center
for self-sustainable local development
INTERNAL PUBLICATIONS
1. Seven Rules and Three Main Principles to Reframe the
City’s Domain (Collaboration with the IUAV, Università di Roma
La
2. Rescued Water (October 1996), R.E. Trevisiol,
S. Parancola (editors)
3. Self-sustainability Agenda (May, 1997) E. R.
Trevisiol (ed.)
4. Strategy for Social Managment of Econtones: Examples
of Best Managment Practices fo rthe Creation of the Park of the Venice
Lagoon
5. Cartagena de Indias: Polictics and Urban Politics
for a City of Water. (text in Italian and Spanish), October, 1996 E.R.
Trevisiol (ed.)
6. Ecoscambio Project: Community Environmental Management
Of Protected Areas Of Special Ecological And Socio-Economic Significance
In Brazil.
7. WATER PLANNING. History, self-sustainable technologies,practices
(1999)
1. Seven Rules and Three Main Principles to Reframe the City’s Domain (Collaboration with the IUAV, Università di Roma La Sapienza, October 1994) Text in Italian, English, Spanish. R.E. Trevisiol (editor)
The demographic explosion that began in the middle of the XXth century in places like Latin America created, among other phenomenons, large metropolitan regions with almost one half of the population living in slums (or illegally). These marginal areas are inadequate because the number of living quarters is insufficient and because of the scarcity of land remaining. Living quarters were imagined and built by popular demand in view of substinence needs, thus creating environments that do not meet the minimum necessary conditions for human life.
Addressing this issue, the International Workshop of Latin American Urbanistics assembled proposals and experiences to develop and refine methods of professional teaching and practice of Urban Planning. The intention was to improve this discipline since it has the responsibility of designing environments suitable for human life.
With this goal, five universities from different countries and cultures,
have embarked on an advanced program of urbanistic activities, specifically
addressing the issues faced by Latin America. The joint effort strives
to improve the quality of life in this part of the world and to refine
the process of professional development of the urban planner. Institutions
and individuals from the orginal five universities as well as from outside
the group are invited to participate in the endeavor.
2. Rescued Water (October 1996), R.E. Trevisiol, S. Parancola (editors)
This publication is a summary of presentations made in a conference entitled “Rescued Water” in Venice (May 10, 1996). The general aim of the conference was to compare a series of interdisciplanary experiences. This type of forum is essential (for example in the design a natural wastewater treatment system) since it strengthens the environmental justification of project planning and urban design. In this context, the term “Bioplanning” can be defined as a new discipline that, in some countries, has developed naturally through schooling, programs of study, and institutional titles.
Planners and designers of contemporary water distribution and purification systems must learn from the lessons of the past. The success or failure of strategies that have been attempted in the past should be examined and the environmental soundness of earlier technologies assessed. Large utility networks, a direct result of the development of concentrated settlements in the industrial world, is one such example. In these networks, high technology solutions were positioned at discreet points in an extensive network of transport. The logic behind networks transporting traffic, energy, water, or wastewater is the same. Today, however, through experience, it can be stated with certainty that utility networks are only economical if the concentration of the population served by the network remains above a certain threshold and if the branches of the network, in terms of linear feet required to serve one user, does not exceed a certain standard. For example, a sewer system is only economical if less than 10 meters of sewer pipe are required per resident served by the network. Moreover, before using concrete, designers should take into account the ductility, resistance, and environmental compatibility of traditional construction materials like “la calce e maltz in coccio pesto” (grained cotto) often eliminated without consideration simply because they are not modern.
The projects presented during the conference displayed an integrated
use of the water cycle from its collection, to its distribution, and finally
its purification. Projects were presented both at city level and the building
level, the latter not having been given much attention in recent scientific
publications, especially by Italian planners. The participants and speakers
cited in the publication are:
Erich R. Trevisiol (Professor DAEST - IUAV) introductory lecture, Raymond
Fismer (Environmental engineer, Prinzhoefte Ecological Center, Brema) Treatment
and Reuse of Wastewater in Natural Treatment Systems in Germany, Enrico
Micelli (Architect, President ANAB), Reuse and Conservation of Water: Some
Italian Examples, Giorgio Gianighian (Architect, DU - IUAV) Venice and
Fresh Water: Reintroduction of the use of Ancient Systems Through the Rehabilitation
of Traditional Cisters, Andreina Zitelli (Professor, Environmental Engineering,
DAEST - IUAV) Quality and Management of Water in an Integrated System,
Gilberto Quarneti (Director, Study Center “Vitruvio, Padova), Systems,
Techniques, and Materials for the Containment of “Water-Friendly” Materials.
