial, thus making more sense of these interven- planted tree species from taking root and nor has it tions, both in the short and medium term. stopped the wetlands from accommodating small 76 The strategies used in Valdemingomez bring it clos- ecosystems which are integrated into the natural Alba 77 - - - - of the landscape architect James Corner. But But Corner. architectJames landscape the of 2 this project, which is not just an aesthetic mat ter, has also made it clear that traditional archi- that traditional has also made it clear ter, are incapable themselves by instruments tectural of fully resolving such as that in Valde situations 15). (fig. mingomez The recoverywith a new, us provides of this space of formed system, artificial landscape continuous of energy-produc in which the incorporation layers el- infrastructural with other, is merged ing systems scapes and his definition of the ‘monumental va- ‘monumental scapes and his definition of the al- it could However, of Passaic, New Jersey. cancies’ flux the terra to more contemporarily so be linked us - - - centu th ry, with the starting point being his entropic land- point being his entropic with the starting ry, cycle of their environment. is not The use of water just an aesthetic artifice,is a it to new en- response creation the to led has it and problems vironmental 14). (fig. ecosystems water-based of new, in Valdemingomez the work carried out Today, the of approaching be seen as a possible way could - using artificial pro of an area, process construction nat refuse) of create accumulation to (the cesses ural topography for new metropolitan uses. This is uses. This is new metropolitan for topography ural based on the a deeper and more approach, evolved by the North artist American Rob vision provided half of the 20 ert Smithson in the second ri-vista
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TRAILS TRAFFIC seconda serie
Fig. 13 — Valdemingómez Forest Park, woods on the plateau. Connection to the city Growth of the landscape over time (photo: Miguel de Guzmán). Rutas para bicicletas Bicycle paths Vial de inspección medioambiental Rutas para bicicletas Fig. 14 — Valdemingómez Forest Park, small initial colonies (photo: Rutas para peatones EnvironmentalVial de inspección inspection medioambiental road PedestrianRutas para peatones paths Miguel de Guzmán). Fig. 15 — Layer of trails and paths (photo: Israel Alba). Fig. 17 — Former Valdemingómez waste treatment plant, before the recovery, exterior view (photo: Israel Alba).
78 Alba 79 100 100 0 100
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1 1 1, 0,2 0,42 0,43 0,2 0,2 2004 2005 2003 amienTOS amienTOS 2008 2006 2007 2009 2004 2005 2003 2008 2006 2007 2009 aldemingómez TederO de V TederO de TederO de el garraf alle de lOS aSenT alle de lOS aSenT ail Of SubSidenCe Ver Ver SeCCión deT SeCCión deT eVOluCión 2003-2009 eVOluCión 2002-2008 Valdemingómez landfill Valdemingómez SeCTiOn deT TiOn 2003-2009 TOpOgraphiCal eVOlu is because it is not a pure mix of architecture and is because it is not a pure of architecture mix and the from influences it garners landscape. Instead, are in a out by both disciplines. We marked course the which demand new problems new age; we face use of new technology the application in addition to which has preceded us. heritage of the cultural - difficul technical the acknowledge also must We piles ofties which arise in the handling of enormous and anaer within which millions of aerobic garbage, in and sequentially work ceaselessly obic bacteria waste organic all decomposing biological processes, such as methane, gases carbon di- and producing - meth this of elimination The nitrogen. and oxide subsidiary various involves ane as such objectives of formation the preventing odors, foul eliminating con- gas’s avoiding the gas, of flammable pockets and harvesting the greenhousetribution to effect it energy. for confinement the use of new gas Its existence obliges with those and these must be combined techniques in- the loss of the mass’s combating for developed volume and with those used in the formation ternal of this The creation the surface. at layer of a topsoil be challenge a new technological was layer topsoil — Valdemingómez landfill, detail of subsidence, landfill, detail Fig. 18 — Valdemingómez Madrid Council). (source: 2003-2009 evolution topographical eccentric landscape, inspir eccentric is it a spontaneous nor nor is it an example of Landart er of feelings, ------century, Valdemingomez, having been been having Valdemingomez, century, th ements as well as with architectural transformation transformation architectural ements as well as with time-dependent and the itself land- of a growth scape. It is a contemporary landscape model. landfills which in Madridexisted other waste Unlike in the 20 — Valdemingómez Environmental Technological Centre, Technological Environmental Fig. 16 — Valdemingómez Sánchez). Eduardo exterior view (photo: the recovery, after Conclusions: from continuity from to utilityConclusions: is not a picturesque work which follows This project a capricious, for path in the search well-trodden that coming a dark memorycoming of the city’s past. Instead, it is part of the city’s present and, above all, part of its optimistic future.- that a new declara It is a sign conscience, his man’s regarding written be can tion the landscape and his relationshipattitude towards with the physical world. af Herreros Juan and Ábalos Iñaki architects the As the project Madrid, to referred firmed when they of the former the recoveryfor and transformation verify landfill has allowed us to Valdemingomez away periphery and pic a far longer is no that: «The which might charm us with its aes turesque ideal exper laboratoryreal it is a used for thetics, rather I., Herre ideas» with universal (Ábalos imentation p.25). J., 2000, ros, transformed into a great Forest Park, avoided be avoided Park, Forest great a into transformed Fig. 19 — Valdemingómez Forest Park, biogas extraction well next to wetlands (photo: Israel Alba). Fig. 20 — Relationship between the Valdemingómez Forest Park and the Southeast Regional Park, in the background (photo: Israel Alba). Fig. 21 — Valdemingómez Forest Park and Madrid. The city rises over the new free space. Meadow area and lookout point (photo: Miguel de Guzmán).
ri-vista Fig. 22 — Lagoon or wetlands of the Valdemingómez Forest Park, where one can see the established flora and fauna. Growth of the landscape over time (photo: Miguel de Guzmán).
opposite page Fig. 23 — Footprint and topography of the Valdemingómez Forest Park, shown with the soil plan (photo: Israel Alba).
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80 Alba 81 - - 1 2 SmOOThed SlOpe SmOOThed SlOpe iTh berm Opening 1 e 1 e 2 S 3 p 4 p 1 T T 1 p 2 T 3 1 2 to apply techniques from other disciplines, instead of instead disciplines, other from techniques apply to transformation in an architectural being a limitation project, should serve of acceptance the as stimuli to This is the only and new challenges. new proposals the discipline - work by which we can advance way at the limits. In Spain, as in mosting at the fringes, these types in of operations, politics is key countries, in- but the interests (time) and visions of the agents are immense coincide.volved do not always Landfills by artificial produced areas topographical natural a new discern which to from watchtowers processes, horizon, a new world, a new future in which it will be acts of deterioration. our reverse possible to waste, the recovery to By assigning a new value and - topogra a new provides of a landfill transformation productive and useful being of capable is which phy agricul for leisure or for contemporary society, for ture, itself as a free of the new city. space revealing it makes analysis of this project The chronological - that the expansion of the metropo primarily clear from the landfills the first engulfed lis has literally half of the last centurysecond and incorporated 16). It also (fig. the urban infrastructure them into 4 3 - - SlOpeS Of 5 2 1 2 landfill plaTeau iTh minimum landfill plaTeau depóSiTO COnTrOladO 3 2 1 2 3 2 3 2 3 2 1 SmOOThed SlOpe SmOOThed SlOpe iTh berm Opening phology slow period of a long, after and properties sensitivity has Our new environmental evolution. role the of perception our improved and introduced over structure, constant not whose is soil, which of tilling and the repeated farming, by time, is fortified When, as is the case here,use of irrigation. the soil is with can be accelerated its formation newly created, Biologically active soil supports life changes. induced the moment of its for from evolve to and continues by bi- affected via processes mation and this occurs - influ climatic, topographical and ological, geological it plays in the recovery the crucial role Despite ences. role of soil of the of landfills, the actual perception compo- to other fiddle second played has generally techniques and the traditional nents of the project the most part.applied in agriculture were for trusted gas the processes, formation and vegetation The soil evolutionthe and systems, conversion and collection time introduce to led us techniques of the employed in landfill recovery variable as a fundamental - pro ‘living’ have become projects. jects, seeing as they the needand time variable the of introduction The cause topsoil is a component which acquires is a component its mor cause topsoil Valdemingómez landfill Valdemingómez e 1 5 000 C VerTederO de el garraf VerTederO e 1 5 000 S ri-vista
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Fig. 24 — Valdemingómez Forest Park, aerial photograph, slopes and vegetation (photo: Miguel de Guzmán).
makes it obvious that there has been a clear evo- medium and in its ability to support a new, free lution, within a short period of time, in the unfurl- space (fig. 17). The recovery of this space, via forest- ing of a new outlook on these spaces and in archi- ation concepts, involves thought and planning, first tects’ attitudes towards the project; they are now about the soil and then about the plants, calculating more sensitive to the physical and natural world. the time required to develop them. Only after the We are on our way to a new paradigm. The recov- process has progressed sufficiently should the con- ery and transformation of the Valdemingomez land- struction of the rest begin. In the words of Claude fill has given us a chance to verify that every common Guinaudeau, we should: «Plant today, build tomor- space has now become understood as a landscape row» (Batlle, 2007, p.69). In this way, we incorporate and, as such, an object of interest and the focus of at- the value of time into the project and in the con- tention of the architect. Landscape has lost its disin- struction of public spaces in the metropolis, giving clination to change and has grown into a subject that vegetation the chance to develop properly in a soil allows many transformations and one which can har- which is kept ‘alive’ and in a state of constant evolu- bor new, metropolitan uses. tion. As noted by James Corner, we should aspire to The operation which was carried out was artificial build landscapes which are more active not only in but it seeks naturalness and the attainment of an- biological terms (productivity) but also in ecological 82 other level of evolution in its relationship with the terms (usefulness): «And if we were to understand Alba 83 - - - ed to the work of the architect. To do this, they have do this, they the work of the architect.ed to To term ‘new ecology’defined the of urban as the idea ecology the relations time and to which de to linked architecture as In this way, velop in the territory. part by being an integral role sumes a fundamental - the evolu which orientates process of the project the same time, it contributes At tion of the territory. in- urban planning, of traditional the renovation to suggest which concepts and variables corporating grow and die. is inherentgrow in all living systems Change element in landscap- a key and, in turn, it becomes architecture. in occurs Projectswhich that unlike ing, p. 161). 2007, (Treib, address or change» growth rarely by the multi-disci- the work carried out to According Baglivo andplinary by Carmelo agency laN+, formed we are a new defini- now witnessing Galofaro, Luca ‘ecology’tion of the term and this should be adapt - this desire for a more active landscape, this desire not only in for of programming, but also in terms biological terms fi- could we culture,experienceand imagination [...] and of naturalism the limitations nally escape from p.158). 2007, (Corner, scenography» worksHaving analyzed the results of the completed time, through and their evolution we should ask by posed was that question same the ourselves which is based on an a project «Should Marc Treib: why?» And if so, look natural? concept ecological p.159). 2007, (Treib, incorporate to vital is it contemporaryIn projects, over time,- of change unpredictable and pro the idea Only by doing this will we indeterminacy. grammatic links design the landscape and establish to manage understand environment,the with natural the with — Valdemingómez Forest Park, aerial photograph, pedestrian and bicycle trails and meadow areas on the plateau. Construction Construction on the plateau. areas and meadow pedestrian and bicycle trails aerial photograph, Park, Forest — Valdemingómez 25 Fig. Miguel de Guzmán). (photo: of a new place ing that,«Landscapes as the same author affirms: ri-vista
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84 Alba 85 - subtler interrelationssubtler between settlements,human nature and urban components. contemporary that confirm This is to architecture meets equally and at the same time architecture and landscape, addresses of time or, the matter cycles in- Life what is the same, of life. the matter cannot sep- project the architectural to corporated of time, the matter from as it indeed happensarate in its with span, Life city. the of construction the in — Integration into the new landscape of the energy new landscape of the energy the into Fig. 28 — Integration landfill the in accumulated biogas the for systems extraction Guzmán). Miguel de (photo: the 29 — New plan of the biologically active soil of Fig. Alba). Israel (photo: Park Forest Valdemingómez page opposite slopes aerial photograph, Park, Forest Fig. 26 — Valdemingómez Miguel de Guzmán). (photo: and plateau and landfill between 27Fig. — Relationship the Valdemingómez in the The maps show the urban growth Madrid: 1978-2000-2013. decentralized a as use of years first its After area. surrounding expanding the city to close freea space become has it landfill, Alba). Israel (photo: - vari another is itself, to associated change evitable project.able in the architectural implies the anonymityIf globalization of a city and then new, physical reality, its disassociation from can actually return that spaces to free metropolitan This and specificity. 18) city part of its identity (fig. 1a. Valdemingómez 1a. Valdemingómez landfill (closed 2000) Forest 1b. Valdemingómez Park (opening 2003) 2. Historical city Vallecas 3. New developments 4. Infrastructures 1b 1a 1a 4 4
3 3
2013 1
Vertedero recuperado Vertedero Inicio del vertedero del Inicio 2 2 2
Fase 3 Fase Fase 1 Fase ri-vista
Fig. 31 — Valdemingómez Forest Park, aerial photograph, pedestrian and bicycle trails alongside wetlands and meadow areas (photo: Miguel de Guzmán). Fig. 32 — Valdemingómez Forest Park. Source (photo: Israel Alba). Fig. 33 — Valdemingómez Forest Park, aerial photograph, pedestrian and bicycle trails alongside wetlands and meadow areas (photo: Miguel de Guzmán). 01 2018 seconda serie
86 Alba 87 - - - . 4 sponds to current needs before it, currentsponds to before needs in turn, is erased» (Marot, 2007). «Every territory is unique, the need thus creating away more once (but with the scratch to ‘recycle’, to care) possible greatest textold the at man which which material on that irreplaceable has recorded a new text re which leave to in order is the terrain, It is, in any case, a positive example of the recovery us with of a landfill and it imbues and transformation an optimistic spirit, and one that is full of challenges conscience ecological new a with and possibilities, And a new paradigm. which is moving us towards we must be though there do, even is still much to lieve in a possible futurelieve that can be better. Par the Spanish philosopher José Luis paraphrase To so useful never was say that waste we could do, - - - - - , because the natural state which was lost which was state per se, because the natural is especially so when the spaces are the spaces is especially so when of the the fruit recovery are of landfills and when they veryto close and environmental a landscape (from unique places of Park Regional standpoint) such as the Southeast Madrid. its from stems relevance case, any In project’s this the threeof this that attainment main objectives typeof intervention required:- resolving a com free pub a new, producing plex problem, technical lic space and constructing a new landscape via the a new landscape via the and constructing lic space of the topog of soil and the manipulation creation - a fullnot is it that recov be affirmed It could raphy. ery ‘reinvention’ a is it Rather, recovered. be never can - lies in changing the attitude of man to whose value of deterioration. landscapes and areas wards that the limits have been has confirmed This project metropoli a on are we that operating and diffused that we are It has confirmed scale in the territory. tan everything about mindful everything that and re quires mindfulness, both the city and the landscape; that is if the two one and the same. are not already need and inhabit the planet as a whole, not on- We a clear this case reveals ly the cities, and therefore It also reflectscommitment evolution. the and rapid soci our of and man of contemporaryof architects, - gen ety of waste the addressing to of the problem of our environment. and the contamination eration ri-vista
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Fig. 34 — Wetlands in the Valdemingómez Forest Park, a new ecosystem. Growth of the landscape over time (photo: Israel Alba).
