Urban Transitions. Creating resilient corridors

Referente: Jacopo Gaspari

Within the framework of Urban Transition theme, the Bologna 2018 edition is strongly connected with Climate KIC priorities and particularly with Resilient Cities. The programme is based on ongoing research activities developed by the Department of Architecture and the City of Bologna to define a systemic urban approach to support the regeneration of urban and peri-urban areas. The scope is to facilitate the creation of Resilience Corridors, typically following a natural or urban infrastructure, able to become places for innovative approaches where several and interacting activities shall be tested to close resources loops (e.g. water, food, waste, energy, etc.). This is expected to create new value chains strengthening relations among actions, actors, spaces and resources, that will act as an engine to regenerate and improve the mutual exchange between different players according to a more effective systemic vision.

The Challenge

The autumn school programme is focused on defining effective solutions in the framework of the Resilient Corridor to be developed from the Bologna city center along the north-east direction culminating in the Pilastro neighbourhood. Pilastro is a dense populated residential complex, largely developed under the social housing umbrella (built up in different phases in 1960-90s) with limited community services and commercial activities where the City of Bologna is planning some investments to promote economic growth and sustainable regeneration benefitting of the site proximity to CAAB and FICO pole of excellence in the agro-food sectors.

Solutions are expected to:

• Increase retrofit rate by boosting energy efficiency measures on existing buildings (both residential and commercial) while improving services and spaces for the local community at the ground floor.
• Build green and resilient spaces with the help of nature-based solutions especially in the central backbone which can host vegetable gardens, playgrounds, outdoor activities while mitigating climate conditions.
• Accelerate a modal shift in urban mobility and logistic, rethinking the connection from and to both the city center and CAAB and FICO pole (e.g. e-vehicles, bike, etc.)
• Promote social innovation, working with local player engagement and assuming participatory design as a toll to concretely involve inhabitants in delivering transition

The case study will let participants to turn their ideas and solutions into practical outcomes having the chance to work closely with the research teams and to meet the key stakeholders involved.

The outcomes of student reports (specific instructions will be provided) will be collected and included in the guideline for the further implementation phase and follow up offering an impacting contribution to local advances.

The partners

University of Bologna – Department of Architecture(UNIBO|DA) operates as coordinating institution and is a leading institution on urban regeneration research programmes. UNIBO|DA covers a wide range of architectural fields both for research and teaching purposes.

Municipality of Bologna(COBO), with about 380,000 inhabitants, is the capital of Emilia-Romagna, a region in Northern Italy. COBO operates as key partner and problem owner, considering most of regeneration and renovation initiatives are driven according to COBO’s Resilient Action Plan.

Fondazione per l’Innovazione Urbana Bologna(FIU) is a Foundation controlled by the City of Bologna and the University of Bologna, born to boost the transformation of Bologna in a more liveable, sustainable and resilient city. FIU is committed in promoting and protecting Bologna’s environment, its economic vitality, its cultural vibrancy, and above all its environmental sustainability and social diversity.

You will have exclusive access to theseorganisationsand work with each of them and their challenges – a valuable networking opportunity for your individual career development, as it will get you in touch with potential future collaborators.