Last updated: October 2021
The Project "Let's Open the Walls" is an integrated program of urban and social regeneration interventions that aimed to revitalize a portion of the Venice Commune (that is, one in the former neighbourhood Quartiere Due: Dorsoduro, Santa Marta, Giudecca, Santa Croce, San Basilio). The program, promoted by the City of Venice and funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in 2004, provides for social inclusion and the weakest sections of the population and involved several interventions, including the planting of trees and the creation of green spaces for social activities. In particular, the Urban Italia program addressed to Venice is named: “Apriamo i Muri” (Opening the walls). It refers to the work-field “Quartiere 2” (District 2), in which are concentrated many actions that the city Administration has planned and approved during these last years. The Administration's objective was to transform and revitalize the degraded areas of the Venetian historical center, also through innovative actions. The program aims generally at urban, infrastructure and social regeneration of the Quartiere 2, moreover, it responds through articulated specific works to the critical complexity of the area. (1 and 4).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Real estate development
- Employment/job creation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
The Administration's objective was to transform and revitalize the degraded areas of the Venetian historical center, also through innovative actions. The program aims generally at urban, infrastructure and social regeneration of the Quartiere 2, including the recovery of already existing green areas and the creation of new ones to stimulate outdoor social interactions (5).
Implementation activities
The project focuses on several interventions of urban and social development. One of these is the demolition of an abandoned incineration site and the environmental rehabilitation of the area through the construction of new green spaces for families to spend time outdoors and a children playground (1 and 2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Project funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, promoted by the City of Venice. Other partners of the project were: Actv, Centro Universitario Teatrale Shylock, Associazione "Il Granello di Senape", Associazione Stella Maris' Friends, Ater, Autorità Portuale di Venezia, Consorzio Cantieristica Minore Veneziana, Cooperativa Sociale "Il Cerchio", Cooperativa Sociale "Rio Terà dei Pensieri", U.e.p.e. Venezia, Belluno, Treviso (ex Cssa), Edilvenezia, Istituzione per la conservazione della gondola e la tutela del gondoliere, Esu Venezia, Immobiliare Molino Stucky, Insula, Ire - Istituzioni di Ricovero e di Educazione, Iuav, Judeca Nova, Ministero della Giustizia - Dip. dell'Amm. Penitenziaria, Casa Circondariale di Venezia, Università Ca' Foscari, Vesta (1 and 4).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(All of the urban renewal programs represent nowadays in Italy important functional revitalizing motors for the degraded districts of our cities. The communitarian policy has set this objective at the focal point of the Urban I (1994-1999) and Urban II (2000-2006) actions (5).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project is part of the Urban Italia Program (2 and 4). )
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(This project covers a particular importance within the guidelines and operational conditions of the municipal Strategic Plan, reordering all of the urban renewal interventions, which are destined to re-vitalize and renovate both the city's social and the infra-structural patterns. In order to move towards active housing policies, the presence of housing assistance providing for services becomes necessary (kindergartens, public spaces, cultural services), as well as the regeneration of stable population (new residents, active people and activities, integration between different stable and temporary residents) (5).)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Ristretti (no date) Venice: the Urban Italy Project "Let's open the walls". Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
2. Apriamo i muri: Source link [not available as of October, 2020]
3. Apriamo i muri Brochure. (2004) Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
4. Municipality of Venice: Source link [not available as of October, 2020]
5. EN version Project Brochure: attached
6. Success and further financing of the project: Source link [not available as of October, 2020]
7. Direzione Centrale Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Comunitarie (no date) Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Comunitarie. Urban Italia "Apriamo i muri". Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
8. Artway (no date) 20 URBAN LET'S OPEN THE WALLS. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
2. Apriamo i muri: Source link [not available as of October, 2020]
3. Apriamo i muri Brochure. (2004) Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
4. Municipality of Venice: Source link [not available as of October, 2020]
5. EN version Project Brochure: attached
6. Success and further financing of the project: Source link [not available as of October, 2020]
7. Direzione Centrale Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Comunitarie (no date) Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Comunitarie. Urban Italia "Apriamo i muri". Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
8. Artway (no date) 20 URBAN LET'S OPEN THE WALLS. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.