intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

Laurentino38. Example of deprived social housing estates in Rome. Chapter 7
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The appearance of the neighbourhood might be considered as quite homogeneous. Slight
differences are recognizable in the 14 insula, like the profile of some concrete panels on the
façade or the position of loggias and staircases. The differences are there, because the
design of blocks was assigned to different groups of architects. Thanks to a good cooperation
of the design group, the Northeast is considered the most unitary sector (Barucci, 1979).
All the buildings are multifamily blocks with doorways, elevators and staircases. There are no
gallery apartments. Despite the repetitive layout, dwelling types are quite differentiated.
Both ‘in line’ and towers blocks include four housing types, type A, B, C, and C (see the table
below).
TYPE ROOMS SIZE BEDROOMS BATHROOMS (shower and/or bath)
A 4 rooms 64m 2
B 5 rooms 80m 2
C 6 rooms 96m 2
D 7 rooms 112m 2
1 1
2 2
3 2
4 2
The tower is to be distinguished into an ‘orthogonal’ and an ‘oblique symmetry’ block.
Dwellings of similar size and number of rooms differ in terms of floor plan.
Due to the use of the so-called ‘crescent’ rule or ‘geometria variabile’ (variable geometry) 6 ,
the tower is more articulated than the in-line. The bundling tapers towards the top by
decreasing the number of bedrooms per housing unit (from 4 bedrooms in the lower floors
up to 1 on the top-floors).
Elevators and staircases are placed in the core of the building facilitating four dwellings per
floor. Entrance, kitchen and living room face the inner core, while bedrooms are located on
the external side. Spans and technical equipments are similar to that used in the in-line
block.
The in line typology discriminates between ‘plain’ and ‘hollow’ blocks (with and without
loggias). Therefore, dwellings of similar size and number of rooms, have slightly different
floor plans in the ‘in line’ comparing to those in the towers. Each elevator serves two
dwellings per floor.
Type C, 96 m 2 , is the standard unit of the in line buildings. The other types might be derived
by adding or subtracting rooms. The C unit consists of three structural spans (2,80m, 3,30m
and 2,80m) that, thanks to the tunnel, could be finished in one working day. Each tunnel in
the centre of the dwelling is provided with the technical equipments. All dwellings are
spacious and with double exposure. The hollow blocks loggias are on both sides.
6 According to the group leader of the building department Pietro Barucci, applying such geometry in the tower allowed
the creation of a sort of incremental and harmonic diversification of the floor plan improving the relationship between
day and night rooms.
4. G
HOUSING LAYOUT
IN-LINE
TOWER
IN-LINE