LED Workshop Zingonia 2016

Introduction

This intensive program will provide an opportunity for online seminar participants to apply theory and methods to a real case study. During the Zingonia workshop participants will apply a set of innovative tools to analyze landscape complexities with respect to its inhabitants. We will collaborate with them and all stakeholders (associations, schools, administrative boards…) to draw attention to places where specific strategies can increase the sense of community and belonging.

Key dates and registration

June 19-29, Zingonia, Italy

Why Zingonia?

Zingonia presents a series of relevant elements regarding landscape and democracy. We can develop strategies and representation methodologies through this case study, which could be applied in other similar contexts. In the scheme below we list the main themes or layers which the participants will focus on. The second column specifies critical issues connected to each theme.

Interactions

Zingonia is a town where a process of regeneration is taking place. A number of residents, companies, associations and institutions have begun to collaborate with local and foreign partners to develop urban regeneration programs. Universities have already intervened in this process with a project of urban analysis particularly dedicated and realized in collaboration with local school students.

This program has been useful to identify communities and stakeholders such as:

Institutions:

• 5 municipalities;
• one local public school
• Parish’s oratory

Associations:

• Sengalese Association
• “Orti Sociali” [social gardens] association

Groups:

• Citizens
• Virtual groups “Quelli della Zingonia”

The workshop would like to interact with these stakeholders, trying to build relationships among different subjects and contributing to the development of a common new design.

Stakeholders' specific profiles suggest a few themes:

• production and economy
• urban farming, ecology, nature
• housing, co-housing and dwelling
• public spaces, infrastructures
• cultural, community building processes, school.

Synthesis

• The results of these investigations will most definitely demand new forms of representation and mapping in order to capture the non-physical attributes of the landscape.
• Each layer produces a different representation of the same physical space. By overlapping all graphics and maps, it will perhaps be possible to recognize special spaces as 'social condenser': places, and phenomena, which could be challenging in order to emphasize processes for a democratic participation in planning and urban management.
• The workshop will mix communication by invited researchers, interdisciplinary team-work and relations with citizens and stakeholders.
• After this analysis, workshop participants will be asked for a draft proposal of a new “social condenser” and develop in tandem with local participants (administrators, stakeholders, focus groups etc.) a strategic plan for a future which will nurture and allow such spaces to continue and grow within the city.