Franco Montalto (Civil Engineer, Fulbright Research Scholar, USA) An Overview
of the Use of Natural Treatment Systems in North America, Stefanella Ebhardt
(Natural Treatment Systems Researcher, Sweden) The Case in Sweden: The
Use of Natural Treatment Systems on a Small Scale, Stefano Parancola (Architect,
Legambiente Padua) The use of Water in the Architectural Design: Learning
from History, Paolo Tamai, Katia Bernar, and Giulio LaFranca (Bioecological
Architects, Milano) Revitalization of Public Spaces in Milan’s Park: the
Water Cycle and the Urban Environment
The contents of the publication are as follows:
General Objectives:
The aim of the Workshop, was the comparison of experiences, projects,
and plans based on the integrated use of water with respect to:
· various sectors and levels of intervention (regional, urban,
building);
· various phases of the water cycle (use of rainwater, internal
and external distribution, water treatment, including also the relationship
between water and landscape)
Emphasis was given to:
· three territorial sample areas (Italy, North-Central Europe,
USA, all of them particularly significant and rich in experience)
· an interdisciplinary perspective (guests included architects,
planners, biologists, environmental engineers, and historians)
Targets
1. Assessment of the current situation in sectors such as water recycling
and natural wastewater treatment systems (quantity and quality of the experiences
of each country, relationship among projects, techniques and planning,
relationship between implementation plans and local actors involved)
2. Overview and cataloging of existing research materials based on
typology and scale of interventions;
3. Evaluation of plans and building projects using indicators of sustainability
3. Self-sustainability Agenda (May, 1997) E. R. Trevisiol (ed.)
The roots of the new outlook on development and the principles for the construction of a sustainable city that go along with it, can be traced back to the Stockholm conference on the urban environment, where the idea was originally introduced. More progress was made during the Habitat I conference in Vancouver, the Earth Summit of Rio de Janeiro. and during the last conference of the great cycle, Habitat II in Istanbul.
This paper describes the objectives of sustainable development as presented during these International Conferences. In particular, the paper presents the contents and documents of Habitat II. The differences and shortcomings of the Istanbul conference are highlighted, and any innovations developed by the Habitat section dedicated to the Best Practices for Improving Living Environments are examined. The contents of the Best Practices data banks are described briefly and assessed. Finally, several fundamental issues developed during the Habitat II discussions concerning sustainable urban and regional planning are summarized. The index used for this evaluation is the Self-sustainable Local Development (SLD) - in Italian SLA-, developed by the Italian Territorial School.
Briefly, these issues are:
a) planning is still an essential instrument in developing
sustainable human settlements in an urbanizing world; the output of
territorial quality is an essential indicator of sustainability;
b) there is confirmation of the importance of those modifications
introduced into the discipline of human settlements planning from the
group of sciences that go under the name of “sciences of complexity” (i.e.
new thermodynamics, epistemology, ecology, landscape ecology, ecology of
settlements, ecological economics, social partnership sociology, bioarchitecture
and bioplanning or environmental planning or environmentally sound land-use
planning);
c) the remark on the redefinition of the figure of the planner
(urban and regional planner) and on the forms of planning production
is crucial. It is necessary to retrieve those approaches to sustainability
that underline the importance of the “self” and of “local”, accompanied
by the principle of active subsidiarity;
d) in sustainable planning and in the implementation of its
policies, a return to the original referents (stakeholders) of sustainable
development is essential, that is, local societies (with which new
partnerships need to be built that “also” include the intended planners
and traditional plan);
e) the set of indicators for sustainable development
must include the indicators for satisfying basic needs, but also the efficacy
indicators that amount to cultural sufficiency with technical efficiency
and the perceptive and aesthetic indicators that lead to a new biogenic
aesthetic. In this way, a certain tradition of the sustainability indicators
based on the assessment of the environmental impact only, can be improved:
f) the recovery of a world dimension of sustainable development
must indeed include the necessities, the voices, and the projects of the
Southern Hemisphere (which means both urban projects in the North that
take into consideration the relapses in the South in terms of globalization
of the development effects, as well as international funds for developing
countries of the South, based above all on the growth of the endogenous
capacity and on the institutional building).
The authors are:
- A. Magnaghi (Facoltà di Architettura di Firenze, DUPT). Title:
Il punto sullo Sviluppo Locale Autosostenibile.
