Lecture at Iuav University of Venice • EAHR Master Emergency & Resilience
Introducing reuse, participation and reversibility topics, we analysed the case study of the city of Venice and reported the latest experiences abroad. We present the video Architecture and Degrowth.
1. INTERNATIONAL CASES
Set of four interviews with organizations that develop architectural and urban projects in humanitarian emergency contexts:
- Ian Lodge – Cal-Earth, Hesperia, California
- Teddy Cruz – Estudio Teddy Cruz, La Jolla, California
- Jessica Gaddis – Earthship Biotecture, Taos, New Mexico
- Elena Barthel – Rural Studio, Newbern, Alabama
Interviews in original language recorded in the USA between April and May 2012, mixed in a 20 minutes video, with Italian subtitles.
2. REUSE, PARTICIPATION AND REVERSIBILITY STRATEGIES
Reuse – environmental topic that reconsiders the use of resources. Example: beams dismissed after a railway transport are reused to build a geodesic dome. In this case we are talking about recycled materials, that have exhausted their function but are still usable for other projects.
Participation – social topic that implicate the increase of agents in the process of space de nition and the involvement of even non-professional gures. Example: a theoretical-practical workshop in which tutors’ role is limited to involving and supervising students’ activities.
Reversibility – topic of environmental importance. Reversibility in architecture means being able to restore the initial conditions, then adopt a non-invasive design strategy.
3. CASE STUDY: VENICE CITY
Examples of strategies for facing Venice city’s local emergencies: precarious housing, gentrification and environmental pollution.
3.1. COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COLLECTIVES
For designing and building together a spatial device hosting a permanent space of debate.
3.2. MULTIPLYING THE EFFECT OF LOCAL COLLABORATIONS
Involving a foreign firm invited to an international architectural show.
4. RESILIENCE STRATEGIES: MORE EXPERIENCES
In Morocco, teaching to a local building team how to build a superadobe dome seedbed with the Cal- Earth method.
In Terni, assisting to a local community empowerment, after the 72 Hours Urban Action workshop.