88 Alba 89 ------Land (eds.) Colafranceschi D. , in Metafora lona. - Land (eds.) Colafranceschi , in D. Proceso J. 2007, Corner Bar Gili, Gustavo Editorial , habitarlo para palabras scape+100 p. 158. celona, y artificio. El ideal fluxus. in Naturaleza Terra J. 2009, Corner , contemporáneos y el paisajismo pintoresco en la arquitectura Contemporánea, Arquitectura de Compendios I., Ábalos Ed. Barcelona. Gili, 133-147. pp. Gustavo Editorial - mismos paisajes. Ideas e interpretac Los 2005, T. Galí-izard Gili, Barcelona. Gustavo iones, Editorial and the art Sub-urbanism of memory 2003, S. , ArchiMarot - London. Association, tectural 2007, S. Marot Bar Gili, Gustavo Editorial , habitarlo para palabras scape+100 p. 127. celona, residuos sólidos urbanos de la ciu- Los L.Ocaña robles 2003, de del Ayuntamiento Ambiente de Medio dad de Madrid, Área Madrid, Madrid. Artículos y hermosa la basura. tan J.L. Nunca fue Pardo 2010, Galaxia Barcelona.ensayos, Editorial Gutenberg, the monuments of Passaic, of A tour New R.Smithson 1967, pp. vol. 6, n. 4. Magazine», «Artforum-International Jersey, 48-51. - Land (eds.) Colafranceschi . in D. Proyecto M. 2007, Treib Bar Gili, Gustavo Editorial , habitarlo para palabras scape+100 161. pp. 159; celona, Landscape+100 palabras para habitar para palabras Landscape+100 2007, D. Colafranceschi Barce Series, Land&Scape Gili, Colección Gustavo lo, Editorial - - - - cen th , «Landscape «Landscape , Área de Medio Ambiente del Ayuntamiento de Ma- del Ayuntamiento Ambiente de Medio Área Landscape as infrastructure as Landscape 2009, P. langer e Nunca fue tan hermosa la basura hermosa la basura tan his essay Nunca fue Alluding to A term used to define the artistic movement which came define the artistic came movement which used to A term The landscape, more than the buildings, is the generating The landscape, more than the buildings, is the generating A leachate is any liquid that, is A leachate of passing through in the course force behind a metropolis and therefore it is appropriate to to it is appropriate and therefore behind a metropolis force aspect of urbanism. it the central make tury an artistic and which uses the landscape as the base for intervention in which the work of art and the landscape are in- joined. separably References - de Valdem Medioambiental El Complejo 2002, VV.AA. ingómez, 4 drid, Madrid. Rehabil Valdemingómez. de Forestal Parque 2003, VV.AA. de un vertedero de Medio de residuositación , Área urbanos de Madrid, Madrid. del Ayuntamiento Ambiente Act Madrid, Editorial Reciclando J. 2000, Ábalos I., Herreros, Barcelona. ar, 2003, Ambiente Medio de Área Madrid, de Ayuntamiento de un vert Rehabilitación Parque Forestal de Valdemingómez. edero de residuos urbanos, Madrid, p. 10. de la metrópoli. Del paisaje romántico Batlle E. El jardín 2011, - Land&S , Colección una ciudad sostenible al espacio libre para Gili, Barcelona, p.69. Gustavo Editorial cape Series, B 3 2 Endnotes 1 matter, extracts soluble or suspended solids or any other suspended solids or any other soluble or extracts matter, which it has passed. through of the material component . was never so beautiful) (Waste about in the United States in the second half of the 20 the of half second the in States United the in about Journal», vol. 28 n. 1. Wasteland rehabilitation in rural landscape: a project in the Verona plain
Andrea Bortolotti
ri-vista Latitude Platform [email protected] Marco Ranzato Latitude Platform [email protected]
01 2018 Abstract This contribution presents a design exploration for the rehabilitation of a dumpsite in the mu- nicipality of Isola Rizza, Verona (Italy). In the Verona plain, a former district of brick production seconda serie left in its wake a cluster of water basins and wastelands that are today distinctive of the land- scape and object of a territorial dispute among landowners, public administrations, and the lo- cal community. A project for the rehabilitation of one of those wastelands, converted into a dumpsite, has been recently developed. It considers the idea of re-organizing the circulation of waste materials and soil involved in the remediation to implement a public park. Although the project has been facing the little consideration given by local regulations to integrated design, it clearly shows the capacity of systemic design to tackle rehabilitation challenges while offering potential spaces integrated with the local ecological and slow mobility networks. Keywords Dumpsite Rehabilitation, Integrated Design Project, Wetlands, Verona Plain
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: July 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 90 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22961 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Bortolotti, Ranzato 91 - - - - - tlements that stretches all along the Po river basin - Vero the Instead, 2000). (Turri, Venice to Turin from ar as a depressed, mainly rural na low lands appear ea where industrial and agricultural activities clus activities where agricultural and industrial ea medi- specialized districts of small and around ter um enterprises. in the up- growth, economic During the post-war landscape, wet a Verona’s former the partof per – the city kilometres dozens of of Verona from few – a dis South towards river bends where the Adige industrial production a proto trict flourished around of works hydraulic Before bricks. of construction river overflows, prevented and diversions the dykes releasing spill over this low-lying area used to water Given this resource, many brick deposits of fine clay. Most over the time in the area. established furnaces ex beside pits where the clay was arose furnaces of soil. Many removing the shallowest layers tracted spread two deep, of meters on average pits, clay over the landscape at the expense of agriculture. the mining activi- on, between and 1970, 1950 Later ty underwent a significant development.to Thanks deeper – that allowed digging modern technologies infiltration water controlling and – meters six to up clay pits the landscape of operations, during digging further expanded. the deep mining and the Due to started table, landscape reclaimed the water high The mining ac back. wet character its former get to - - - Introduction was of wetlands system vast ancient times, a In (North stretching over the low plain south of Verona between along the borders the Veneto of Italy) East regions. These wetlands originated and Lombardy –in the depression rivers between the Po and Adige two of Italy’s –occupying more mayor watercourses At (Mastini, 2013). hectares of surface than 30,000 low lands were replenished by that time, the Verona the flooding of the of and by a number two rivers carvedformerly into flowed that riverbeds springs 1). (fig. grounds marshy into and rambled ex a large like looked These extended wet areas panse of reeds, wet meadows, shallow lakes, and and shallow lakes, panse of reeds, wet meadows, wil- and woods of poplars scattered hygrophilous of one of the most “spectacle ex the lows, offering of foot the at backcountry tensive Italy”, in marshes cycles of on, different Later the Alps (Mastini, 2013). reclamationland Romans,the occurred:by initiated Republic, were- they con by the Venetian continued the Through in the 1950s. State cluded by the Italian - and the realiza regimentation of the watercourses territorythe and bridges, canals, locks new of tion economic dried up. The post-war progressively was happened in Northern Italy place boom which took urbanization this reason, Also for here a little later. than in other parts of the so-calledis less dispersed an extended Padana, tapestryMegalopoli of set ri-vista
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tivity advanced at such a pace that, in the sole small lations and it was common practice to use the ex- municipality of Ronco all’Adige – 6.000 inhabitants, hausted open pits as dumpsites for unsorted waste the clay pits have covered up to half of the total mu- materials. This occurred to many pits in the Vero- nicipal surface (fig. 2) (Veneto Progetti, 2009). na plain. Official information about the use of -ex The temporal succession of dry and wet conditions hausted open pits as dumpsites is not available, yet sounds remarkable for the history of this apparent- there is a common agreement about the dissemi- ly ordinary landscape (see Latitude Platform, 2015). nation of this practice as well as a diffuse apprehen- However, the soil exploitation talks only for the sion about the risk related to it. The exhausted pits most visible part of the recent socio-natural trans- have become the receptacle of hazardous materi- formations occurred in the area. Before the 1980s, als, which endanger the quality of the underground 92 the mining activity had very little laws and regu- waters. Bortolotti, Ranzato 93 - gional natural areas worth of conservation areas - gional natural (Provin 1994). cia di Verona, - and Region It is known that, European nowadays, and directives the ecological recognize al programs plant many for have habitats these that importance and animal species, whose biological cycle is related migratory birds. are for They resting areas water. to in regulating They floods events. have a role They They of water. treatment the natural to contribute with respectlong history the to are also meaningful with the landscape,of human activities and interplay all For and are a landmark of the local identity. thus are landscape reclamation programs these reasons, - Besides the celebra high in the political agenda. tion of these wetlands as regional biodiversity hot spots, an integrated process of reclamation has to process spots, an integrated issue pollution the tackle to order in out worked be caused by their past exploitation as dumpsites. and opportunities constraints Regional of a comprehensive regionalWithin the framework - Rov all’Adige, clay pits of Ronco vision, the former the asset for become could and Isola Rizza erchiara man- landscape and environmental an integrated in- for agement. (see authors the studies by Other investigated already have 2011) Ranzato, stance of rehabilitation of the former possible scenarios On strategies. territorial clay pits within integrated ------Today, in the Verona plain, brick production has de brick production plain, in the Verona Today, clined. Due to the crisis of the regional real estate estate of the regional the crisis clined. Due to real market, laws of stricter and the introduction and indus brick the activity, mining the for concessions try and the local min- recession has known a strong result, a As disappeared. activity almost ing has filled partially been have pits former the of some be returned agriculturereplantedto be with to to or part of the aban- the great poplar trees. However, rule the landscape in to doned clay pits continues expanses. have an in- They water of many the form in the contemporarydissoluble presence landscape and memory life the and in of the local area of the number has been convert A certain community. How- for sport fishing. farms or ponds fish ed into animals and plants have repopulated all over, ever, biodiversity typicalwith a great of the transitional and terrestrial environments.zones between water recalls the original local land- This wet condition and hygrophilous by marshes scape characterized banks, slope medium have pits former The woods. hedge with thick vegetation sometimes covered lawn other times with well-maintained rows, and ex 3). The ensemble of wet areas (fig. tree rows of Ronco municipalities the ha over 500 for tending is a unique re and Isola Rizza Roverchiara all’Adige, biodiversi rich its of Because region. the for source some of the wetlands are among the re enlisted ty, opposite pageopposite is Hydrography in the Po Valley. plain Verona 1 — The Fig. crosses River The Adige are in grey. built up areas in black, in the North the to foothills the mountain the plain from passing by the city South channels on of Verona. drainage ri-vista
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the one hand, the former clay pits can play a fun- By contrast, the clay pits have also negative impli- damental role for the regulation of the local wa- cations on the water cycle. With the withdrawal of ter cycle. They can provide an important volume to the top clay soil layer, the mining activity has al- stock water and regulate seasonal excess, shortage, tered the groundwater table so that it flows under and water quality. The area surrounding the former pressure few meters below the ground surface and pits of Ronco all’Adige, Roverchiara and Isola Rizza which today re-emerges in the open clay pits. In ad- is periodically facing flood risk and, due to the high dition, fish farms require a constant water temper- water demand by agriculture during dry summer ature and circulation, which is provided by extract- periods, water shortage. At present, these opportu- ing groundwater with steady temperatures from nities have not been fully taken into account by lo- deeper aquifers. The water is then discharged, both 94 cal regulations. by gravity and through pumps, into the surface wa- Bortolotti, Ranzato 95 - - it is stimulating local associations of environmen in local activi- engagement and grassroots’ talists, ties and development. An example in this respect is of nature pho- by the of a group experience offered in the span of how, which have shown tographers, like measures appropriate through and 10 years, of wet a variety create to levels water graduating processes can trigger an abandoned clay pit areas, complexity. ecological a strong regenerate able to for place nesting the become has area the Indeed, - amphibians have reap species and rare many birds’ (Mastini, 2013). peared - wa compensate therefore clay pits could The former landscape quality stresster and biodi- increase and sound and low cost an ecologically versity through water ex of the profile the slopes’ design. Softening benefit the bio- instance, would greatly panses, for surface the transitional It would increase diversity. - - - ter network. As a result, the aquifer is largely ex network.ter a result, As is largely the aquifer posed to the activities taking place on surface, en surface, on place taking activities the to posed the percolation of fer increase risk to the gendering Aq- the ground. into pollutants and others tilizers the localuifer’s is a serious issue for contamination depends supply water drinking whose community, presence the of due to Periodically, on groundwater. network,supply the in inmunicipalities the nitrates at the request of are forced, of Verona the province that ordinances enact to board, water Regional the In 2014). (Albi, water public of the use the prohibit preserve to order the quality of po- and availability dothat measures long-term integrated water, table are needed.finances the scarce public on weight not On the other hand, the clay pits can be revitalized between number of interactions a greater foster to and the local community. environment the natural as the imaginaryFeeding is key, of its inhabitants — The former clay pits of Ronco all’Adige, Roverchiara, and Isola Rizza. (Photo: Basilio Rodella Bams Photo, Consorzio di Bonifica Consorzio Photo, Bams Basilio Rodella (Photo: and Isola Rizza. Roverchiara, all’Adige, of Ronco clay pits Fig. 3 — The former Veronese). pageopposite black; the in water, and the pits filled with water Surface and Isola Rizza. Roverchiara, all’Adige, clay pits of Ronco Fig. 2 — The former groundwater of the catchment, a section dark lines pattern; horizontal grey filled up pits, in light gray; the floodable areas, in dark gray; by the authors. Elaboration Veneto. lines. Source: dotted white Regione levels, ri-vista
01 2018 zone and enhance the roots filtering capacity of the tration, leaving the area in public hands once fin- wooded hedgerows. Although the former clay pits ished with the reclamation. According to the pro-
seconda serie represent a great opportunity for the area, their pri- posal, the excavated waste would have to be allo- vate ownership regime makes it still difficult to -im cated in a municipality’s landfill nearby, the expan- agine an integrated development. For some time, lo- sion of which is still pending approval. In order to cal municipalities have advanced different propos- transform it in a new public green area, the ground als to return the quarries to the community through would have to be filled with gravel and topsoil from public-private partnership. certified excavation sites as well as with the uncon- taminated soil eventually found on site (Simone et The vision for the Polandro, Isola Rizza al., 2014, R02.1). A concern arose about the fact that The project for the rehabilitation of the Bastiello the future public green area would come to exist in a quarry, in the municipality of Isola Rizza, provides an rural environment, mainly surrounded by agricultur- interesting example of public-private partnerships al fields. It was hence thought to carefully measure developed around a former clay pit that is now a the intervention scope with respect to the needs of wasteland. The Bastiello quarry belongs to a private the possible future users. land of 40.000 m2 located not far from the urban In order to frame the project within a wider plan- centre of Isola Rizza, in the Polandro area (approx. 1 ning strategy, the Water Board Consorzio di Bonifi- km). During the 1980s, this former clay pit has been ca Veronese (responsible for the surface water man- heavily exploited as dumpsite (fig. 4). Nowadays, it agement in the catchment of the Verona plain) took appears as a barren wasteland, which hides the un- over the initiative to propose a possible integration derground environmental damage. In 1992, the site of the project with other ongoing local initiatives. has been sequestered and since then is pending for The water board was interested in the implemen- remediation. In 2009, the quarry has been included tation of a system of touristic paths, which would in a priority list of sites to be reclaimed by the prov- enhance the existing pedestrian and cycling mobili- ince of Verona (Simone et al., 2014, R02.1). Recent- ty along the rivers’ embankments and the rural dirt ly, a local private waste management company in- roads. terested in enlarging its business offered to recov- Within this framework, the design practice Latitude 96 er the site without any cost for the local adminis- Platform has been appointed to develop, in collab- Bortolotti, Ranzato 97 - - - - - Just in front of the shallow depression resulting of the shallow depression resulting Just in front aris counterpart a raised removal, the waste from es on the opposite side,es on the opposite build a privileged shaped to landscape. the surrounding point of view towards up of with the digging site the up of The cleaning on the one side,waste the carryover of new topsoil are- con the park on the other, of and the realization as a single interventionceived re to also in order Depression and costs. operational the general duce very this of signs as stand excava would last relief the of up cleaning and extraction After process. tion pit is meant clay waste, of the former the hollow the ground for be only partiallyto covered in order 3 m (approx. table water be just above the to level on deposited be will soil good the of Most deep). rise new The relief. the form to area the of side one - of magnitude of an excavation pro the order makes abandoned readable, while in the surrounding cess - hides the excavation depth. The real pits the water of an ‘observatory’ization and of a large top at the slope responds the need of ex to slightly vegetated landscape.- periencing the whole surrounding Rath made with visual barriers er than enclosing the area to open be would site the fences, or treeof masses re is relationship visual landscape.the strong The the site path connecting vived also by the entering - there the urban cen to and from the main road to tre. The slow mobility network would extend the to - - oration with the Water Board and the local munici- Board with the Water oration - The pro area. for the design reflections some pality, presence, the account into in the imme posal take diate vicinity, of two ancient buildings of hydraulic of two ancient buildings of hydraulic vicinity, diate renregimentation, one of which has been recently - - as an ‘Ecomu and that will open, eventually, ovated the history displaying seum’ of the local landscape. of the surrounding the unique value It considered that, landscape agricultural by although threatened is and fragmentation, degradation environmental extension favouring by open large still characterized already amenities the and views, panoramic broad be thought that could area present in the Polandro the Concerning park. new the with one-thing a as last point, that another clay pit relevant it appeared functions as today previously recovered in the area to sport fishing pound dedicated water an artificial by a local space as a semi-private and is managed a pri- angling, this recreational association. Beyond by urban settle the close wood patch towards vate - has been repopulated with a va ment of Isola Rizza riety by the of tree species and it is made available purposes. educational and recreational owner for - mainly advan The strategy designed by Latitude of excava - The operation on the earthworks. tages of the park. tion is at the centre of the conception the an exception into introduce is to idea The core predominanthorizontalitylandscape. plain the of opposite pageopposite del in the ‘Parco is located Bastiello dumpsite 4 — The Fig. vision for part larger of a ideally a public park Polandro’, buildings (Gangaion hydraulic of ancient the valorization and the regional slow-mobility and Vecchia) and Botte river. and the Adige roads along rural tracks touristic 2014). Platform, Latitude (Photo: ri-vista
01 2018 other important natural and historical spots of the like the nearby wood-patch and the rural landscape surroundings. The new park is designed to be flex- of the Polandro area, are visual cornerstones around
seconda serie ible and open to a variety of uses served by two which the accessibility to the site is re-shaped. Tech- fixed elements: a projecting roof in the lower part, nical issues and landscape features are combined almost hidden at the level of the campaign, and an in order for the space to offer a multiplicity of func- equipped platform in the highest point (fig. 5,6,7). tions. For a rural landscape facing struggling econo- my, multiplying the opportunities related to a project Conclusions is deemed more than an option. In a large part of the Verona plain where land recla- The proposal for the rehabilitation of the Bastiello mation had largely shaped the landscape, wetlands quarry, however, also highlights that, unlike a mere have returned as legacy of the mining activity. The technical intervention, a design project could also post-natural ecologies generated in the former clay upset arrangements and assumptions underlying pits are now recognized as integrated part of to- the initial proposal. While expanding synergies, the day’s landscape: into these wastelands, new natu- design process brings out potentials and win-win ral cycles are taking place; they are considered im- combinations that conflict with rigid private-pub- portant ecological carrying structures and ecosys- lic agreements and dictates of current praxis. In the tem service providers; not only academics and pro- agreement between the private company appoint- fessionals, but also citizens and local associations ed for the dumpsite rehabilitation and the munic- acknowledge their value and struggle for their con- ipality, waste materials are brought to a sanitary servation. landfill located in a nearby municipality and owned The design project conducted by Latitude for the re- by the same company. Instead, ‘costly’ quality soil habilitation of the Bastiello quarry, one of this former is brought to the site in order to fill the ‘new’ hol- clay pits, reveals the systemic character of design – low. In the region, this is praxis in dumpsite remedi- versus narrow, technical understandings of the area. ation. Notwithstanding, the design project consid- The proposal advantages on the inner qualities of the ers the opportunity of partially preserving the wet clay pits landscape and places the intervention with- character of the area which will appear after reme- in a wider natural and recreational regional network. diation. Accordingly, the area whose imprint corre- 98 In the project, the elements surrounding the site, sponds to the former clay pit would be only partially Bortolotti, Ranzato 99 — The vision for the Polandro: an open park made of a large and soft slope visually and spatially connected to the surroundings surroundings the to connected spatially and visually slope soft and large a of made park open an Polandro: the for vision The — 5 Fig. 2014). Platform, Latitude (Photo: axonometricareas, view. 2014). Platform, Latitude longitudinal section. (Photo: the Polandro: 6 — The vision for Fig. the proposal: at the core of the project the idea illustrates The image the landscape observatory. the Polandro: Fig. 7 — The vision for 2014). Platform, Latitude landscape (Photo: horizontal of a vast point in front single elevated exception of a privileged, ri-vista