- C. M. Cavelli (Member of the Commissione di Impatto Ambientale at
the Ministero dell’Ambiente). Title: Verifica della praticabilità
ed efficacia delle soluzioni di Habitat II, Strumenti per valutare l’autosostenibilità.
- W. Sachs (Estensore Rapporto Wuppertal). Title: Otto idee per un
futuro sostenibile.
- E. Mortola (Facoltà di Architettura della Terza Università
di Roma). Title: L’esperienza dei Laboratori Municipali di quartiere del
Comune di Roma.
- A. Giangrande (Facoltà di Architettura della Terza Università
di Roma). Title: L’esperienza dei Laboratori Municipali di quartiere del
Comune di Roma.
- A. Tarozzi (Facoltà di Scienze Politiche Università
di Bologna). Title: Sostenibilità/autosostenibilità lessico
negli anni ‘90.
- E. Salzano (Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia, Corso
di Laurea in Pianificazione Territoriale, Urbanistica ed Ambientale). Title:
Sostenibilità nella pianificazione.
- G. Ferraresi (Politecnico di Milano). Title: I soggetti del progetto
ecologico dell’abitare.
- E. Scandurra (Facoltà di Ingegneria dell’Università
di Roma “La sapienza”. Title: Quali cambiamenti la complessità pone
all’Urbanistica?
4. Strategy for Social Managment of Econtones: Examples of Best Managment Practices fo rthe Creation of the Park of the Venice Lagoon
The Venice Unit of MURST/CNR National Research Group - “Laboratory for territorial analysis and ecological planning of human settlements” - has always focused its research on the Venice Lagoon, both because of the obvious territorial-environmental links and the significance of the lagoon’s resources and associated problems. One particularly interesting research area is a series of initiatives - undertaken mainly by the local population - aimed at re-establishing a balanced relationship between Man and the Environment, (the concept of sustainable development.) The Venetian context provides a rich setting for conducting this study and for defining new local strategies for sustainability. The Venice unit therefore concentrated not only on identifying local actors and their activities but also on locating initiatives in “participatory planning,” examples (or proposals) of co-management, and activities carried out jointly by various partners in the local community, including local administrative bodies and others.
However, the Venice unit was not only concerned with analysing the current situation. It also attempted to define favorable conditions for the development of new participatory processes and instruments required to stimulate such processes.
The framework devised for the analysis of these variables (presently at a conceptual level) is the “Venice Lagoon Park” proposal. This proposal calls for a park which, from a modern point of view, could essentially become a “laboratory” for guaging the success of natural protection strategies, and for assessing the best use of resources. The park could be used to test out new technologies, and architectural and planning concepts and to improve the quality of life.
The process whereby such an institution is created should encourage
the extensive participation of local actors and should stimulate far-reaching
discussion between the various branches of public administration and the
other involved sectors, many of whose activities may have a high environmental
impact. The actor selected for specific analysis here is the association
‘Forum for the Venice Lagoon’ being one of the most active local actors
in this field.
5. Cartagena de Indias: Polictics and Urban Politics for a City of Water. (text in Italian and Spanish), October, 1996 E.R. Trevisiol (ed.)
This report covers facts about environmental planning developed during
an educational intership at Cartagena de Indias in 1992. The structure
of the volume reflects the methodology employed in conducting the environmental
impact study. The report is divided according to territorial level (regional
level, “cienagas region”, urban region, bottleneck zone, study area) In
each of the sections of the report, all phases of the environmental impact
study are presented and discussed: Phase I- screening, initial identification
of task, Phase II- scoping, preliminary assessment, Phase III- final assessment,
with project modifications and proposals for mitigation of impacts. The
presentation, including specific materials chosen (strong cartography),
allows various modes of reading (for example, a reading of the maps independent
of the text, and vice versa). Overlays (available in MiniCAD4) are applied
to a vector base of the area, allowing the local government and others
to make modifications according to environmental changes of the area.
6. Ecoscambio Project: Community Environmental Management Of Protected Areas Of Special Ecological And Socio-Economic Significance In Brazil. R.E.Trevisiol, M. Ghiori, Members of the "Ecoscambio Scientific Committee" and Advisors to the Brazil Project. University Institute of Architecture in Venice- DAEST.
The Ecoscambio Project attempts to carry out activities in the field and to monitor the on-going process. Monitoring and evaluation are considered essential to test the methodology applied. An important objective is to show how, through methods of the Primary Environmental Care-Pec, it is possible to start processes of sustainable development driven by the local community. Ecoscambio also aims to diffuse the experiences and to establish a relationship among local communities in Brazil, Italy, and Nicaragua.
