intervention strategies for renovation of social housing estates

Laurentino38. Example of deprived social housing estates in Rome. Chapter 7
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Neighbourhood Contract “CQ”. In a table, all problems identified by these sources were
summarized. It includes factors like spatial relationships of the blocks, the technology used
for the bearing structure and tenure. Some of these problems were only mentioned by the
architect and seem to be considered less important by the institutions.
In an interview, Pietro Barucci listed and explained the following issues, in hhis view being
the major failures of Laurentino38:
• Gap between optimistic expectations of the plan and implementation of the
neighbourhood.
• Failure ring road (a circular path that constrains physical connections).
• Marginality of local public services.
• Lack of public spaces for people to meet (central spots like squares).
• Rigidness of tunnel technology constrains flexibility of dwellings.
There are similarities in the comments of professionals about both Bijlmermeer and
Laurentino38. Concerning the Bijlmermeer, in fact, Wassenberg concluded that ‘most of the
planners’ ideals changed into disadvantages’ (Wassenberg, 2007). Barucci came to a similar
conclusion speaking about Laurentino38, ‘the best strengths of yesterday are the worst of
today’. People living in Laurentino38, are still criticizing those aspects the designers thought
as high standards for quality of living.
To address physical weakness and strengths on building and dwelling level, information from
literature (Housing statistics in the EU, 2004), results of questionnaires send to employers of
ATER and interviews with Pietro Barucci and residents were combined. All major problems
were grouped into functional, technical and social quality.
Functional quality
Floor plan and equipments. Quality in terms of size and equipments of dwellings is
satisfying. Dwellings are spacious (up to 112m2) and those in the towers are with
double exposure (view from two sides of the building, usually front and back). Often,
they have more than one loggia. They are even larger than the average dwelling in
the Bijlmermeer (80m2). All dwellings in Laurentino38 have at least one bathroom,
with shower or bath, and double loggias. However, the layout needs to be adapted to
the new requirements of Italian family, now dominated by households with one
person (singles and elderly).
Installations. Condition of technical installations is rather low. They should be
substituted, particularly the water and gas system. Often, people do not definitively
fix the walls to make it ready to fix future damages.
View. It is much appreciated by residents. The towers present a nice view over the
city of Rome.
Technical quality
Moisture. Moisture is a big issue in Italy, especially inside the blocks. Due to low or
absent maintenance in the past, this is true in Laurentino38. Clearly, this is
particularly evident in the kitchen and the bathroom. Factors affecting the facades
are: crumbling of plaster, steel bars corrosion, removal of cladding, corrosion of
window frames, and attack of biologic moulds.
Thermal insulation. Low-performance and obsolete window frames and glazing cause
air penetration. Residents claim very cold rooms in winter, especially the dwellings in
the towers are more prone to wind.
The U value of single layer concrete panels is usually 0,8. Assuming this reference
value for Laurentino38, adaptations of the building envelope are strongly
recommended to decrease this U-value to 0,4 in 2009. (Di Giulio and Brunuoro in
Andweg, 2007).
Noise insulation. Noise insulation of the façade is absent (first law in Italy, 1995).
The standard of 40 Db might be obtained with external walls thicker than 25cm (Di
Giulio and Burnoro in Andeweg, 2007), but the concrete panels in Laurentino38 are
is only 15cm thick. Together with low quality of windows they increase acoustic
conductivity.
Daylight. Dwellings are well lightened, especially those in the in-line blocks. Barucci
claimed rooms in the towers are too deep for permeability of natural daylight.
Residents perceive this as well. Some inhabitants adapted the floor plan of their
dwellings in towers, even though they just rent it.
25. G