intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

Laurentino38. Example of deprived social housing estates in Rome. Chapter 7
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROBLEMS
PROCESS
Based on an interview with Pietro Barucci, the following weaknesses are to be mentioned:
Gap between optimistic expectations of the plan and implementation of the neighbourhood.
Institutions were untrained for managing such an experimental project. The Municipality was
corrupted, lazy and modest. The same was true for the companies involved in the
implementation. In this context, it is clear that dualities not only apply to the institutional but
also the personal level. This reflected on the management of the process.
Failure ring road (a circular path that constrains physical connections).
Problems related to the ring road stem from the broader concept. This not only involved the
design of vehicular traffic but also pedestrian paths, and accessibility to the buildings. The
street was thought as a service and not as an element contributing to the urban quality of
the neighborhood.
Marginality of local public services.
Location of facilities was academically experimented. It was inspired by examples from
abroad. Nowadays, indispensable commercial activity on local level is an obsolete concept.
People prefer commercial centres. Therefore, small businesses have difficulties in surviving.
Lack of public spaces for people to meet (central spots like squares).
People did not appreciate the presumed advantages of making use of ‘domestic organization’
of open spaces. Rather, they still claim the ‘city effect’ made by shops, crowded lanes,
buildings with front door and life in the street. They never accepted the experimental
character of the neighbourhood. The same reaction, in fact, emerged in Corviale. However,
there is a difference according to educational level of people. The higher educated people
were more inclined to appreciate advantages of modernity.
Rigidness of tunnel technology constrains flexibility of dwellings.
WHO
P.B. CQII PRU
MANAGEMENT
Gap between optimistic expectations of the plan and implementation of the
neighbourhood (assignments, design methods and execution process)
X
Size of the intervention influenced its implementation X
Size of intervention influenced infrastructural integration with the surroundings
X
BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
Successful building methods in contrast with fragmented and uncoordinated process X
Effective building technology was not as convincing as the final design solutions
X
PRODUCT
INTEGRATION
Isolated elements (insula, archaeological remains and natural reserve) X X
No integration with surrounding neighborhoods X
Failure ring road (circular path constrains connections) x
Failure bridge building (distinction of traffic and pedestrians, abandonment) X
Failure insula (separation of single insula) X
Extensive neighborhood overloads obsolete infrastructure of central neighborhoods X
Marginality of local public services X
No valorization of natural and archeological surroundings X
Lack of public spaces to meet (central spaces like squares)
X
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP OF BUILDINGS
Unbalance between high and distance of the blocks
BEARING STRUCTURE
Rigidness of tunnel technology constrains flexibility of dwellings.
TENURE
Rented housing limited to low-income people restricted the neighborhood to one
social group
Social rented housing for lowest-income people contributed to decrease of social
safety
X
X
X
X
15. G
PROBLEMS
OPINION OF
BARUCCI