01 2018 filled in order for the ground to just exceed the level could bring solutions that go beyond and challenge of the water table. current practice but systemic ideas could result use-
seconda serie The proposal also foresees that most of the soil less if the institutional arrangement is rigid and/or originally intended to fill the remediated pit is in- design comes late in the process. stead located just on the side to form an observa- The design vision for the Polandro has howev- tion point. Ultimately, the design process could er found the interest of the local administration have gone even further, especially if local legal pro- and was used as a strong point during a past elec- cedures were more flexible. The rise envisioned tion campaign (2014). Besides the willingness of in the project could have been designed consider- the local municipality and the positive reception ing the re-use of the non-dangerous waste of the of its citizens, the project was stuck in the bureau- dumpsite itself. In other words, a more consistent cratic machine. Therewith, soon after a strong crit- hypothesis could have been considered, that is sort- icism aroused around the real sustainability of the ing the waste extracted, securing it by isolating the entire process. Some local politicians and citizens’ non-dangerous waste, covering the top soil with a committees have pointed out that the disposal of water-tight foil, and placing the non-dangerous 13,000 cubic meters of non-dangerous waste – out waste for rising the observation point. Projects like of the overall estimated 25,000 cubic meters which the Volgermeerpolder in Holland (Vista Architects), will be extracted from the dump site – was used by the Vall d’en Joan in Spain (Battle and Roig), or the the private company to obtain the permit needed to Freshkills Park in the US (Field Operations) have extend their own landfill located in the nearby mu- shown how it is possible to secure environmen- nicipality. Critics also contested that the company’s tally damaged sites such as former sanitary land- landfill expansion was explicitly required in order for fills while including new park-like uses on the same the private company to raise the bill for carrying out site. Actually, during the process, the design con- the remediation of the Bastiello quarry (Simone et sidered the possibility for a shorter cycle of mate- al., 2014, R03.1). In a time where the new regional rial reuse. However, the option was difficult to prac- waste plan excludes the opening of new landfills, tice because it would have asked for further studies the entire operation has been strongly criticized as and, in short, it would have altered the established a ploy of the private company to extend its activi- 100 private-public agreement. This shows how design ty and business (Vesentini, 2014). Paradoxically, the Bortolotti, Ranzato 101 ------Proget Rapporto V.A.S. Rapporto ambientale, V.A.S. Le zone umide nel veronese tra passato e pre e passato tra veronese nel umide zone Le Rassegna dei casi di inquinamento nelle acque sia Rassegna dei casi di inquinamento Albi L. 2014, e Provincia, paper presentedVerona a superficiali che profonde di Verona”, delle acque in provincia stato “Lo at the conference unpublished. Verona, 01.02.2014, , Rese and Stories Traces Landscape 2015, Platform Latitude arch report for the Consorzio di Bonifica Veronese, Verona, un- Verona, Veronese, di Bonifica the Consorzio arch report for published. 2013, B. Mastini zia. 2009, Progetti, Veneto , in Atti e Memorie dell’Accademia di Agricoltura Scienze di Agricoltura dell’Accademia e Memorie , in Atti sente Verona. di Verona, e Lettere 21 - , Agenda naturale L’ambiente 1994, di Verona, Provincia Verona. dell’Ambiente, sullo Stato Rapporto a decentralized design for water Integrated M. 2011, Ranzato thesis, University of Trento. urban landscape, Ph.D. - R02.1 M. 2014, M., A., Angeloni Condorelli P., Simone l’Ampliamento Definitivo per di Bonifica, Progetto Definitivo to Lo D1 per Rifiuti non di Smaltimento Pericolosi in dell’Impianto (VR) di Zevio di Bonifi- e Progetto Bianca in Comune calità Ca’ S.r.l. (VR) di Isola Rizza Bastiello in Comune , INERTECO ca Cava - Proget M. R03.1 M., 2014, A., Angeloni Condorelli Simone, P., dell’Im- l’Ampliamento per Definitivo Progetto Definitivo, to Località per Rifiuti non D1 di Smaltimento Pericolosi in pianto (VR)Cava di Zevio di Bonifica e Progetto Bianca in Comune Ca’ S.r.l. (VR) di Isola Rizza Bastiello in Comune , INERTECO Editore, Megalopoli Padana, Marsilio Vene La E. 2000, Turri References - Co del territorio, , in «Piano di Assetto sul Quadro Conoscitivo all’Adige». mune di Ronco per la discarica Cà in vista Ampliamento G. 2014, Vesentini - August
01 2018 Abstract Sanitary landfills still today represent one of the most widely applied methods of waste man- agement. However, the characteristics of this type of plant represent a particular challenge seconda serie for the environment due to the potential release of pollutants, for the surrounding area as the plant may affect local organization and functions, and for the landscape as both the size and the morphology of a landfill may establish new relationships with the landscape. In the case of older landfills, reclamation measures are frequently required, although these can be undertaken to enable co-existence with modern waste disposal operations based on an inte- grated system of waste management, and should be included by land-use urban planning as a place of mutual interest to the community. The more modern types of landfill designed based on criteria relating to waste technologies and management developed to reduce the impact produced on the environment and the local area, may provide an opportunity to intervene with large-scale projects and thus restore spac- es for community use and even provide a benefit. Based on these premises, it would be par- ticularly interesting to focus on the possibility of future reclamation of the landfills under con- struction at the design stage by applying an approach that takes into account future use from a technical and, economical perspective from the outset. Keywords Afteruse, Waste, Landscape, Territory Planning, Community
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: May 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 102 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22973 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Artuso, Cossu 103 ------facili waste the way This planning. territorial local struc urban other with integrated ty fully be would tures (intended as the locations on which the at the which on locations the as tures (intended than communitythe of focused),rather is tention of exclubeing seen merely- as the consequence by dictated limitations or concealments and sions de planning and Moreover, emergency. of state a at the consent obtaining sign should strive towards than and in no case later time of decision-making, be should never The consensus siting of the works. mode,considered in retrospective especially in the carried out by opposition of an organised presence the populations concerned. it is no longer of quality In terms of the local terrain, extensive areas earmark to practice a sustainable be occupied by landfill, although the importance to varymay issue on this placed the ref to according land countries, some In contexterenceconcerned. condition aimedreclamation is a firmly established an from under threat quality of life at guaranteeing and popula- industrial development uncontrolled use of the land in ques necessitating tion growth 1). In this regard, a of misuse (fig. tion and avoidance landfill value in line with therepresents a potential The functional reclacontext in which it is located. - Wan, Jor Tso (Sai landfills mation of the Hong Kong example. is a concrete etc.) Shuen Wan, dan Valley, land, of virgin on areas landfills, all sited The latter - - - - - General aspects and state-of-the-art aspects General is consistently management Municipal solid waste interrelationship between- a strong tech to linked and society. the environment, the terrain nology, In the past, of although in the presence of a dearth interrelationshipthis was technologies, disposal interventions, of scale small the by the concealed mobilityscarce the the of density, population low times absent) envi- (at population and by a limited and awareness. economic Subsequent ronmental the visibility of land has raised growth demographic waste issues deriving from use and environmental transport, of technologymanagement. Means and mo increased an promoted all have Internet the bility the possibility and enhanced of a widespread a region. throughout contact residual to spaces The locality provides no longer disposal but dic the purpose of waste be used for should be systems management how waste tates land use plan link as part of an overall comprised in a process of the local area areas ing the diverse identifyingultimately use of the are the intended community. organised of an context the as within an from evolves the disposal of waste Accordingly, foster to intended and tool inexpert a process into of land use. The planning activity under new forms of a waste and realization pinning the management should represent to a contribution disposal facility ri-vista
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Fig. 1 — Garbage piles up at a temporary garbage dump in the eastern suburb of Beirut (photo: Joseph Eid).
were identified as valuable land to be used in creat- munity consensus. These options are considera- ing leisure facilities and green spaces that were in- bly limited by the fact that landfills are conceived to evitably lacking throughout the territory. represent the final solution for a specific area, with When envisaged, the functional reclamation of the reclamation not being taken into account during majority of landfills consists mainly in the siting of the important design stage. The limitations to be revegetation works on the final cover with the aim addressed during this process are linked mainly to of mitigating impact, although these works are fre- management of the waste volumes concerned. In- quently limited to a mere restyling that rarely leads deed, aboveground waste void space is developed to an effective functional reuse of the area. to allow the deposition of as much waste as possi- However, numerous cases of functional reclamation ble, resulting in the formation of masses that signif- of old landfills have been described worldwide, at- icantly limit re-use options. Old landfills, initially de- testing the real possibility of undertaking works for veloped with a specific intended use, although not the good of the community. Thanks to a cultural ap- strictly viewed as pollutants, constitute a potential proach that tends to view this type of work favoura- ‘polluting’ presence on the area that frequently de- bly, and due to a general lack of space, old landfills in face the landscape and functionality of the area (for Spain, Japan and China (for example) are frequently example the typical tronco-pyramidal shape, etc.). used for the purpose of creating urban green spaces with leisure and sport facilities. After use of landfills: 3 potential scenarios of in- Options resulting in a renewed use of areas are re- tervention quired to undergo a decisional/design process When considering the reuse of an existing landfill or aimed at assessing the most appropriate final hypothesising the functional use of a landfill yet to choice in terms of land reclamation, impact on the be constructed, the main features to bear in mind 104 landscape, environmental sustainability and com- are: environmental conditions, technologies used to Artuso, Cossu 105 - ery of an environmentally compromised situation ery situation compromised of an environmentally and re-establish area. with the surrounding links viewpoint,were morphological a landfills old From without any consideration constructed invariably with the sole the landscape or urban planning, for limits de with the height of complying constraint at the time of Authorities competent fined by the maximise to authorisation. In an attempt the ca- landfills were frequently- devel pacity of the facility, ground above to oped without paying due attention of volumes, thus resulting in the formation waste the improbable-shaped masses that interrupted lines of the landscape.natural A recurrent skyline formation represented troncopyramidal a by was that, laws to enforced although designed according maximum of terms (in height, time the at slopes, mark and permanent anthropic left an invasive etc.) on the landscape. The resulting land conformation intervention, of the choice significantly limited with the pre-existingconstituting a highly visible landfill would project element with which the restoration be required interact. to carried out project functional rehabilitation A good - - tal reclamationtal or recovery extension which in (or operational struction or areworks required) etc. be deposited, volumes to may waste siting, not be known). Scenario A | Old landfills: when intended use is dic- is use intended when landfills: Old | A Scenario by the shape tated from of an old landfill is characterised Reclamation view of thethe outset by a predominantly negative intervention: reclaim; to the recov- i.e. undertake to ing landscape by siting of the landfill on the area. ing landscape by siting of the landfill on the in reuseFunctional of a landfill may be envisaged a follows: situations as series of different • A Existing- landfills of environmen requiring works con- Existing• B modern landfills either undergoing to (details relating to be designed still • C Landfills these situations there to are three differ According 2). (fig. ent scenarios mitigate impact,mitigate - the impact on land use and infra within the context structure exerted by the facility view landscaping in and has been sited, which it in on the exist elicited of transformation of the value — Scenarios of intervention (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). of intervention2 — Scenarios Fig. Studio (graphics: ri-vista
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seconda serie Fig. 3 — The El Garraf Massif, Barcelona. Project for a community park on the Val d’en Joan landfill drawn up by the architects Enric Battle and Joan Roig (source: Batlle I Roig Arquitectes archives).
as illustrated in figure 2 (scenario A) should there- Generally, a functional restoration and landscaping fore assign an appropriate role to the pre-existing project will need to address the issue of the complex landfill, without attempting to mitigate or conceal management of a landfill during the post-filling it, but rather seeing it as a means of interpreting stage. It will need to take into account the presence the entire project, continuing to testify the previous of the visible impact of some infrastructure (i.e. lea- life of the site. chate drainage and/or treatment plants, biogas ex- A relevant example to clarify this concept is provided traction plants, etc.), of subsidence and settling of by the restoration of the Hiriya landfill in Tel Aviv, an the waste, of the existing slopes and topography in impressive 60m high ‘mountain’ of waste distribut- general, of water management and layering of the ed over an area of more than 450.000 m2. The land- final cover. All these elements, if not assessed pre- fill restoration project, drawn up by Latz + Partner viously with a view to final recovery, will further lim- in 2004, provided for transformation of the area in- it any possible form of reuse. to one of the largest urban parks in the world, thus The landscaping and agronomic management of changing the aspect and features of the ‘mountain’ the site should be carefully investigated during the of waste from a negative element of the landscape planning stage. The area should be planted in order into a symbol of ecological renovation. The volume of to enhance a correct balance between surface run- the old landfill stands at the centre of the project like off, infiltration and evapotranspiration, thus pro- a large evocative totem, in clear view of visitors in all moting a correct control of infiltration water. corners of the park. Taking into account the pre-ex- Indigenous trees and shrubs are to be preferred, isting facility, the transformation of the Hiriya landfill having roots which are suited to the substrate and was designed as a sort of enormous theme park fo- leafy coverage to enhance run-off and evapotran- cussing on waste recycling and evolved into an inno- spiration. Herbaceous species should be fast stabi- vative centre for research on recycling technologies lizing, hardy and with a low degree of flammability. 106 that also hosts educational activities. In the scenario A, possible outcomes are represent- Artuso, Cossu 107 - - - - idation terraces, the containment banks and road road and banks containment the terraces, idation geometry the marked access of the landfill and de the placing of the pipelines requiredtermined by for electricity, generate plant to treatment the gas leachate. of the transfer and system the drainage objective,The third - of a new land the development the old land- scape, came with the desire merge to mor the Naturally, Park. Garraf Natural the with fill if phology changed has greatly today site of the the Garraf the original one. to compared However, that have been valleys cultivated comprises Park (fig. techniques agricultural of means by modified using the local geography 5) to purpose-adapted in or and cultivation drainage of terraces, systems requirementstechnical the meet to der closure of covering of the landfill. and final sawThe outcome of eleven the construction - with native drought-tol planted terraces stepped of the with integration species compatible erant set was system an irrigation landscape. Moreover, drainage An underground the area. up throughout liq- the pollutant separate to devised was system the park. irrigate to uids and recirculate the water used in the produc biogas The landfill also provided - - - in the natural Garraf Park, is still is still Park, Garraf Joan in the natural d’en Val today deemed a reference project of excellence for for of excellence project deemed a reference today this type restoration of intervention. for The project was drawn up by the Spanish archi- of the landfill in- sole one in and Roig, Joan and Batllé Enric tects tervention three aimed at achieving major as was taken throughout the world. throughout taken in landfill situated of the Barcelona Reclamation the creating solving a complex problem, technical pects: a new land- and providing a new community area 3-4). scape (fig. clo the from deriving issues technical complex The underpinned covering of the landfill sure and final behind the working hypothesis. This the rationale - consol of the stepped in the organization consist — The El Garraf Massif, Barcelona. Project for a community park on the Val d’en Joan landfill drawn up by the architects Enric Battle d’en a community park on the Val for Barcelona. Project Massif, 4 — The El Garraf Fig. archives). Arquitectes Batlle I Roig (source: and Joan Roig - leisure with by naturegreened or fa parks spaces cycle paths, tracks, motocross parks, cilities (theme model plane fields and sport and lei- courses, golf Other more complex and in general). sure facilities achieve. to are constructions hard structural in outcome a good achieve to possible It is however old of landscaping and reclamation functional the - fea by high qualitylandfills denoted architectural under by a wide series of projects tures, as attested ri-vista
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Fig. 5 — Project for a community park on the Val d’en Joan landfill: constructive and vegetation systems, inherited from traditional agriculture (source: Batlle I Roig Arquitectes archives). Fig. 6 — Project for a community park on the Val d’en Joan landfill: detail of plant walls, built of non-degradable products of the old landfill (source: Batlle I Roig 108 Arquitectes archives). Artuso, Cossu 109 - - - - - helped to create small, localized ecosystems. The The small, localized ecosystems. create helped to of both nature and city can be observedlife within. reclamation old the of general the for project The York, designed by James landfill in New ‘Fresh Kills’ is one of the most wide Field Operations, Corner existing landfill as it is the largest ly known. Firstly, worldwide.2001, the closure Since in of the landfill more of site urban this of significance and value the This considerably. changed have hectares 890 than Is Staten east of to the artificial landscape located an extraordinary as land is today the resource for its press with York New of population growing fast Fresh the of 45% Only green spaces. for need ing has actually been used as a landfill. The Kills site re that the extensive swamps features maining area since archipelago the New York have characterized environments of natural its origin. The wide variety and mi- indigenous numerous for a habitat forms gratory was animal species. The aim of the project Fresh a twenty Kills into centu- first transforming ry di- the large both urban park whilst maintaining of mensions and the essential underlying character 7). The buildings and the activities are (fig. the area leaving the rest thus to specific areas, all confined as possible. as open and natural of the site pe over a thirty-year will be completed The project com- stage ten-year challenging riod, with the first prising work on the northern and southern sections ------land fill proposes a model of continuity between the for continuity a model of betweenfill proposes the - as a pseudo-botani area, est and the surrounding - species seeking integra with indigenous cal garden (Southeast the Parque del Sureste tion into Regional a into Now it has been transformed Park). Regional free, paths and bicycle with pedestrian public area lanes, along with woods and wetlands, which have tion of electricity. Some wastes left on the top of of top left on the wastes Some tion of electricity. theto remind visitors cages steel the landfill in large 6). (fig. origin of the site transfor the curated who Alba Israel architect The landfill in Madrid landfill in Madrid the Valdemingómez of mation the re for The project a similar strategy. adopted of the Valdemingómez covery transformation and landfill - requiredcomplex the application of environ as well as new land- processes, engineering mental can this place Today, strategies. scape architectural city the into guarantees, full with incorporated, be structure, as long as it is seen as a monumental public space. capable of be It is recovered ground free, that can an- space metropolitan a new, coming espe swer the current and future needs of society, cially if it remains as such over time. in- undertaken project The landscape architectural an create to of new strategies volved the proposal remainwould that flexible open, dynam- and area equilibrium be time, for ic throughout in search tween city nature. and Valdemingómez The ri-vista
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Fig. 7 — Aerial view of Fresh Kills Park.
