Requalification of Buoncammino Avenue

Cagliari, Cagliari (FUA), Italy

City population: 384743

Duration: 2022 – 2023

Implementation status: Completed

Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)

Project area: 6799 m²

Type of area: Mixed-use development (combination of residential, commercial, and/or industrial)

Last updated: September 2024

The requalification project for Viale Buoncammino in Cagliari aims to revitalize the historic promenade while preserving its original layout and functions. Launched in September 2022 and completed in 2023, the project focused on enhancing the area’s aesthetic and environmental appeal. Key improvements include expanding green spaces by adding 560 new square meters, enhancing vegetation, and reducing surface runoff. This involves increasing permeable surfaces around existing trees to boost natural vegetation, improve bioclimatic comfort, and manage runoff during heavy rains. The project also includes reconstructing pavements, optimizing seating areas, and repositioning urban furniture for better functionality and aesthetics. A modern LED lighting system will be installed to reduce energy consumption and operational costs, supporting the project's sustainability goals. The area is included between via Anfiteatro, viale Buoncammino and viale Giussani and also includes the squares F.Pilia and Marongiu-Pernis. The project aims to restore Viale Buoncammino as a dynamic social and cultural hub in Cagliari, appealing to both residents and visitors. (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Image of the requalified area thanks to the implementation of the project.

Comune di Cagliari. n.d. “Viale Buoncammino: Una Nuova Promenade per La Città.” Comune Di Cagliari. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.comune.cagliari.it/portale/page/it/viale_buoncammino_una_nuova_promenade_per_la_citta?contentId=FPR165692.

Overview

Nature-based solution

Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation

Key challenges

Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change adaptation
Environmental quality
Soil quality improvement
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Water management (SDG 6)
Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Creation of opportunities for recreation

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

Climate-Related Hazards
Urban flooding (stormwater)
Landslides & mudslides
Environmental Degradation
Soil degradation and loss
Land use and Socio-economic change
Economic losses due to disasters and environmental degradation
Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
Insecurity in public spaces

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation

Project objectives

The project in Viale Buoncammino focuses the following goals: -Expansion of green spaces (additions of flowerbeds, grass, trees), improvement of soil, and reduction of surface runoff by desealing and depaving around existing trees, allowing for better water absorption and improved natural vegetation. -Reduction of runoff during heavy rains and enhancement of bioclimatic comfort, making the promenade more resilient to climate change while maintaining its original layout and historical features. -Modernization of the infrastructure by installing energy-efficient LED lighting, significantly cutting energy consumption and operational costs. -Preservation of the promenade’s cultural significance, transforming Viale Buoncammino into a more sustainable, vibrant, and recreational space for both residents and visitors (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Implementation activities

The process begins with assessing the current condition of the promenade and developing a detailed plan to maintain its historical features while incorporating modern improvements. The next phase focuses on reconstructing and upgrading pavements and infrastructure to enhance safety and functionality. In fact, of the total 6,800 square meters, the area dedicated to greenery will increase to 1,548 square meters from the current 987 square meters, as well as adding 60 new trees. The lighting system is modernized with energy-efficient LEDs to improve visibility and reduce costs. The project for the redevelopment of public lighting systems involved the complete overhaul of the systems themselves in most areas: new supports and new lighting fixtures equipped with LED sources was installed. The implementation of a remote control system for individual lighting fixtures was implemented.Final adjustments include landscaping and integrating new urban furniture (Refs. 1, 2, 3 & 4).

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater

Climate change mitigation:

Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)

Main beneficiaries

Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Co-management/Joint management

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

City Administration (Comune di Cagliari): The city administration is responsible for initiating and overseeing the project. They provide the funding, define the project scope, and ensure that the redevelopment aligns with the city's urban planning and development goals. Costruzioni Gestioni Pubbliche e Private (CGP): CGP, as the appointed construction company or project manager, is responsible for executing the construction work, managing the project logistics, coordinating with subcontractors, and ensuring quality control and compliance with regulations Funding was provided by the local municipality, the Italian government and the EU. (Refs. 2 & 6).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown

... a national policy or strategy? Yes (Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR - Piano nazionale ripresa e resilienza) and the national Strategy for sustainable urban development in Italian Metropolitan Cities(Ref. 8,9) (Ref. 8))

... a local policy or strategy? Yes (PON Metro Cagliari strategy (8,9))

Type of enablers

Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Support from transitional governance actors, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

Public local authority budget
Public national budget
EU funds

Type of funding

Earmarked public budget
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution

Provision of land

Who provided the non-financial contribution?

Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

Climate change
Energy efficiency improvements
Expected energy efficiency improvements
Improved resilience against landslides
Expected improved resilience against landslides
Environmental quality
Improved soil quality
Achieved improved soil quality
Water management and blue areas
Increased protection against flooding
Expected increased protection against flooding
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Expected increased green space area

Economic impacts

Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

Social justice and cohesion
Improved liveability
Expected improved liveability
Safety
Increased perception of safety
Expected increased perception of safety

Type of reported impacts

Presence of formal monitoring system

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Yes

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Economic impacts, Temporary or permanent closure of local markets or businesses

References

Comune di Cagliari (n.d.). Viale Buoncammino: una nuova promenade per la città. Cagliari: Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Comune di Cagliari (n.d.). "Riqualificazione Ambientale e Paesaggistica della Passeggiata sul Viale Buoncammino. Cagliari: Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

ANSA (2022). Cagliari, progetto da 3 mln per passeggiata a Buoncammino. Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Rapeanu, P (2023). Cagliari, ecco il nuovo viale Buoncammino senza radici pericolose e chioschi: 400 metri con panchine e fontanelle. Casteddu Online, Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Comune Cagliari Newa (2015). Nel viale Buoncammino iniziano i lavori. Più spazi verdi e arredi urbani. Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Comune di Cagliari (2022). Dettaglio Gara. Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Rapeanu, P (2023). Giù 4 chioschi tra le lacrime in viale Buoncammino a Cagliari: “Dove andremo dopo 40 anni?”. Casteddu Online, Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Italian Government (n.d.). PNRR: rivoluzione verde e transizione ecologica. Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Metro Plus e Città Medie Sud (n.d.). Città Metro Plus. Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

10.

Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante Demografico di Cagliari 2022. Cagliari: Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];

Image of the requalified area thanks to the implementation of the project.