of the park (fig. 8). The implementation strategy is er than the post-management phase, not only en- based on a series of flexible and incremental steps hances the possibility of modelling the banking of aimed at ensuring a balanced execution of works new wastes in line with the project design (fig. 9), to close the landfill, start up the site management but also enables operations aimed at the function- processes and transform the area into a public park. al recovery and landscaping of the area that start when the landfill is still operational (e.g. in the pre- Scenario B | Intervention on operational landfills: the viously established closed sectors). In other words, use of waste as a plastic material in scenario B the intervention entails an immediate Reclamation works performed on a landfill will have functional use of the areas with a progressive in- a far greater chance of success when studied and volvement of other sectors. developed during the stage of active management The main difficulties encountered in the planning of the landfill (during the construction stage, during and design are due to the coexistence of the ongo- waste deposition or at the time of a potential ex- ing operations of waste deposition and remediation tension). Indeed, employing new wastes as a plas- of the landscape, thus requiring careful planning tic material, whose shape can be moulded, extends throughout. The establishing of a timeline repre- the pool of potential uses assigned to the project senting the chronological development of the pro- and provides greater freedom in reinventing the fi- ject is fundamental, and should scan the different nal configuration of the area (fig. 2 - scenario B). In operations in line with the state of waste deposition addition, it facilitate important budgetary savings in the landfill sectors (fig. 10) according to a series of in terms of material employed to modify the struc- future short, medium and long-term scenarios de- ture of the site. veloped over a period of no less than 30 years. 110 By intervening during the operational phase rath- The distribution of vegetation should be imple- Artuso, Cossu 111 - - - - the designated use of the site as a landfill, but rath- but as a landfill, use of the site the designated the since established, use ultimate the of in view er shape to contribute waste beginning of the project and model the final morphology of the landscape. the outset,- From the structure of the pro therefore with In line ject depend on the final use of the area. by the project, established the de the parameters as a plastic ma- today may be used wastes posited 2 - sce (fig. tomorrow for shape the area to terial nario C). between synergies the lo- operational Establish be to and the volume of waste cation, the form and language materials the architectural banked, - to the facilities, house of the buildings destined to of the project, will en- all other features with gether temporary first A as function. dual function a able of disposal and treatment with operations sociated moreof the waste, and a second permanent aspect dur determined use the future intended to linked 12). (fig. of landfill design ing the stage a new landfill The planning and design phase for all the necessary provides therefore to conditions - - - - Scenario C | Planned landfills: the project should be be should project the landfills: Planned | C Scenario use the intended to developed according on the basis not solely of When designing a project ing landscape and should be completed taking in- taking ing landscape and should be completed aspects described only the technical not account to above, but also the functional reclamation of the ar operations placement waste once be achieved to ea have been and the relativesectors have terminated the area covered. Plant distribution throughout in synergy envisaged be should with the therefore the func by for and functions provided operations 11). (fig. tion reclamation project ena- Furthermore, at this stage works undertaking that are more- bles the planning of operations com local involvement, a marked plex. It also foresees positive impact. a widespread thus promoting Ac should of an area valorisation for a project cordingly, specific aim of creatingin line with the be developed presentlocally the - manu with synergies important and entrepreneurial concerns. facturing mented in full compliance with the original exist in full compliance mented — Cross section of a landfill. The wastes used as a plastic material to shape the land (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). (graphics: to shape the land used as a plastic material wastes section of a landfill. The 9 — Cross Fig. — Chronological evolution of the landscaping of the Fresh Kills landfill, New York. of the landscaping of the Freshevolution Kills landfill, New 8 — Chronological Fig. ri-vista
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envisage a coherent contextual change in line with the operational phase of the landfill to effectively the needs of the locality. finance the carrying out of all works. The construction of a new landfill according to a pro- These important concepts, which should drive the ject aligned with the surrounding landscape and ur- planning and design of new landfills and shift the ban spaces is dependent on a fully integrated pro- focus of the designer, unfortunately often fail to be ject strategy and a multidisciplinary approach that taken into account. can only be achieved by relying on a team of design- ers with competence in numerous sectors (environ- Methodological approach mental engineering, geology, agronomy, landscape Generally speaking, designing a final solution for architecture). the area and studying the morphology and config- The abovementioned principles are however uration the site will possess once waste deposition deemed extremely innovative when compared with will be completed, implies an inherent need to iden- common practice as they dictate a change in the tify the relationship that the new development will terms of the project: we are no longer the designers establish with the surrounding natural and cultural of mere landfills, but rather of community spaces. landscape, thus determining the success of future In order to make provisions for the project as a relationships. Therefore, in order to define the re- whole, the planning of the intended future use of lationship of the facility with the local context the the area should be articulated on the basis of the forms assumed by the environment, the history of three subsequent levels of in-depth technical analy- the area, the locations, the presence of places of in- sis provided for by current law, i.e. a preliminary de- terest throughout the area, should all be examined sign, a definitive project and an executive project. in detail. The same happens to define what func- The study should imply detailed analysis to pro- tions it may fulfil and - in case of designing e.g. a vide for a detailed budgetary control from the out- park - what species of plants should be used to cov- 112 set. This will allow to accrue sufficient sums during er it. At the same time, it is to envisage the use of Artuso, Cossu 113 - - Arcoplan). excavated from the from excavated the banking of soils study of the project development and the and development Fig. 10 — ExampleFig. of a new areas undergoing undergoing new areas reclamation being works realised (graphics: Studio Studio (graphics: realised establishes a link between a link establishes timeline: the chronological elements characterising the area should be careful- the area elements characterising ly analysed in the light of the predominant factors. have been the main objectives of the project Once should in- the methodological process established, assessment of the territoryclude an accurate as de below: tailed 1. Analysis of the landscape and terrain areuse land and funda terrain the of Assessment of the analyse the predominant to features mental analysis of a detailed In particular, area. concerned - context and the dominant environ the agricultural is mandatory in identifying factors the linesmental - design and establish structuring the new landform ing the specific land use of the restored site. identification the in consists typeThis analysis of that will be in- components of the environmental volved in the project. is system The environmental elementarythus split into In the same components. this type of land use planning, as in routine way, of overlay mapping by means analysis is conducted - in which the major compo system of the natural - have been bro waterways, etc.) nents (elevations, down. ken - - - Assessment of the surrounding area elementary most the with line In land of principles the assessment of the surrounding use planning, undeniably represents the most important area drawing up of the prior to be undertaken to step and irrespective of the typeproject of intervention A, B, and C). be carried out (scenarios to any other type the re-naturalization of area, for As of a landfill, whether it be in at the or still existence an understanding to linked design stage, is largely structures present and the territorial in of the area and the of the area the integration enhance to order of necessaryestablishment bonds with the pre-ex tural term for rich, three-dimensional or sculptural for term tural element or building)presence of an architectural for the reconstruction of a coherent and redeveloped landscape. mainly on landscap- focus paragraphs The following and pub area the surrounding into integration ing, lic perception. structures.isting urban and natural The complexity of the wealth of the landscape and the waste mass as a ‘plastic’ architec the waste element (an ri-vista
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seconda serie 2. Analysis of the residential | infrastructural system Project requisites This assessment possibly represents the most im- Downstream of the outcomes of the preliminary portant stage of the preliminary analyses and is territorial analysis, the planning and design should fundamental in ascertaining the size of the catch- be developed to foster a harmonious insertion of ment area of potential users, also in view of the vi- the intervention in the local context, in respect of cinity/distance from the main towns and cities the morphology of the surrounding landscape by that will need to be taken into account. A thorough recreating the essential forms and lines of the spa- knowledge of the history of the area and of the ex- tial continuity. To reuse a landfill, the project should isting facilities is mandatory to identify a potential restore the terrain to its natural vocation, moreover lack of infrastructures and determine future rela- providing a benefit and meeting the requirements tionships. of the local community by bridging a potential gap in the lack of infrastructures. It should furthermore 3. Analysis of the productive system provide a series of educational, social, cultural and The existence and articulation of resources (under- leisure facilities to attract potential users. pinning the specific local characteristics) should be Moreover, the design concept should promote a highlighted: identification of the latter will contrib- positive outcome and economies of scale, bearing ute towards revealing the magnitude of the envi- in mind the economic feasibility of the transforma- ronmental values and pinpointing of those areas tion, and should strive towards creating an ‘export- displaying signs of incompatibility with potential able model’ to become a reference project in simi- transformation works. Subsequently, any existing lar contexts. restrictions should be examined. The success of a project will depend largely on the Analysis of prevalent activities: this should be car- consensus received from the local community who ried out to assess the possible links to the project will benefit from the presence of a quality-con- and to identify potential involvement of the local trolled environment, from local manufacturers and manufacturing industry (fig. 13). consumers. Two possible involvement process- 114 es are illustrated in figure 14. In the approach ‘En- Artuso, Cossu 115 - - ed directly to those proposals. Instead of objecting Instead ed directly those proposals. to support, will often they what many ‘champion’ even some de ‘their’by now consider project. However, still needed. is always fending Conclusions A sanitary as the last link in a cir landfill, intended as an endeavour should be conceived cular economy, of the op- the duration throughout that is developed will only of construction phase. erational Completion - — The project and potential involvement of the local manufacturing industry. The figure shows, in a matrix format, The figure a matrix shows, in the relationship industry. involvement of the local manufacturing and potential — The project gage-Design-Deliver’, some key representatives representatives some key gage-Design-Deliver’, the very in at of the wider community are brought - pro the of agreeand discuss startscope the to - with the techni ject and the involvement process than the start in the old longer This takes cal team. others many and group core the team, The model. Then, ‘Decide Together’. in the process then engage an to the proposals announce of having to instead unsuspecting public, of) not only (most the public contribut have will aware some but already be will Fig. 13 the of designedexploitation from obtained products associating the different system, between and the productive the design choices activities. and the local prevalent surfaces — Aerial view of the future use of a landfill site (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). (graphics: the future view of 12 — Aerial Fig. use of a landfill site ri-vista
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Fig. 14 — Involvement processes: diagram 1 - Decide-Announce-Defend (common process) - diagram 2 - Engage-Design-Deliver (recommended approach) (source: Jeff Bishop Studio).
be achieved once the global project has been termi- of the two life phases of the landfill itself: the op- nated. Accordingly, the operational phase of a landfill erational phase (temporary use as a landfill) and should be seen as an extension of the building. post-operational phase (final use created on the In a circular economy perspective, landfills occu- basis of the deposited wastes). Therefore, a pre- py an unavoidable rather than a disputable posi- cise time horizon and specific technical regulations tion and should be seen as a necessary facility in the should be established in line with the final intended same way as all other services a community relies use of the site as determined in the initial project. on. Indeed, it is the overwhelming need for landfills Municipal waste sanitary landfills should therefore to legitimize construction of the same and likewise be seen as an integral part of local area planning justifies the need to ensure they remain near the with a functional rather than a disposable intended community they serve. use. It should no longer be construed merely in the An environmentally sustainable landfill should as- light of its intended use, but as a process heralding sume programmatic significance through a planned the development of a new form of intended use. intervention that contributes towards the overall 116 design of the locality and meets the requirements Artuso, Cossu 117 - - - - Afteruse of landfills: Method- landfills: of Afteruse The profession of architectof golf courses, of profession The Per una pianificazione locale orientata ecolo orientata locale Per pianificazione una Problematiche della chiusura e post-chiusura e post-chiusura Problematiche della chiusura ological approach, project requisites and relationship with the Concepts, processes,territory landfilling: waste , in Sustainable R., pub Elsevier R., Stegmann by Cossu , edited technologies References A recoveredAlba I. 2015, landfill in the construction of a me n. 3. «Gli impianti per il golf», tropolis: Valdemingómez forest park, over time, in Proceedings forest Valdemingómez tropolis: Architecture, publish- CISA on Waste Workshop International Padova. er, reclamation Environmental E. of the Artuso 2012, A., Cossu landfill, in Urban Mining. controlled waste (PD) Campodarsego resource to A global cycle recovery approach waste, solid from - Pado publisher, Bisinella, CISA V. V.Salieri, by R.edited Cossu, pp. 408-414. va, E. stampa), (in Artuso A., Cossu Amsterdam. lisher, cheaper, Faster, communities: with Working Bishop J. 2015, Ar on Waste Workshop International , in Proceedings better! Padova. chitecture, publisher, CISA , Landscape and Symbolic Social Formation 1990, D. Cosgrove UK. Helm Ltd, Croom R. 1998, Cossu Nazionale Chiu- Convegno , in Atti delle discariche controllate - Edito CISA delle discariche controllate, e post-chiusura sura re, Cagliari. dei paesaggi riciclati, Skira Atlante G. 2014, De Poli M., Incerti editore, Milano. 1998, M. Fidio Di n. 6. , «Inquinamento», gicamente Linee guida per le discariche Discariche 1997, Tecnico Comitato di rifiuti solidi urbani, Cisa Editore,controllate Cagliari. Fieldwork, Birkhauser 2006, Architecture Europe Landscape LAE Foundation. , paesaggio del ambientale pianificazione La 1991, G. Maciocco Milano. Angeli, Franco of potential urban The 2011, S. Serreli G., Sanna G., Maciocco Milano. Angeli, , Franco external territories in contemporary Detail landscape architec 2008, - V. McLeod UK. King Publishing Ltd, ture, Laurence 1995, D. Mezzacane Rethinking the Spaces of Waste Management Infrastructure: towards integrated urban strategies to avoid urban solid waste in contemporary city ri-vista Saverio Massaro PhD in Architecture Theories and Design, Sapienza University of Rome [email protected]
01 2018 Abstract This paper examines the issue of solid waste management in urban contexts, by an architectur- al perspective. In light of the emerging waste crisis, this paper proposes to redesign and grad- seconda serie ually reintroduce waste management facilities in the urban tissue. The capacity to learn from trash can help to design a new generation of facilities, aiming to recover suburban areas and to re-establish a lost ecological balance. The paper underlines the need to radically reconsider the spatial articulation and the organiza- tional structure of the current waste management infrastructure, through an integrated ap- proach aiming to define a decentralized and distributed urban model. Finally, the paper explores heuristic potentials for architectural design, identifying hybrid figures and finding key actions to intervene in the contemporary city, inspired by the notion of ‘unblackboxing’. Keywords Architecture, Waste Management, Urban Metabolism, Strategic Design, Unblackboxing
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 118 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22972 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Massaro 119 - - En- If matter that is in a temporary that is in a If matter of uselessness state value usage back brings (waste), value of loss and (resource), necessary is therefore an ar develop to chitectural and urban imagery theirchitectural that integrates with rhythms and its rituals, and society, cyclewith cycles.ecological The aim of this reflectionto is the issue ofexamine per architectural an by management waste solid flows of resources have al- spective. Historically, - pro spatial and aesthetic consideration, had a ways aqueducts, mills, ducing new urban imaginaries: - con stations railway power plants, even fountains, of public interest, heritage an architectural stitute part of urban and territorial considered as integral morphology. Hypothesis An Operative History examples of how the relationship provides has been between agglomeration and urban waste over time, activityrephrased a continuous to thanks & Thrift, 2007). (Graham of repair and maintenance we observe the topographies Often to and believe - by artificial have been determined pro be ‘natural’ human resulting 2015), from Ramis, (Alba cesses landfills, cases are evident former Most activity. in Rome dei Cocci of Monte trace such as the historic Georgswerder or the more recent grass-covered ergy district of Hamburg. Hill in the Wilhelmsburg - - - - - Introduction are of goods and consumption production Today the most extensive in human his than any time tory. Waste generation, both domestic and indus generation, tory. Waste worldwide in tandem increase to trial, continues trends in consumption. Urbanization with growth there of will be about 9 billion inhabitants, (in 2050 of and the dynamics which 80% will live in cities) threat consumerism, capitalist the still widespread carryingens the environmental capacity. unsustainabili the from comes waste of issue The - environmen ty model that alters of a development If current and social balances. trendstal continue, the - genera waste in increase world may see a five-fold an develop to There need a is 2025. year the by tion - a sustaina promote to in order approach integrated circu a of frame the in management waste solid ble of notions of the spread Since lar urban metabolism. the need tocircular and urban metabolism, economy as a resource increasingly it is today waste consider fields and disciplines. in different common bring back the bulky presence of waste How to within the design of public space, city- and territo through ry? at the urban agglomeration Looking it ap- of urban metabolism, filter the conceptual as a body swollen and flooded by the many pears (Marvin unmanageable become have that wastes 2010). and Medd, ri-vista
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Fig. 1 — Madrid, aerial photograph. Relationship between the Valdemingomez landfill site and the city. (Photo: GoogleEarth 2014).
The capacity to learn from trash can help to design posting, disassembling, fixing, upcycling, dispos- a new generation of facilities and spaces, aiming to ing) and various additional equipment (vehicle park- recover suburban areas and to re-establish a lost ing spaces, temporary storage warehouses, spac- ecological balance. es for the promotion of reuse and upcycling, repair Current environmental policy is generally founded centres and creative recycling laboratories, spaces on the principles of the ‘waste management hierar- to house compaction or composting units). chy’, aimed to improve the selective collection and The combination of the activities previously men- make it more efficient through the application of tioned delineates new locational geographies, the proximity and self-sufficiency principles. which tend to be spatially organized according to Prevention is the hierarchically superior goal in fundamental principles: waste management strategy, according to the in- • Convergence: defined as a strategy pointing to one verted pyramid scheme. It is followed by prepara- side to catalyse existing flows, hybridizing them tion for reuse, recycling, recovery of various kinds, together with functions and spaces, and on the and finally disposal. Each stage corresponds to other to establish points of contact between the physical spaces to be designed and integrated with- life of the building, the urban waste cycle and a in the existing fabric, including different activities more efficient use of existing infrastructures. 120 (selecting, compacting, vending, transporting, com- • Synergy: establishing a network of simultane- Massaro 121 - - - - - Protocol (Carta & Lino, 2015), a planning proto planning a 2015), Lino, & (Carta Protocol © col aimed to reactivate the metabolism of an area. the metabolism reactivate aimed to col involves micro-interventions step The first and ur management facilities in the urban tissue, through facilities management incremental and adaptive approach, an interscalar, correspond dif to phases that based on different times and scales of intervention.ferent a period of choicesThe incremental proposes model between a balance for search based on the constant decisions in time to time from involved actors the respect be called upon to their ac that will no longer tions with a rigid design ex ante, will also but they its very to compete partial result Each definition. the starting in one phase becomes accomplished phase.subsequent the spac new Defining for point requires management three phases of waste es for intervention,- the Cityform as a reference taking ing - - - transportation in order to capitalize advantages advantages capitalize to in order transportation impacts. determine and to of relationsa system and complementary func cycles. metabolic tions that will activate typology with the dealing ance of urban tissue, networks,public spaces infrastructures. ous and reciprocal relations betweenous and reciprocal systems; • Hybridization: primary• Hybridization: to functions are connected founds its own bal- configuration • Adaptivity: each set up parame how these needs and goals It is clear infrastructure, both phys a new inter-scalar for ters ical and social, adaptive in relation the contexts to the specific functions and to required. issue,- waste hereIn light of the emerging is pro waste reintroduce redesignposed to and gradually • Intermodality: incorporating multiple modes of of modes multiple • Intermodality: incorporating — Top view of the Issean plant. Below, the unloading deck on the river Seine. Source: Syctom. plant. view of the Issean Below, 2 — Top Fig. pageopposite to the city landfill close centre. GmbH. Hamburg Credits: IBA view of the former top 1 —The Fig. ri-vista
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122 Massaro 123 - - tegic framework that stands for a dual design action, a dual design for that stands framework tegic hardware’ ‘urban the on simultaneously operating and on the ‘ur systems) (buildings, infrastructures, ban software’ (tactics, protocols, processes). protocols, (tactics, ban software’ and The inherent production link between waste the relevance consider to leads activities human active citi- of social performativity, of new forms (Timmeren, prosumership and zenship is It 2015). will collection separate sure that increasing not for waste and of consumption lower levels guarantee risk that efficiency There could a real is production. a further that legitimates as a factor be understood Furthermore recycling of consumption. increase in- commodities disposables new naturalized make redesign or reduction waste of foregrounding stead (MacBride 2011). degree be involved in of citizens must to A broader in the as remarked practices, management waste 2016’ Cities 2016). (UN-Habitat report latest ‘World the urban guide principles to Among the five key development, empowerment is indicated. citizens’ in- that, to to According action foresees the second tervene on the urban software. reduction the era, so-called the In Anthropocene’s nei- cannot only depend from stream of the waste nor industrial effi- innovation ther technological but it has required a rethinking of the rela- ciency, a less pas tions with things and waste, calling for - - - ban ecology- by the use of vari supported tactics citizen and collection waste for devices mobile ous awareness. have a Services triggered and processes role, interveningconnection and on the public space at a social level. en- is step intermediate second a Subsequently, by a series of permanent in- characterized visaged, terventions. additions to These are architectural of multifunctional the grafting for the urban fabric to start outposts of the chain equipment as the first and disassembling and re streams reducing waste Strategic a Software:for and Proposal a Hardware Framework waste reduction resides infor strategy An effective de a which in scenarios, integrated adoption of the covery phases. Collection and reuse centres are the centres reuse and coveryCollection phases. role. Within the that at this scale play a key spaces the accessibility of the also increases step second of completion the carries out step third The area. the realization the chain at the urban scale through in scale or supra, at the municipal of buildings-hubs converge. which a number of further uses and flows sign capacity way expressed and collective in a plural of models for the testing (Manzini, 2015) determines scales. In order at different localized urban ecologies as of a circular society, the ambitious goal achieve to required stra a it’s Union, European the by indicated — View of the rooftop garden. Source: Maag garden. of the rooftop 5 — View Fig. Recycling. pageopposite recycling view of the and sorting3 — Street Fig. Architectes, DATA (Paris), centre at Porte de Pantin Architectes). © DATA (Image 2016. Recycling view of the Maag 4 — Main front Fig. Switzerland), OOS Architects, (Winterthur, Centre Source: Maag Recycling. 2004. opposite page Fig. 6 — Top view of Ecoparque (Granada, Spain), Gonzalo Arias Recalde architect, 2002. Source: Gonzalo Arias Recalde architect. ri-vista
01 2018 sive human agency (Bonneuil & Fressoz, 2016) to be Isseane: a circular factory involved through civic engagement. At Issy les Moulineaux, the Paris Metropolitan
seconda serie Waste Agency Syctom, decided in 2008 to replace Program and Aesthetic: an On-Going Metamor- the previous incineration plant with a new one, phosis housing a sorting centre and a valorisation unit. It is Waste facilities are increasingly facing a spatial also a productive hub for a widespread district heat- and aesthetic metamorphosis, allowing to say that ing network. Waste transport on barge and urban waste management spaces and facilities, starting proximity allow reducing polluting emissions, vehic- to be simple technical rooms, are invested by a pro- ular traffic and transportation costs. cess of transformation. This transformation sees Aesthetically speaking, the dynamic wooden façade them taking on the role of real places for meeting, makes the plant looks like an office building or a exchange, access to knowledge and finally, where shopping mall. The integration with the context is new forms of experience are developed, good civ- achieved thanks also to the invisible chimney en- ic practices are involved, and finally new forms of capsulated in the 2/3 grounded building. This allows economy can emerge. reducing noise and airing pollution. Isseane acti- In this perspective, these facilities should also to be vates synergies with the river, promotes a culture of characterized by functional hybridization and spa- environmental sustainability and energy efficiency tial quality, to be aesthetically recognizable and to by opening its spaces to educational initiatives. be conceived not as mere storage spaces, but as productive and generative places, such as laborato- Infrastructural intersections: the network of dechet- ries or factories, where a continuous transformation terie in Paris of matter and data can be driven by research and in- Paris is redefining its relationship with subur- novation. ban areas beyond the Peripherique. A series of civ- Some case studies are presented below. The selec- ic-amenity called CVAE (Centre de valorisation et tion underlines strategic, locational, programmatic d’apport des encombrants) are provided, where col- and aesthetic values. lect bulky waste, WEEE, green and garden waste, hazardous wastes as well as paper, cardboard, plas- 124 tic, metal and glass. Massaro 125 ------The building represents a convergence node that in- The building represents a convergence centre,cludes a collection and services. a lab, offices and treating compacting equipment for and Spaces lot. parking the of side other the on are placed waste ar a parking put together The green surface-rooftop ea and a community garden made by recyclables. and a community garden ea ramp A multitasking - real Recalde Arias architectGonzalo the 2003, In - Grana in centre collection Ecoparque, ized a waste of a produc edge at the da. The building is located the lot with a fu- to and shares the access tion area flows inter are different reason, this For el station. between and synergies ensuring proximity cepted, ramp there are three activities. Below the different and temporary hosting a seminar room blocks de near vertical block is located posits. Finally a third After and services. host offices to by the entrance, has also included an the functional program wards employment centre. is a porous Ecoparque an artificial As landscape trail, and trails vehicle separates that border crossable and landscape. open views of the surrounding leaves Model and Decentralized a Distributed Towards and inefficiency at fragility shown by cur Looking the shift infrastructures, management rent waste mac concentrated a model based on few from - - - - and, , built in a former traffic rounda- traffic Portede Pantin a former built in , Many sorting centres are located along the infra the along are located centres sorting Many A recycling in Winterthur garden court, This hof means The German word courtyard. (Swit in Winterthur inspired project the Recy-hof structure,Par voids under the overpass. filling the is the recyclingticularly relevant and sorting centre at bout. made of staggered curtain white An elegant iden- bricks, with glass brickwork, alternating white - centre.tifies the sortingvalue accompa Aesthetic presence the by given advantages, locational nies of the Parc de la Musique , the Cité de la Villete the Philharmonie. most recently, in- transformed spaces interstitial how noted is It space forgotten turns from centre a collection to recognition: the overpass of collective a place into pub metropolitan new a of covering the becomes lic space. by Mr. zerland), conceived centre collection a waste temporarily for place Maag as a welcoming Werner Designed by the OOSuseless objects and materials. with land- in collaboration System, Open Operative and Matthias Krebs, Rotzler Stefan scape designers hinged a in location, strategic a in fits building the - industri the and between area residential the area Degree high a with accessibility, of city, the of area al line. the railway and close to ri-vista
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ro-plants, to a distributed and decentralized one, lines different intervention strategies starting from made by small-medium size facilities, represents a the identification of nine streams (goods / goods, real trend reversal that will enable cities and territo- people, waste, animals and plants, energy, food, wa- ries to exit from an emergency condition, to finally ter, land and sand, air). The four design proposals get to an ordinary state (Mamì, 2014). From a linear converge on the common goal of optimizing meta- model that meant opacity, distance between con- bolic flows. The strategy adopted on Rotterdam de- sumption and production, analytical separation and clines according to an adaptive logic, resulting into a infinite circulation, we are approaching a new phase multitude of medium/small-scale interventions on based on transparency, proximity, coexistence, sys- the medium small scale that are the points of activa- temic integration and circularity. tion or switching of the metabolic flows. What kind of urban facilities do we imagine for this In a distributed and decentralized system, the role scenario? To this question tried to answer the vision of these physical intermediate nodes related to Urban Metabolism: sustainable development of Rot- waste management becomes meaningful in order terdam presented in 2014 at the Biennale of Architec- to embed and to steer flows. These new glocal ar- ture, Urban by Nature, in Rotterdam. The proposal, eas of ‘friction’ stimulate a civic attitude to change. co-ordinated by Fabric together with a multidiscipli- The challenge that contemporary design faces is to 126 nary team, presents a systematic approach and out- apply the principles of proximity, self-sufficiency Massaro 127 - - gy solar panels. with photovoltaic (humans points of flows Mapping urban intersection identifyand non-human) helps to - new spatial con build a distribut to ditions and locational patterns - fa waste sized small/medium of infrastructure ed are, in this design strategy, cilities. Mid-size facilities along with a new urbanity, produce elements able to are of functions. What the conventional wide range between urban systemspoints of connection various where a more a design strategy circular can promote redefine to The strategy themetabolism? proposes through infrastructure of waste spatial organization infrastructures; systems: identifying three urban and commerce. networks; production knowledge foregoes the rooftop. Depending on site conditions, Depending on site the rooftop. foregoes - the com within food, produced be can roof on the ener on-site and generated garden, munity organic - - - - and environmental sustainability, combining them combining sustainability, and environmental and daily habits. living conditions with improved ex are well between principles relations The these - a neighbourhood com pressed for by the prototype the city for Design by Sepia munity hub proposed multi-storya It is - combin building Honk Kong. of edu leisureand community, recycling, together ing the scheme, to an on- cational activities. According - cen treatment centre a waste and composting site basement, ensure the in to tre are located order in ve level, the ground odour and noise prevention. At sorting process and a material to access can hicles markets Three host flea&food upper floors ing area. recovery waste a food centre)(with repair and & up- level A nextcycling a retailto gallery. laboratories - commu for multi-purpose function room providing nity and exhibitions meetings, educational events — Circular utility facilities for Rotterdam Rotterdam for 7 — CircularFig. utility facilities Source: Urban (2014). by FABRIC. Proposal of development sustainable metabolism: pp. 85, 90. 2014, IABR, Rotterdam, Rotterdam, ri-vista
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128 Massaro 129 - - - mobility, particularly with the network- of fuel sta mobility, tions. This typology is also typologically similar to an ad- constitute can sorting centre, and this factor a proposed of design. Who writes in terms vantage of south Rome, de the suburban area strategy for - veloping an incremental strategy fa in which waste the nearby existing drosscapes cilities regenerated 2016). Good examples of (Massaro, fuel stations Isseane for as rivers, with can be found connections Cringle Dock in London. or the upcoming in Paris networks Knowledge public awareness and Education are one of the main necessary It’s to in the prevention strategy. pillars education and for spaces map public and private community hub, from to schools knowledge, from laboratories. innovation and creativity centre’s civic and mi- practices good can catalyse These spaces interventions,cro-scale phase especially in the first man- waste legitimate to In order of the strategy. it has re as social and civic places, spaces agement quiredand cul- education including a functional mix conference will find place Therefore activities. tural and services. offices and seminar rooms, Production and commerce industry and logistics represent the are Tourism, that need interventions rate entropy as of greatest - - - - - cen th as key as key
, is one of the fac 2 tury, architects are- find possible intercon looking to tury, as in the systems, nections between infrastructural the city proposed of Paris, de Future for case of Rue Henard.by Eugen involves physical terms in Interpreting proximity from distances at reduced of waste the treatment reduction the of pol- site, favouring the production of carluting impacts and minimizing the criticalities transport activities.from resulting traffic - and logistics are rapid transportation Private under the pressure goals ly changing, ecological of It is necessary innovations. and technological to of waste, and how the vehicular transport consider of CO production the consequent Infrastructures think the need to model underlies A decentralized ecology and infrastructural of convergence opposite pageopposite Recycling a Neighbourhood for 8 — Prototype Fig. Source: Design. Sepia Kong. in Honk Centre station transfer waste Dock’s 9 — The Cringle Fig. by arch. Project Thames, London. along the river Source: 2015. www-wrwa.gov.uk. Vinoly, Rafael tors with the most negative impact. with the most negative tors In most of the next are located often case studies shown, facilities - sizes and pro having different despite railways, to If we think that many cities are adopting ur grams. and of goods the transportation for ban railways in the city that new design centre,waste it is clear in this direction. be tested possibilities need to with car are connections found strategic Secondly, principles to draw possible synergies between var synergies possible draw to principles mobili include Here infrastructures systems. ious the 19 and logistics. Since transportation ty, ri-vista
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(Acebillo, 2013). Markets, supermarkets and com- manufacturing laboratories (see FabLab and Mak- mercial districts are convergence nodes where de- ersSpace), is an incentive factor for reviewing the veloped local synergies and close metabolic loops. symbolic and functional status of collecting cen- Locating everyday places as ‘producer’ spaces leads tres and transfer stations. By leveraging on hybridi- to waste management being regarded as a system zation, digitization and service delivery, they can be similar to the proximity economy and solidarity net- considered part of a wider ecosystem. works. Moreover, going to the market citizens can simultaneously confer waste and buy new goods, Unblackboxing: an Architectural Agenda for and thanks to reverse vending services, they shift Waste attitude from users to active prosumers. Waste management model is easily associable with The evolution of territorial chains, along with the a ‘black box’ model: the composition of flows is 130 rapid diffusion of innovation spaces and digital not known exactly and the behaviour of the man- Massaro 131 ------— Top view of an UVA project (Medellin), project of an UVA view 10 — Top Fig. Predominant are2015. paths and the pedestrian Source: artificialuse of lighting, www.epm.com.co ventions. a civic, from social and relational- stand Secondly, point, as a political act unblackboxing is understood sug to aiming 2015) & Fogué (Domínguez Rubio creating means which approach, integrated an gest of multiple processes foster to enabling conditions - prosum and engagement civic self-organisation, are applied in systemically These categories ership. - Unidades de Vida Articulada (Articulated the UVA in the 2012 since series, activated project Units) Life The program (Colombia). Medellin of area metropolis interventions multiple rec space provides aimed for and the plants treatment water the near lamation reservoirs. water municipal link aspects main Four is the of The first creation projects. all the different con by existing artefacts, the engage that paths at dif points of the city, necting adaptively different of new multifunc Then the creation rates. ferent the insertion and of functions tional public spaces - with the specific needs of the vari in accordance areous contexts The second in which they located. de fences and boundaries of reinterpretation the is the inclusion; social foster to order in tanks, by fined is the lighting design used as a changing layer third recog as urban attractions tanks water that makes the building and finally, long distances from nizable the design actions to apply are intended both for apply are both for the design actions to intended inter new of existingthe renovation buildings or for - - - aims wellian memory, the notion of ‘unblackboxing’ wellian memory, subvert the black box logic of dumb and mo- to is term The 2010). (Graham facilities no-functional and sociology science from and here borrowed has and operational an has it Firstly, meaning. double a re to order in purposes design for value aesthetic and treatment visible management and make veal new accessibility by creating improve processes; servicesconnections, avoid mar and public spaces; by opening up boundaries. In this frame ginalization agement system remains unclear (Graham & Thrift (Graham remains system unclear agement 2007). transparency’ of so-called the In ‘era Or of ri-vista
01 2018 of a shared imaginary through participatory process- til the scale of the building, where communal areas es with locals and stakeholders. can be reconfigured to welcome new devices for the
seconda serie daily waste collection. Conclusions The current reflection outlines how crucial is to pro- In the intermediate spaces identified by the map- vide a combinations of activities and functions, in ping, there happens a conflict between an industri- order to avoid marginalization and failure of waste al model and a civic approach to the issue of waste. management infrastructure. Its architectural and There a transition takes place. Architecture is called social legitimation comes across the assimilation to define new hybrid models and to find new urban of waste utility facilities to any other kind of pub- coexistences, enabling relations and changing cul- lic facilities. tural patterns previously considered incompatible. The proposed scenario shifts the terms of the dis- course from the building as a solution to an opera- tional strategy that identifies the fields of interven- tion, where flows and vectors are the elements that regulate the joint and the use of urban space. The intention to operate in terms of fields and flows is guided by the precise intent to reconnect interrupt- ed ties, reactivating cycles, reduce inefficiencies and generate new values. A focus on waste as a driv- er for urban changes introduces in the architecture discipline significant innovation aspects, whose singularity emerges to the different design scales. Starting from territorial level, where infrastructure and facilities affect the value of the landscape, to urban settlements scale, where the redevelopment of abandoned or marginal areas can help to regen- 132 erate physically and socially some urban fields, un- Massaro 133 - Zero waste waste Zero - http://wcr.unhabi design guidelines. Design Strategies and Case Studies for a a for Studies Case and Strategies Design guidelines. design Architecturehttp://www. < for The Center City, Zero-Waste zerowastedesign.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Ze > (04/18). roWasteDesignGuidelines2017_Web.pdf Report. Cities < World 2016, UN-Habitat La raccolta dei rifiuti solidi urbani nella città dei rifiuti solidi raccolta La 2016, S., Massaro nel territorio dispersa, in Drosscape:progetti di trasformazione Guari- dal mare ed. R. a Roma, M. Alecci, A. Secchi, P. Bruschi, pp. 287-295. ni, Aracne, Roma. The concept of Urban Metabolism Timmeren A. 2014, van, Delft.(UM), TU
01 2018 Abstract The requalification of a landfill provides an opportunity to undertake qualified territorial reor- ganization work in which the procedures applied in plant management and redevelopment of seconda serie the environment may constitute a key factor in effective rezoning of the area. The available op- tions geared towards renewing the functional status of the area undergo a decision process to assess the most appropriate end use in terms of territorial reorganization, impact on the land- scape, environmental sustainability and public consensus. However, landfill redevelopment projects carried out to date have only given marginal consid- eration to the above aspects. In Italy, there is a tendency to intervene with projects that mere- ly envisage landscaping of the areas concerned, and rarely take into account functional reuse of the site. In other countries, thanks to a vastly diverse cultural approach, greater emphasis is placed on these aspects, and old landfills are frequently transformed into public parks featur- ing leisure and sports facilities. The present project focussed on requalification of an old land- fill, designed and developed by Studio Arcoplan in conjunction with the Universities of Pado- va and Brescia, fits into this context and envisages a series of innovative features. In particular, the project aims to adopt an integrated approach to aspects relating to landscaping, the envi- ronment and energy, in order to develop an extensive park with a prevailing theme of renewa- ble energy. Keywords Afteruse, Waste, Landscape, Phytoremediation, Community, Park
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 134 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22992 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Artuso, Cossu 135 - - ) and 2 , 40% CO 4 with a low energy demand aeration will provide an end qual- an end will provide in situ aeration ; 2 the use of solar energy of reduces the production CO plant; a phytoremediation plant will be set up us ing oleaginous crops cultivated; crops ing oleaginous - territory;the fea for Park a value added provide - paths and recreation foot turing cycle tracks, - aforemen the using established be will lakes al on the slopes; plants and structural tioned crops of mass by means the waste and moisten areas accumula- and water recirculation of rainwater tion in lakes. vents biogas production (60% CH (60% production vents biogas ity mass in equilibrium with the the stabilised of environment; pan- photovoltaic self-sufficient; energetically on the landfill and oleaginous els will be installed will be cul- biodiesel production plant species for tivated; preand substances organic oxidises aeration situ - biological sta improve to mass will be introduced bility the risk of pollution; and decrease landfill; on site leachate treat • to • to create new functions on the closed landfill and new functions on create • to green irrigate to used quantitythe limit to • water of • to produce renewable energy renewable produce and render• to the site in of greenhouse gases; production the reduce • to • to ensure environmental sustainability of the sustainability of the ensure• to environmental - - - - the landfill will be capped with a soil and clay cov- the landfill will be capped with a soil and clay and, consequently, infiltration limit water er to production; leachate of the waste the in situ aeration material; lated Site characteristics and aims of the project of the aims and characteristics Site of a in the proximity The old landfill, situated resi- extends over an area in northern Italy, dential area of 10 hectares with a maximum height of approx imately 15 metres from the ground and contains contains and ground the metres15 imately from more of landfilled wastes. than one million tons in 1992, waste accepting The landfill, which stopped stage, is and is currently in the post-management of production by a virtually constant characterized because of the high treat still of concern leachate, ment costs. con in the water zones of stagnant The numerous and in- land subsidence through created cave areas result systems in drainage efficacy of rainwater inside the landfill of water infiltration a constant - critical situation of lea the already worsening body, management.chate currently occupied by The area well main- off and fenced as a the landfill appears greentained hill with a scarce number of trees lack 1). (fig. ing any functional status of the basis on designed was therefore project The aims: the following regulate the quantity• to and quality of leachate; of the accumu- potential the pollutant reduce • to ri-vista
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Project works The circulation of air inside the landfill promotes The project provides for redevelopment of the old the onset of aerobic biodegradation of organic sub- landfill area and reshaping of the landfill body, stances, accelerating the stabilization and settle- planting of phytoremediation meadows for lea- ment of waste, and drastically reducing the produc- chate treatment, in situ aeration fed by a photovol- tion of methane and other odorous substances, thus taic plant to accelerate and complete waste stabili- improving the quality of the leachate produced, and zation, and in completion by establishing an exten- substantially lowering the environmental impact and sive park (fig. 2). post-management costs of the landfill. The project envisages the carrying out of the follow- These forms of intervention impinge directly on the ing works. source of the uncontrolled emissions of biogas and Landfill stabilisation by in situ aeration. In the sce- leachate, guaranteeing a definitive reclamation of nario of treatments available for use in regulating the site and preventing the onset of further envi- waste biological degradation processes, in situ aer- ronmental issues in the future, years after the com- ation is an internationally acknowledged and ap- pletion of works. plied technique. This system provides for the intro- The plant will operate thanks to the energy pro- duction of low-pressure air, concomitant removal of duced by the photovoltaic panels situated on the process gases and drainage of leachate present in top of the landfill, left side. 136 the landfill (fig. 3). Landfill reshaping and landscaping. The landfill will Artuso, Cossu 137
- - - Glycine max Glycine and (sunflower) — Plan of the in situ aeration plant (graphics: Studio Studio (graphics: plant 3 — Plan of the in situ aeration Fig. Arcoplan). - consid of view a provide will and blooms, tensive the spring and sum- magnitude throughout erable will be that the scenario In autumn and winter mer. harmony with the sur fields, in of resting cultivated local landscape.rounding (soya). visible from will be clearly of the area Landscaping species of choice the to thanks highway, main the ex slope featuring on the south-western planted count those perspectives most readily visible from from visible readily most perspectives those count outside, of the the view enhance and aims mainly to road. The by on the main landfill as seen by passers using large in rows slopes will be planted terrace The crops. species and lignocellulosic ly indigenous with on the plane will be planted sections situated (rapeseed), napu such as Brassica crops oleaginous annuus Helianthus - - - - - — Sketch plan project (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). Studio (graphics: plan project 2 — Sketch Fig. pageopposite Studio Arcoplan). view of the landfill (photo: 1 — A general Fig. be reshapedrecapped of clay and cm layer 30 with a the entire area. of soil throughout and a 50 cm layer the amount of The capping is aimed at controlling of a lim- allowing the infiltration produced, leachate the biologi- promote just to amounts of water ited pre and enough to processes degradation cal waste vent waste mummification that often occurs when occurs mummification that often vent waste capping is present. sealed standard using a se will be undertaken works Landscaping interspersed and wooded terraces ries of cultivated distinc and The anthropic pathway. with a zigzag element aimed will represent the key tive terracing that is functionally and visual- an area at achieving for providing with its surroundings, ly integrated surrounding the on crops same the the planting of 4). plane (fig. the mor to The landscape design has been geared ac into taking area, the of organization phological oleaginous crops: soy, ri-vista repeseed and sunflowers
pedestrian oleaginous crops: path sunflowers
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waste
clay
soil
gravel
perforated pipe rows of locust tree
sunflowers
138 Artuso, Cossu 139 system collection collection rainwater rainwater row of locust tree row lignocellulosic crops: crops: lignocellulosic oleaginous crops oleaginous wetlands for leachate for constructed constructed phytotreatment — Cross section of the landfill: The reshaped morphology of the landscape (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). section of the landfill: The reshaped morphology 4 — Cross Fig. (graphics: of the landscape Arcoplan). Studio of the phytoremediation (graphics: 5 — Detail Fig. on the terraces zones situated — Valdemingomez Forest Park, aerial Park, Forest 5 — Valdemingomez Fig. 2003). City Madrid (Photo: Council photograph. pageopposite Park. Technological 4 — Valdemingomez Fig. Alba 2015). Israel (Photo: ri-vista
01 2018 Cultivation of energy crops and phytoremediation and monitoring plant resistance to increasing lea- meadows. Energy requalification of the old landfill chate loads.
seconda serie will be carried out by a series of interventions, in- Plants suited for use in the production of energy cluding the use of energy crops on the landfill. Part have been selected as energy crops for the project: of these crops will be irrigated using leachate pro- their seeds will be used to obtain biodiesel, and the duced by the landfill, thus implementing anin situ ligneous content applied in the production of ther- phytoremediation treatment. Thanks to the pres- mal energy. Plants will be cultivated on soils that ence of the plants, the quantity of leachate will be are partly compromised rather than on agricultur- notably reduced due to the effect of evapotranspi- al land, thus affording the dual opportunity of re- ration. A pilot phytoremediation plant will be set up developing a site the economic and social value of to test leachate irrigation of the energy crops prior which has declined, and producing energy without to implementing full-scale operations. resorting to use of valuable agricultural land. The leachate irrigation system will be activated fol- In line with the landfill reshaping and capping pro- lowing the start up of in situ aeration. Leachate ject, the areas dedicated to the cultivation of energy generated downstream of the in situ aeration plant, crops for the production of biodiesel will be estab- which considerably reduces the pollutant load, will lished on the south-western slope inside the green however continue to represent a nutrient-rich (ni- belt and on the top of the landfill. trogen, phosphorus, etc.) wastewater suitable for The phytoremediation zones situated on the terrac- use in promoting plant growth due to the content of es comprise tanks waterproofed with a 30cm layer fertilizing elements, although also containing cer- of clay on the bottom and sides and filled with a lay- tain critical elements which will need to be adminis- er of non-woven fabric, a layer of gravel and a layer tered with due caution. Therefore, both the amount of topsoil, respectively (fig. 5). of leachate to be used in irrigation, and the piezo- Pilot phytoremediation plant. Leachate is a waste- metric level inside the tanks, will be evaluated tak- water subjected to considerable changes in quan- ing into account climatic conditions and results ob- tity and quality over time, even within the landfill. tained from the pilot phytoremediation plant; this Accordingly, prior to commencing full-scale irriga- assessment will provide crucial information aimed tion the times and methods to be applied need to be 140 at determining the method and times of irrigation, determined, taking into account the phytoremedia- Artuso, Cossu 141 - - - - All rainwater will be harvested in twoAll rainwater and collected ar work the outside which of (one basins artificial ea) linked to the overflowto the to trenches adjacent linked ea) landfill. external the land- to an additional area In particular, fed by construct an artificial lake to fill will be used sys drainage the previously mentioned rainwater the with the aim of acting as a supply basin for tem, whilst also representing system, - a recrea irrigation the community. tional opportunity for enhanc considerably Indeed, a re-naturalised lake an attractive and constitutes es a park environment relaxation for and observationarea all year-round. using planted densely be will areas surrounding The 10). trees, (fig. shrubs and typical riparian vegetation The project landfill. the on meadow Photovoltaic - of a photovol construction the moreover foresees func with the morphological, plant integrated taic of the site. characteristics tional and environmental the complex of plants make The main objective is to of requalification environmental the in implicated as energythe area - as possible. autonomous Accord with plant compatible the most convenient ingly, requirements and with legal both user load profile of electric power relating the use and promotion to sources has been identified. by renewable produced will The plant, kWp, with a nominal power of 200 under a net energy for system operate metering - - in an area devoted to the setting up of plants. Theplants. the setting up of to devoted area in an 2 tion capacity of the chosen energy as These crops. pects will be gauged through use of a pilot phytore through pects will be gauged 6-9). mediation plant (fig. concrete 4 waterproofed plant will comprise The - (grav of inert filled with a 50cm layer material tanks in topsoil of layer 50cm overlying an with and el) This will extend will develop. over 100which the roots m — Leachate — Leachate 6-9 Fig. phytoremediation: Laboratory on tests energy crops plant will comprise a series of vertical phytoremediaplant will comprise - and horizontal ammonia oxidation tion modules for either finishing; the modules may be run modules for appropriate most the with line in parallel or series in treatment during the identified operation of method simulation phase. modules will Individual concrete vari- of and filled with a 50cm layer be constructed - of top layer by a 50cm covered ous loose materials verify in termssoil, to combination the most suitable yield. and depuration of plant development with phase, the plant will be fed During the start-up water; mixed with of leachate a specific percentage according increased will be gradually this percentage the responseto and yields obtained. of plant growth . waters and lake the collection of rain for System is a system collection of the water Reorganization aimed at reducingwork of major importance water the limiting thus body, landfill the into infiltration flooding phenomena that currently the occur in vast rainfall. presence of heavy ri-vista
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Fig. 10 — View of the re- naturalised lake (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). Fig. 11 — Plan of the requalification project: 1. Cultivation of sunflowers; 2. Cultivation of energy crops and phytoremediation meadows; 3. Lignocellulosic crops planted in rows; 4. Pilot phytoremediation plant; 5. Photovoltaic meadow; 6. Artificial lake for water collection; 7. Park (cycle tracks, footpaths, thematic itineraries, etc.); 8. Re-naturalised lake (graphics: Studio Arcoplan).
opposite page Fig. 12 — Areal view of the project area (graphics: Studio 142 Arcoplan). Artuso, Cossu 143 - - - - - The project envisages additional planting on the the on planting additional envisages project The using woodland treesnorth inter side of the area char shrubs featuring with autochthonous spersed and growth rapid ensuring to suited acteristics - environ with the surrounding integration ready for ment. species have been selected The following betulus, Fraxinus,this purpose: Carpinus Tilia cor data, Populus alba, Ulmus minor, Acer campestre, Acer minor, Ulmus Populus alba, data, monog- Crataegus Prunus avium, Sambucus nigra, 13). canina, Ligustrum and Salix alba (fig. yna, Rosa be planted will linking the two lakes footpath The species such as Miscanthus x Gi- with lignocellulosic pseudo Robinia alba and of Salix and rows ganteus acacia. Conclusions so- for a place to suburban area a neglected From trans activities: leisure undertaking and cializing formation of the area into a park will provide local local provide will park a into area the of formation which in greenspaces additional with communities leisureand educational social, activities, organise to an improved promoting towards thus contributing quality of life. - Functional re-useFunctional park area: the of the area the for envisaged functions and activities All synergy landscape in the with conceived been have as shown and have been distributed, design project ensure- design plan, to full accessibili in the general 11). (fig. ty the area to al- The usability has been designed to of the Park part those taking in a guided (even low both visitors vehi- and maintenance visit)technical and workers will include cycle The Park tracks of access. cles ease with observa thematic itineraries - and footpaths, posts, wooden benches andtion points and staging 12). an exercise (fig. route tem using metal tensile structures tensile aimed at sup- using metal tem subsid- porting settlements and ground potential in situ aeration. following ence the first 7 years, and subsequently under a purchaseyears, 7 the first should this GSE; the with arrangement resale and result in a full energy of the park, provide autonomy the possibility Municipal uses, and power other to The plant years. 20 at least ensure electric power for sys installation will be equipped with an innovative opposite page Fig. 13 — Selected species for the greening project (graphics: Studio Arcoplan). ri-vista
01 2018 The achievement of this ambitious aim has been References made possible thanks to the multidisciplinary ap- Artuso A., Cossu E. 2008, Piano di ripristino ambientale del complesso IPPC di Scala Erre (SS), Relazione tecnico-illustra- seconda serie proach that has characterized this complex project tiva, unpublished. from the outset. Artuso A., Cossu E. 2013, Riqualificazione ambientale, pae- saggistica, funzionale ed energetica del corpo ex discarica di Ci- The need to integrate such a complex task in a town liverghe, Relazione tecnico-illustrativa, unpublished. planning project focussing on the environment, the Dimitriou I., Aronsson P. 2010, Landfill leachate treatment territory, the landscape and the municipal areas in- with willows and poplars - Efficiency and plant response, «Waste Management», n. 30, pp. 2137-2145. deed dictated the need for an integrated project de- ISPRA 2012, Guida tecnica per la progettazione e gestione dei sign and a multidisciplinary approach in which the sistemi di fitodepurazione per il trattamento delle acque reflue urbane, unpublished. technical aspects (conventionally dealt with by en- Jones D.L., Williamson K.L., Owen A.G. 2006, Phytoremedi- gineers and environmental experts) became the ation of landfill leachate, «Waste Management», n. 26, pp. field of action for the architects as well. This gave 825-837. Garbo F., Lavagnolo M.C., Malagoli M., Schiavon M., Cossu R. rise to an interesting synergy with a profession- 2017. Different leachate phytotreatment systems using sun- al figure of crucial importance in ensuring the suc- flowers,«Waste Management», n. 59, pp. 267-275 cessful outcome of this type of territorial transfor- Lavagnolo M.C., Cossu R., Malagoli M., Alibardi L. 2011, Ener- gy crops cover in landfill, Proceedings of the Thirteenth Inter- mation. national Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Cisa The project is undeniably unique, particularly due to Publisher, Padova. Robinson T. 2018. Robust and reliable treatment of leachate at the plurality of works undertaken in the area, which a closed landfill site in Sussex, UK, «Detritus», n. 1, pp. 116-121. have frequently been carried out individually, but Stegmann R., Ritzkowski M. 2007, Landfill aeration, Cisa Pub- which have never before been designed for imple- lisher, Padova. mentation together on the top of a landfill. In par- ticular, for the first time a real-scale, as opposed to lab-scale, phytodepuration of leachate is pro- posed.
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Eco-Innovative Solutions for Wasted Landscapes
Marina Rigillo Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), Italy [email protected] Libera Amenta
ri-vista Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II (UNINA), Italy; Department of Urbanism, Delft University of Technology (TUD), The Netherlands [email protected] Anna Attademo Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II (UNINA) [email protected] Lorenzo Boccia Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II (UNINA) [email protected] Enrico Formato Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II (UNINA) [email protected] Michelangelo Russo Department of Architecture, University of Naples Federico II (UNINA) [email protected]
01 2018 Abstract The paper focuses on the impact generated by the un-efficient management of waste flows, on both natural environment, and urbanization process, and on the opportunity to invert it by seconda serie regenerating Wasted Landscapes, i.e. underused, polluted and abandoned sites, especially lo- cated in peri-urban areas. This is one of the aims of the REPAiR project, funded in 2016 by the European Commission within the Horizon 2020 framework, developed by University of Na- ples with TU Delft as Lead Partner. The implementation of multi-scaling/multi-disciplinary ap- proach, for testing out collaborative decision-making, has seen so far the research of a scien- tific based definition of peri-urban area in the context of the Metropolitan Area of Naples. The selection of the peri-urban areas has also been tested through Living Labs, aimed at designing eco-innovative solutions towards circularity. Keywords Wasted Landscapes, Circular Economy, Urban Metabolism, Peri-Urban, Eco-innovation, Living Labs
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 146 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22995 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Rigillo et al. 147 - - - - - Eco-in- runs under the the under runs 3 in peri-urban ar peri-urban in 4 have been developed so far. With- so far. have been developed 2 eas. Wasted Landscapes are discarded urban are are discarded Landscapes Wasted eas. (EcoAP, 2011) and the program program and the 2011) novation Action Plan (EcoAP, Horizon 2020 tion as a central action for the transition towards a towards the transition action for tion as a central and policies of set a so, do To growth. sustainable a for strategy 2020 Europe the as such measures smart, 2010b), inclusive growth and sustainable (EC the 2010b), (EC initiatives flagship seven the WASTE-6b-2015: Eco-in- the call WASTE-6b-2015: in this framework, - the develop aims at promoting novative strategies preven- waste solutions for ment of Eco-innovative are peri-urban and urban in management and tion as. The call adopts an integrated urban metabolism as. The call adopts an integrated cit local authorities, engages and actively approach in a way stakeholders, izens and all kind of relevant Europe with the objectives of the that is consistent and the 2011) an Resource Roadmap (COM Efficiency Directive 2008/98/EC 2008). (EC, on waste (REsource REPAiR project research Horizon The Going Beyond Areas: in Peri-urban Management GA — 688920) Metabolism Urban above-mentioned call, and it aims at providing above-mentioned call, and it aims at providing the quanti- fostering solutions for eco-innovative areas. flows in peri-urban reductiontative of waste - Cy Life aims at integrating Furthermore, REPAiR - opera to cle Thinking and Geo-Design approaches of especially in terms tionalize Urban Metabolism Landscapes Wasted of reduction - - - - - as an explores of circularity paradigm the 1 innovative approach for planning, stressing out the planning, for approach innovative complexity and working on the in- of urban systems flows out-bound and between in-bound teractions Allen, Broto 2014; 2011, EC, 2006; (Swyngedouw, and Rapoport, Ibañez and Golubiewski, 2012; 2012; is based on the crit approach 2014). Such Katsikis, not anymore re ical review of planning paradigms, 2009), (Latouche, growth urban linear the to ferred of urban on both the paradigm rather but focused resourcepreservaand 2012) (Davoudi, resilience - capaci the to here is referring approach This tion. ty recovering and re-using of enhancing, urban and reducingof and loss soil terms in areas peri-urban cycles. managing waste multi-scaling design to circularityTherefore, refers models of designing innovative and to approaches the In particular, and projects. processes, products, appropri be to seems eco-innovation of concept explainextended when to potentials, design the ate the EU definition: to according the environment to – of innovation all forms to refers «Eco-innovation – that create and non-technological technological - for the environ business opportunities and benefit impact, their reducing or preventing by by or ment optimizing the use of resources» 2012). (EC, eco-innova of role the boosts EU Commission The Introduction This paper ri-vista
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148 Rigillo et al. 149 - - - - ing local communities in the problem solving ac solving problem the in communities local ing Brem and Voigt, Bilgram, tivities (Mitchell, 2003; and Bueren, 2017); Steen 2008; innovative through decision-makers, Supporting - Envi Support Decision as Geo-Design such tools, 2014); Campagna, 2012; (GDSE) (Steinitz, ronment design and new planning approaches, Providing and recovering Wasted regenerating solutions for in peri-urban areas. Landscapes • • - 2), the Ital (fig. partnership Within the REPAiR Architecture of (Department unit Research ian II) of Naples of the University of Naples Federico dimension of on the territorial has mainly focused and specifically on Wasted management waste of the urban metab products scrap as Landscapes olism. The research interest the peri-ur olism. The research is given to follows management flows where waste areas, ban running without un-efficienta sectorial, approach, a comprehensive,strategy territorial adminis by awareness. without any of inhabitants’ and trators Viganò, (Donadieu, 1998; peri-urban areas Further, by the presence of are those more2001) affected are in They located 2011). (EC, Landscapes Wasted are and they between territories, the urban-rural land use, by a kind of chaotic, not-planned featured areas, rural where(former) the with melt uses urban of waste: REPAiR new geographies thus generating 2016). and Attademo, (Amenta ‘wastescapes’ - - - Waste electrical and elec- Waste ), includ- Municipal solid waste Selected categories of waste flows (Construc of waste categories Selected Biowaste, Post con- tion&Demolition Waste, , sumer plastic waste tronic equipment, of object innovative as Landscapes Wasted ing study; management more waste sustainable Providing Thinking; Cycle based on Life systems, prob collaborative for out new practices Testing of six the implementation through lem solving, aimed at involv- (PULLs) Peri-Urban Living Labs as, mainly characterized by a bad quality of life and by a bad quality of life as, mainly characterized exhaust of the leftovers problems, environmental ed lifecycles of territories (Amenta, 2015; Palestino, Palestino, 2015; (Amenta, territories of ed lifecycles 2015). solutions, on ‘end-of-pipe’ does not focus REPAiR flows back waste it aims at tracking contrary, on the reduce to in order resource patterns to consumption changes. for the best routes them and estimate iterative achieve it possible to makes This approach consumption and course visions of both production each of specificities territorial the within processes the project.countries involved into Criti- (different) cycle arecalities and opportunities of the whole life from waste of out; boosting the concept pointed - RE resources, potential (the to matters discarded 2). is briefly reported in fig. approach PAiR focuses on: specifically REPAiR • • • — REPAiR Peri-Urban Living Labs across Europe across Labs Peri-Urban Living 1 — REPAiR Fig. Amenta). Graphic: Libera proposal. credit:REPAiR (Image pageopposite and Geo- process between2 — Relation Fig. Living Labs Inglese). Pasquale Maria Cerreta, Design (Graphic: ri-vista
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Fig. 3 — REPAiR Wastescapes identification (Graphic by UNINA Research Team).
This paper illustrates the first advances of the Nea- ented on the Wasted Landscapes, deepening ter- politan research team, in applying a crosscutting anal- ritorial and landscape issues (fig. 3). Whereas, in ysis of the study area by the aim of providing a scien- Amsterdam, the research deepens the knowledge tific based description of peri-urban areas. The analy- on the potentialities of circular economy, stressing sis is oriented to collect quantitative and qualitative both the waste/resource flows optimization and data, as well as data for the spatial analysis, for rep- business development. resenting, understanding and improving the relation- The Italian case study area is located within the ship between the detection of peri-urban area borders Metropolitan Area of Naples, where waste flows and the current urban metabolism of waste flows. and Wasted Landscapes characterize the peri-ur- ban territory. Sadly known as ‘Terra dei Fuochi’ Case study area (‘Land of Fires’ in English — authors’ translation), As part of the REPAiR proposal, two pilot cases are the Metropolitan Area of Naples is increasingly los- carried out in order to develop and test eco-inno- ing its former values as relevant area for agricul- vative solutions in peri-urban areas: Naples, in Ita- ture. The dramatic exploitation of the original agri- ly and Amsterdam, in The Netherlands. The other cultural habitats leads to the deep degradation of partners (Pecs, Hungary; Ghent, Belgium; Hamburg, the environmental and cultural assets (Legambi- Germany; and Lodz, Poland) will test the capacity of ente, 2015); although, criminal organizations have transferring knowledge within the consortium. Spe- significant influence in this area, especially in terms 150 cifically, in Naples the research focus is mainly ori- of illegal waste management and of built-up areas Rigillo et al. 151 - - to a continuous urban environment,urban continuous a to where hybrid- existsization between landscapes. urban and rural and public infrastructures public of facilities, Lack There is not too. Area Focus the characterize spaces nor did of spatial planning, an acclaimed tradition thus regional of planning, and / or municipal levels low quality (with ur ‘fragmentation’ such territorial land’. a sort of ‘no man’s generate ban patterns) analysis areas Peri-urban and Methods: Materials aim of the such description, the first from Starting defi based scientific a provide to is team research and Area within the Focus nition of peri-urban area of Naples. Area of the Metropolitan in the context the definition of how assumption regards The first et should be described (Geldermans Area the Focus al., 2017): - - - - (ARPAC (ARPAC 2 2008). These alarming data make urgent for plan for urgent make data alarming These 2008). move to makers decision and professionals ners, to improve this situation, finding strategies forward this, to the quality According of living conditions. on a wide, sprawling is focusing team the REPAiR It is lo- Area. hereinafter called Focus urban area, - fea cities, and compact the of the edges at cated building illegal by and planning of lack the by tured mostly origi- activities. Here centers, the historical in- have merged areas, rural the former from nated development. Re In addition, the whole Campania — REPAiR Focus Area within the Metropolitan Area of Naples (Graphic: Pasquale Inglese). Pasquale of Naples (Graphic: Area within the Metropolitan Area Focus 4 — REPAiR Fig. most sites, contaminated 2551 gion has potentially - uncon of arewhich areas of other ly or landfills pre Region The Campania dumping. waste trolled - fea areas of National Interest (SIN), sents six Sites tured pollution; hence, of the by relevant the 15.8% km 2,157 entire region ranging is polluted, ri-vista
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Fig. 5 — City identification.
• A representative sample of the Regional context, The research Focus Area is therefore represented containing: in fig 4. It is the array of local municipalities located . Mix of urban, rural and peri-urban areas, with a in North-Est Naples featured as above. Moreover, dominant share of peri-urban ones; the Focus Area border is consistent with the ATO . Wastescapes; Napoli 1 border, where ATO means Ambito Territo- . Huge infrastructure networks; riale Ottimale (Optimal Territorial Area), and it rep- . Productive areas and logistic platforms. resents the basic territorial unit for the urban sol- • A ‘paradigmatic’ area, having the value of ‘model’ id waste management as planned by the Regional for investigating problems and challenges and for Waste Management Plan made by the Campania testing potential eco-innovative solutions. Region in 2016. • A defined area based on administrative borders, Regarding the peri-urban areas depicting, gener- socio-demographic and land cover data as well as ally those areas have not the same features of ur- on qualitative assessments. ban compact cities, nor the ones of suburban vil- So far, the Focus Area has also defined, including its lages. They are somehow dispersed urban develop- spatial requirements according to REPAiR’s defini- ment, widespread cities (città diffusa in Italian) (So- tion (Geldermans et al. 2017), and it is specified by: ja, 2000; Forman, 1995 and 2008; Indovina, 2009). • High density population, urban dispersion and The research assumes the following definition of peri-urban features; peri-urban areas as «areas where new functions, 152 • Lack of public spaces and facilities. uses and lifestyles arise as a result of the on-going Rigillo et al. 153 - - there the political level; is a link to 50% of city the population lives inthat at least an urban centre; and ur the of population the of 75% least at that ban centre lives in a city. . . mum population of 50.000 inhabitants are kept are inhabitants kept of 50.000 mum population as an ‘urban centre’; populationhalf their with at least 2 or LAU2) level are candidates as selected inside the urban center part of the city. become to . habitants per sq. km arehabitants selected; mini a with clusters the only and are filled gaps • All the municipalities (local administrative unit’s unit’s • All the municipalities (local administrative • The city is defined ensuring that: ISTAT Census Data and the administrative bounda- and the administrative Data Census ISTAT four sub-steps: was done in 1 Step ry 5). (fig. with a density• All grid cells of more than 1.500 in- areclustered, cells high-density contiguous Then • - - - - et 4: Individuation of the ‘Territories-in-be
Step 1: Definition and individuation of ‘City’ 1: Definition Step Zone’ of ‘Commuting 2: Individuation Step the ‘Territories-in-be Individuation of 3: Step tween’ Step Area in the Focus tween’ interaction of urban and rural elements» (Wandl elements» (Wandl rural and urban of interaction al., 2014). the of characteristics peri-urban the understand To - com of Naples, the research Area Metropolitan out carried features, territorial specific some pares urban mapping) the follow by distinguishing (and C)and Zone Commuting the B) City, the A) patterns: in transformation. Territories - Furthermore, distinguishes the follow the research in methods: ing steps • • • • unit mapped the ‘City’ 1, the research In Step ac Definition us (2012) the New OECD-EC to cording XV 2012, Cover Land CORINE data: ing the following — Commuting-zone identification - 145.000 ha. - 145.000 identification 6 — Commuting-zone Fig. ri-vista
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Fig. 7 — Territories in-between identification - 145.000 ha.
In Step 2, the research unit mapped the ‘Commut- territories-in-between (150-5000 In/km2). This ing zone’ (Fig.6) according to the New OECD-EC Defi- density corresponds in a grid cell a number of in- nition (2012) using the Commuting Flows Data that habitants of 38-1250 In/Cell are in the XV ISTAT Census Data. As for the previous • Adding those grid cells, with a maximum rural step, the second step requires three sub-steps: population that spatially overlap with typical in- • Less than 15% of employed persons living in one frastructures and services; city work in another city, these cities are treated • Subtracting those grid cells with territories-in-be- as a single city. tween corresponding maximum population that • All municipalities with at least 15% of their em- are not characterized by the intermingling of built ployed residents working in a city are identified. and open landscape pattern. To this were sub- • Municipalities surrounded by a single functional tracted the areas that are classified as class 111 in area are included and non-contiguous municipal- CLC 2012. ities are dropped. At the end the Territories In-Between define the commuting zone with a precise range of population The step 3 was achieved with the following GIS op- density according with Wandl (2014), and they are erations: not continuous urban areas (fig. 7). • Dividing the area into 500x500m (0.25 km²) grid The Step 4 corresponds to the cutting of the x map cells and selecting those grid cells with a maxi- with a shape of municipalities within the selected 154 mum population density that is characteristic for focus area. Rigillo et al. 155 ------of uses. Therefore, the ‘Territo in transition ritories were within the commut selected ries-in-between’ of popu- by a precise range ing zone, and featured Furthermore, the originality of the lation density. these areas not consider is to approach research the assumption of the spatial proximities through with the city. - tran ‘in spaces numerous recognize to possible is It such as the East condition’, and in a ‘waiting sition’ Acer of Casoria, areas partern fringe of Naples, the - Caiva vast plain around 8), the (fig. and Afragola ra These ‘stand-by-spac 9), and many others. no (fig. continuous’ as a starting point would be misleading. continuous’ not The result that the ‘Territories-in-between’ is Conversely, Area. the whole Focus correspond to selected area the within specific define areas they ter and wastescapes find to where it is more likely ------Results and Discussion Results Ar of the Metropolitan The ‘territories-in-between’ — Urban-rural classification and peri-urban areas identification (Graphic: Pasquale Inglese). identification peri-urban areas classification and — Urban-rural 8-9 Fig. the interconnection of Naples are identified from ea networks, and infrastructure areas of commuting excluding the urban continuity. km², the ar of 163.72 surface Area Focus On a total ha, so that the ‘Territories-in-be 4153 is equal to ea represent the 25% of the whole therefore tween’ significant is (25%) This percentage Area. Focus (2014) for by Wandl ly lower than that determined but higher that the Netherlands (54%), Southern as 1%), (estimated Region of the Tyrol percentage Furthermore, the 2014. in Wandl calculated also is consist (25%) value ‘Territories-in-between’ Area observation the with ent Metropolitan the of that an ap- of Naples, and it strengthens the idea category based on the land cover proach ‘urban-dis ri-vista
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Fig. 10 — Territories in-between identification — additional approach.
es’ are declining or have ended their lifecycle; today ries-in-between, REPAiR aims at providing dedicat- they represent spaces with a strong potentiality. In- ed design and planning approach by which reduc- deed, they can represent strategic parts for the re- ing wastescapes and expressing the site potentials generation of the whole Focus Area, especially if in- in terms of planning, providing new uses for the cluded in the new topological and functional frame- wasted lands consistent with the local needs (i.e. work that can result by the on-field work with resi- new public spaces, as green infrastructures with dents and stakeholders. high eco-systemic values). Planning and architec- ture are also considered key challenges to reconfig- Conclusions ure peri-urban areas, asserting new collective iden- In conclusion, we assume the Wandl approach is not tities, overcoming the social and ecological vulnera- considering peri-urban as a gradient, resulting from bility of those territorial systems (Russo, 2012). the distance of the urban center to the edge fan, In the current phase, the process of selection of while the definition of peri-urban as areas with both the Focus Area through spatial analysis has shared urbanization features and infrastructure availability. within the Living Lab carried out in the Afragola Mu- These results are consistent with the description nicipality, where a wide range of stakeholders is in- of the urban typologies recorded in the Focus Area volved in (Ståhlbröst and Holst, 2012). Moreover, the by the aim of fostering a change in sustainable re- territories-in-between defined through the spatial source management, and thereby preventing waste analysis could be used by local authorities, to bet- 156 generation. Through the recognition of the territo- ter recognize and manage urban issues in terms of Rigillo et al. 157 - Land ‘Wasted is used the term proposal research In REPAiR See more at the link https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/ See REPAiR has received funding from the European Union’s Ho- Union’s the European has received funding from REPAiR All the paragraphs have been written and approved by all by all and approved have been written All the paragraphs rizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant under Grant programme and innovation research rizon 2020 No 688920. Agreement horizon2020/. 4 1 2 3 the authors M. Rigillo, L. Amenta, A. Attademo, L. L. Boccia, E. A. Amenta, M. Rigillo, the authors Attademo, and M. Russo. Formato scapes’, referring to open spaces as well as built entities, like as well as built entities, like open spaces to referring scapes’, - buildings and infrastructure. pro of the In the development the introducing ject, widened its meaning, team the research and immaterial the material to referring ‘Wastescapes’, term of these landscapes. condition Endnotes - - - waste reduction and management, by the aim of management, reduction and of aim the by waste applying circularitythose of Circuincluding models, - explain- goal ambitious the rea Such lar Economy. - en identifyingof son analytical such for methods hancing the spatial relations between cy- waste on the specif focusing cles and urban metabolism, methodolo- The of the territories. ic characteristic Ar the entire Metropolitan gy be applied for could of Naples. ea The methodology the selection of the case study for other Europe to is scalable and transferable area the local considering an case studies of REPAiR, - territo the of selection the Moreover, differences. the partici - through tested can be ries-in-between in- patory with the stakeholders together process, new generating 10), (fig. Labs Living the in volved the for and strategies innovations creative ideas, of circularityimplementation in planning and in lo- cal economies. — Fringe areas between Casoria and Afragola (Photo: Anna Attademo). (Photo: and Afragola between areas Casoria 11 — Fringe Fig. ri-vista
01 2018 References Allen A., Broto V.C., Rapoport E. 2012, Interdisciplinary Per- European Commission 2008, Directive 2008/98/Ec of the spectives on Urban Metabolism. A review of the literature, European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November seconda serie «Journal of Industrial Ecology», n. 16(6), pp. 851-861. 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives.
ri-vista landfill in Odolo, Brescia
Monica Vercesi Montana consultant, Geographer - Facilitator in community planning projects [email protected] Claudia Zaninelli Montana consultant, Architect - Facilitator in community planning projects with children [email protected] Piero Simone Montana S.p.A., Landfill area supervisor [email protected] Lorenzo Nettuno Montana S.p.A., CEO and Commercial supervisor [email protected] 01 2018 Abstract Participatory planning methods are an essential tool for rebuilding the relationship between the inhabitants and their environment. seconda serie This paper presents a successful participation process with children and the adult inhabitants of the small town of Odolo through which a landfill of inert waste was transformed in a park of 10 hectares with recreational facilities. Following the proposals of the children and the other stakeholders, the implementation of the park was carried out between the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. The paper also gives a short presentation of the outcomes of a qualitative evaluation of the process and its outcomes, conducted in September 2015. Keywords Participatory Planning, Children, Waste Management, Green Areas
Received: April 2018 / Accepted: June 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with Creative Commons license CC BY-SA 4.0 Firenze University Press. 160 DOI: 10.13128/RV-22997 - www.fupress.net/index.php/ri-vista/ Vercesi et al. 161 - - - - - dren in these processes has further positive effects. has further positive effects. dren in these processes First, of it helps a wider and more group diverse the creation involved and it facilitates get adults to as children positions. Second, of more collaborative are and more more the needs of other users open to to more likely is it elements, natural to responsive children’s Finally, design projects. sustainable foster to involvement adds a powerful educational value because children can experi- the planning process, good common the manage to how first-hand ence 2002). Driskell, 1998; Lorenzo, (Hart, 1997; participatory with children projects In our country, of approval The 1990s. in the late spreading started on the Rights of the Child the UNICEF Convention was the le later, by Italy years two ratified in 1989, dei sostenibile ‘Città and the project ) in 1997 ge Turco city of boys bambini e delle bambine’ (Sustainable the involvement further boost to gave and girls) offer of children in community planning projects, gal milestone of this process. Article 12 affirms «the of this process. milestone gal expressright to af those views freely in all matters the views of the child being given the child, fecting and matu- age with the due weight in accordance rity- of the child», being the quality of the environ The ment where children live a very matter. relevant as Leg n. 285 (known of the National Law issuance to municipalities in- and financial support ing legal carrying in terested participatory out pro planning - - - - Waste management and participatory management Waste planning between link the of - in the weakening recent The where live has they the environment and habitants very consequenc social and environmental serious es in the world of waste management,es in the world of waste well- up to - the coun throughout known medical emergencies of concepts the population face Usually the try. plants with preju- waste, landfills and treatment which syndrome’, dice. It is the well-known ‘NIMBY extended regional to and nation- has in recent years 1980). (Livezey, al levels who do not of some politicians, The behaviours - to of responsible values of promoters play the role and fears people’s but feed their territory, wards problems. these worsen often images, stereotyped are location of new plants that the The outcomes has hampered of exist as well as the development and rehabilitation work (Lavaget ing installations that brings Moreover, 2018). Nimby Forum, ti, 2014; the export outside theon the one hand to of waste territory that are with impacts and costs not sus of un- the proliferation and on the other to tainable (EEA, of waste management and illegal controlled ISPRA,2016; 2016). Participatory planning (Bishop, or collaborative 2015) is a very of the levels decrease to tool useful more attain sustainable, and to conflicts shared The involvement of chil- and higher quality projects. ri-vista
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cesses with children (Lombardo, 1998; Amodio et. the waste legislation (Lombardy Regional Law n. al. 2001; Unicef Insight, 2005). 94/80), it became a landfill site. The oldest part of the landfill, which is further from the town centre, The local context and preliminary steps of the par- was already transformed in a green area (Fig. 1). ticipatory process In 2005 Vergomasco S.c.ar.l., a new consortium of Odolo is a small town (2.000 inhabitants) located Odolo steelwork companies, committed Montana in the Valsabbia (Brescia province) 80 kilometres S.p.A., a Milan environmental engineering compa- east from Milan.Iron industry in Odolo and the Prov- ny, for a new environmental recovery project. ince of Brescia has had a long history starting from The site of 15 hectares, inaccessible for many years, the 14th century, thanks to the presence of iron ore, needed to be turned into a public park with recrea- rivers and charcoal. In the 50s Odolo became a na- tional facilities. The entire construction cost of the tional center for the production of steel round bars, project would be charged to the consortium, as well used in reinforced concrete for the post-war devel- the cost of its maintenance for 10 years. opment of Italy. Odolo’s steel round is produced by The project was authorized, in order to adapt the electric ovens, a technology that produces waste, landfill to European and National regulation by mit- the so-called steel slag, made of iron silicates with igating the morphologies to the surrounding land- a consistency similar to lava rock (Pedrocco, 2000). scape. Until the 80s, Odolo’s steel mill waste was deposit- In 2006 the environmental geologist Piero Si- ed on the ground in the valleys and cliffs close to the mone of Montana S.p.A. and landfill area supervi- steel mills, such as the Vergomasco valley, located sor, proposed to Vergomasco the use of participa- 162 very close to the town and the parish church. After tory methods as he was deeply convinced of their of Vercesi et al. 163 - - flicts and involve, as they actually did, their families flicts and involve, actually did, their they as dialogue.and their community in a proactive Final- are that planned with children projects are usual- ly, - and eco ly more both environmentally sustainable 1998). nomically (Lorenzo, the local municipality contact In the spring 2007, ed the primary better guarantee, school, as it could social environment,- a con than other more informal tinuous and articulated participatory with process the presented to children. In June, was the project who joined it with school principal and the teachers, a through out carried was project The enthusiasm. among public institutions (the unique cooperation the local primaryMunicipality of Odolo, school and the lo- and Vergomasco, of Brescia) the Province (Ferriera companies of steelwork cal consortium had also The project Bredina and IRO). Valsabbia, Region. of Lombardy the patronage participants, results and The process: content 70 The main participants of around were a group half of them had Nearly 10. 7 to from children aged India, Mali, Moroc Pakistan, origins (Chile, foreign etc.). co, between covered three school years The process with process The 2010. June and 2007 autumn the (2 a dozen of workshops divided into children was and in the classrooms place - some took each) hours ------their positive impact in the management of rehabil - in the management their positive impact projects.itation - tra agreedThe consortium in line with its strong needs the inhabitants’ towards dition of attention in was who Mayor, the did so And, questions. and terested in trying terested in the project out an innovative of Odolo. town the par hired manage to of facilitators, The team ticipatory an initial conducted by Montana, process analysis of the local context, with in collaboration of this analysis led The outcomes the Municipality. in role give children the decision to the leading to were both educational as The reasons the process. of the park implementation a successful well as for and its management project in- to be an this project wanted team the Specifically, - Land the European teresting opportunity enforce to and to 2009) (art. 6) (Castiglioni, Convention scape connec and meaningful a sense of ownership create tion between- children stra and the new park, a place a church close to parish, sports located fieldstegically more even impor was and the school. This last goal percent where the Odolo, of town small the in tant very origins was of students with foreign age high. stake main the were children among Moreover, At of the new area. as future main users holders, needs, time,same the users’ other to sensitive as - powerful of local con become mediators could they opposite pageopposite (Photo: and the landfill area of the project 1 — View Fig. Simone).Piero Fig. 2 — Exploring children’s needs using the drawings of their favourite play activities (Photo: Claudia Zaninelli).
opposite page Fig. 3 — The inspection of the project site: each group of children was given a sheet of paper with its task
ri-vista (photo: Claudia Zaninelli).
01 2018 some on the project area – that were managed by lected information included the size and morpholo- experienced facilitators with the support of teach- gy of the area and its native vegetation, as well as
seconda serie ers. More specifically, before each workshop, the fa- the positive and negative feelings that this place cilitator team briefed the teachers about goals, pro- gave the children. During the inspection the children cess and desired outcome, so they could be part of were also informed about the ‘design space’ availa- the team and give effective support during the in- ble and the main environmental and regulatory con- class activities. The activities were planned by the straints that were to be taken into account (Fig. 3). facilitators, giving particular attention to the de- As the park would be a public space, the children velopment of tools as diversified as possible (pic- identified the other future users (mothers with tures, maps, questionnaires, interviews, role-play young children, elderly, teenagers, etc.), wrote a games, etc.) and to the mixture of individual work short questionnaire, that was then refined by the and teamwork, in order to encourage the best par- facilitators, and asked a sample of known people, ticipation of all the children. beneath the identified groups, to fill it. In September 2007, the facilitators, together with Once completed the analysis of context and needs, the teachers and Montana technicians, pointed out the team proceeded to the planning step itself and the first steps of the participatory process. the development of the first design proposals. The The starting point was the identification of what tool used was an ad hoc variant of Planning for Re- makes a quality green space. Each student drew his/ al, a widely used tool in the context of participa- her favourite activity in a natural environment and tory planning. Similarly, to what usually happens pointed out the main features of these spaces; in- in role-playing games, children, divided into small cluding: the alternation of large spaces and smaller groups, were asked to describe a visit in the park by ones hidden by the vegetation, water (lakes, rivers), the different groups of users (children, adolescents, fruit-bearing plants, shrubs, aromatic herbs, plants mothers with toddlers, dog’s owners, old people, with coloured, sweet-smelling flowers, etc. (Fig. 2). etc.) and then act as advocates defending their ide- The following inspection of the area allowed the as. Then, using a large map of the project, conflict children to check its position with respect to the situations were solved, bringing to a proposal sup- country and to gather data for its analysis from both ported by the whole class (Fig. 4). 164 a subjective and an objective point of view. The col- On June 4th 2008, an exhibition and a meeting were Vercesi et al. 165 - - final project (Fig. (Fig. project final children the were Then asked 7). be used in the park. choose the plant species to to a preliminary starting done from This was selection involved on who was of plants made by a naturalist a voluntary basis. Between and the the end of 2009 monitor in were involved children the 2010, spring - of the pro of the implementation ing the progress ject, up- and continuous the site to visits through - as the pro In May, 8). (Fig. dating by the facilitators children ar the planted almost completed, ject was - 9) and organ omatic herbs in some flowerbeds (Fig. their speech, childrenized the opening event: wrote aprepared and wrote materials the communication cook asking to families their schoolmates’ to letter The dishes of their country the party. traditional for chose the name ‘Odolan- a contest children through on June 12th, place took The opening event dia Park’. More than three hun- the last day of the school year. 10). dred people participated (Fig. and conclusions Evaluation present to the Od- asked was Montana In May 2015, on Waste Workshop at the International olo project in October. Symposium Architecture at the Sardinia - sandro Bertelli, and many parents many and The friends. Bertelli, and sandro adults’ gather also to purpose of the meeting was projects. about children’s and ideas suggestions second the of beginning the at 2008, autumn In the participatory two divided into was process year, at the assessment of worked parts. While Montana of the children’s feasibility and economic technical complex and the paperworkproject authorize the to phase the second developed project, the facilitators draw wereto aims The children. with process the of to childrenget to participate to and the final project of some interventionsthe implementation directly. hall and the presentation the at the town Following by adults, landscape archi of comments - gathering of the final project, Anna Marelli tect drew a draft - and eco the technical account into which also took - 5). (Fig. The pro of the proposals nomic feasibility presented the children, to who wereject was asked 6). on post its (Fig. further write comments to On the landscape architect drewthese comments, the held at the town hall. The children presented the the children The presented hall. town the at held the Mayor to had done and their proposals work they the Pierluca Levrangi, CEO the Vergomasco of Odolo, Simone and Ales representatives Piero of Montana, ri-vista
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Fig. 4 — One of the very first project proposal: the park was divided into three parts: the area with recreational facilities, ‘the wild area’ and the area with sporting facilities (photo: Claudia Zaninelli). Fig. 5 — The draft of the final project (photo: Monica Vercesi).
opposite page Fig. 6 — Children’s comments on the draft of the final project (photo: Monica Vercesi).
next pages 166 Fig. 7 — The final project. Vercesi et al. 167 - - - - teachers appreciated the consistency between the teachers results,the and methodologyobjectives the initial involve to and, above all, the capacity of the project «the ac families: their and students foreign-born tivities were in involv- well planned and succeeded ing all children, including the ones who didn’t speak very Italian reinforc in succeeded «thewell», project betweenthe connection ing children and their en- their sense of responsibili- and increase vironment a high score to gave it». ty towards ex-students The (between and outcome 4 and 5 process the project scale). they cited, reasons main the Among 1-5 a on were express they able to wrote their needs, desires with our school- «to work together and creativity, mates», by adults», «to out see the be heard to very their work, «to of feel comes important» be town their for good something had done cause they had planned which they visit a place be able to and to said that the out of six students and designed. Four planned it. had as they implemented park was The facilitators took this opportunity to conduct a this opportunity a took conduct to The facilitators itswith project the of evaluation post-construction experience this of impact the assess to stakeholders - eval to was goal the Specifically, years. a few after have memories they and (feelings the process uate quality of this experience)kept (the and its outcomes it). towards and their feelings of the green area tools. out using different carried was The evaluation ex-students of group a and teachers school’s The hall meeting where a town were attend to invited to fill two questionnaires were asked withthey first - oth the and teachers the for (one questions open and then discuss the results. the ex-students) er for the Odolo, of Mayor (the stakeholders other The landfill work su- and the Montana CEO Vergomasco pervisors) were interviewed. In everybody’s been the park has always opinions, because it is well planned, its opening, popular since church and parish the schools, the near located The by Vergomasco. centre and well kept the town ri-vista
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170 Vercesi et al. 171 — The opening ceremony (photo: Claudiaopening ceremony10 — The (photo: Fig. Zaninelli). page opposite over the landfill. 8 — The soil layers Fig. herbs (photo:9 — The childrenFig. plant the aromatic Vercesi). Monica ri-vista
01 2018 The negative aspects of this experience are near- understand the characteristic of the site and take ly non-existent. The Mayor said that this experi- into account its main environmental and regulato-
seconda serie ence was a great opportunity for their town and he ry constraints. It is very important that children are really appreciated the way children had committed not given the impression that anything can be built themselves to the project. There have been a few on the site without constraints: idea feasibility is a episodes of vandalism, but they were less frequent very important aspect of the planning process and than in other green area. The only problem they had, it will help them feel that their contribute is taken at the beginning, was the custom-made slide (the seriously. Therefore, if some of their proposals are bottom filled with water when it rained), but then not feasible children will have to be informed about they solved it. While the Vergomasco CEO said that the reasons (Iltus and Hart, 1995; Unicef Insight, was an «extremely positive experience, to be re- 2005). Children should be involved in the planning peated as soon as the economic situation will allow process as well as in the implementation of the pro- it». The landfill work supervisors said that the par- ject, even though it is a small part. This will increase ticipation of children succeeded in lowering the con- their sense of ownership and responsibility towards flicts with some people who lived around the site. the project. Even though the group of stakeholders involved in the evaluation was not truly representative1, the re- sults confirmed that the project’s aims were almost reached. In conclusion, we can say that when evaluating the success of the Odolo project several factors should be considered. Children’s involvement should start only when there is high potential for project’s im- plementation, i.e. decision makers are truly com- mitted to the project and the appropriate fund- ing for planning and implementation is available. In the project’s initial phases, children should be in- 172 formed about their role in the process; they should Vercesi et al. 173 - - - - . th ed. Leone U., Patron, Bologna. Patron, U., ed. Leone The management of local issues in environ- The management of local C. 2014, Lavagetti permitting and E.I.Amental Conference ., «4th International 2nd-5th Management», Waste Hazardous and Industrial on Crete. September, Christian Science , «The Waste Hazardous 1980, E.T. Livezey Monitor», November 6 Riqualificazione di un giardino scolastico: un scolastico: Riqualificazione di un giardino M. 2006, Vercesi Tecni «Ufficio , ambientale sostenibilità di concreto esempio pp. 78-83. 3, vol. co», La guida alle città sostenibili delle delle guida alle città sostenibili La 1998, (ed.) S. Lombardo Roma. dell’Ambiente, bambine e dei bambini, Ministero città sostenibile.La Partecipazione, R. 1998, Lorenzo luogo, Milan. comunità, Elèuthera, parole, par programmi, città dell’infanzia: La R. 1995, Lorenzo tecipazione, ricerche e, progetti concreti speriamo, , «Paesag , Jaca Book, Milan. (1945-2000) colo di siderurgia preliminare sul progetto Relazione per 2009, Montana Società , unpu- Vergomasco la riqualificazione dell’area della discarica blished. sul percorso Relazione per partecipato 2008, Montana Società s. a. , Vergomasco dell’area discarica della riqualificazione la unpublished. 2007-’08, sul percorso Relazione per partecipato 2008, Montana Società s. a. , Vergomasco dell’area discarica della riqualificazione la unpublished. 2008-’09, città con i bambini, città amiche La 2005, Insight Unicef , Unicef. in Italia dell’infanzia il quartiereMilano, gli abitanti Adriano: 1999, M. (ed.) 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Children’s participation, Earthscan, Hart R. 1997, Participatory Hart R.Iltus S. 1995, planning and design of rec- - reationalComporté & childrenwith spaces «Architecture , – 370. & Behaviour», pp. 361 n. 4, vol. 10, ment/Architecture e la Ricerca Ambientale per la Protezione Superiore Istituto Rifiuti Speciali. Rapporto 2016, (ISPRA) Amodio L., Majorano C., Riccio C. (ed.) 2001, I bambini trasfor 2001, Amodio L., C., Riccio C. Majorano (ed.) References Endnotes 1 the ex-students, but it was not an easy task. Specifically no Specifically no task. easy not an but it was the ex-students, students participated evaluation. in the foreign-born