The Project is being carried out in some Brazilian national parks and
in other areas where the interactions between local community and natural
ecosystems are strong. The following evaluation concerns the Bacia do Rio
Cobre, i.e. the intervention area located in Salvador-Bahia, where the
Metropolitan Park São Bartolomeu /Pirajá. is
located. The main objectives of this Project are the following:
1. Facilitate intersectorial coordination through the
establishment of a "Local Center for Socio-Environmental Action and Research";
2. Propose integrated regional analysis methodologies through
the use of Partecipatory Rapid Appraisal and GIS ;
3. Propose strategic planning methodologies (local strategy
for sustainability);
4. Support specific actions through local development funds.
7. WATER PLANNING. History, self-sustainable
technologies,practices (1999)
Author: Erich Roberto Trevisiol
In collaboration with: Stefano Parancola.
The CD is available in a free web version in : http://www.edilitaly.com/streams
Co-ordinator of STREAMS Project - Venice: Erich Roberto Trevisiol.
Scientific Coordination, STREAMS: Stefano Parancola.
Editorial Coordination, STREAMS: Jane da Mosto.
Scientific and Technical Advisers: LABSLA, FORUM per la Laguna di Venezia
(Roberto Russo), Federgasacqua (Renato Drusiani), IUAV-DAEST (Domenico
Patassini), EUROSIP.
Texts: Erich Roberto Trevisiol (CD text).
Specific Contributions: Stefano Parancola (Water,Settlements and History),
Jane da Mosto (Our Common Water), Roberto Barilli (Water Grammar).
Graphics: Tommaso Scarpari (Abaci of the Water Cycle), Marco Bottaro,
Cinzia Rinzafri (Our Common Water).
Statistical Analysis: Domenico Patassini ( Our Common Water).
Software and Graphics: N.C.C.Net Computer Center,Via Carducci 1,Vigodarzere,
Padova, Italia. Abukar Ali Elmi (Director), abukar@nccgroup.net
CD ROM PROMOTERS
This project was promoted and co-financed by DG XI of the European
Commission. It was supported by various other Partners (Federgasacqua,
AMAG/Az.Servizi Pd, ASPIV, CIGRI, CONSIAG, SEABO, EUROSIP ), including
a contribution MURST 60% IUAV-DAEST 1998 and MURST 40% 1996-98, Network
Il Corno, Venice Team.
CD NATURE - BRIEF DESCRIPTION
This CD-ROM is at the same time an agile and technical handbook, addressed
not only at experts and professionals on the integrated water cycle, but
also at administrators, students and all those interested in water as an
essential resource for the third millennium. As a complete exposition of
projects and practices promoted by public and private water companies,
the CD represents a real tool for communication. This multimedia product
is only one of the outcomes of the STREAMS Project (Sustainability Through
Raising Environmental Awareness in Municipal Settlements), realized during
1998 and ended in 1999.
The main purpose of this multimedia product is to provide a complete
panorama of the main themes relating to planning an integrated cycle for
water resource management. It being an extensive field, a brief general
view is given (Italy and elsewhere) while the main focus is on the illustration
of “non-conventional” techniques. This refers to the family of techniques
which address the complete water cycle, using mainly natural systems and
technologies: a wide area of overlap between traditional plant design and
installations (i.e. traditional collection and surface circulation systems,
activated mud plants, percolation filters and booster circulation systems)
and other operations generically designed to re-naturalise or restore the
self-purifying properties of natural and built environments. Particular
attention has been given to the water utility as an element of urban quality
improvement. In general, the contents of this CD-ROM are based on decentralisation
rather than concentration and artificial operations. For this reason, plant
design along the various stages of the water cycle requires solutions,
which are specific to territorial and environmental variations. In order
to make such a project it is necessary to join knowledge to solve hydraulic
problems, agronomic and geological processes, introduction in the historical
context, landscape preservation, and verification of the results obtained.
Above all, local communities should be directly involved in any water conservation
project.
CD SUBJECT
Water, settlements and history
This section underlies the excursus of the history of water in relation
to the genesis and development of human settlements.
Abacus of the water cycle
An innovative set of “abaci” - guidelines concerning the techniques
and systems relevant to sustainable planning of the water cycle.
Best Practices
Some examples of Best Practices (BP), in Europe and in Italy, which
are subjected to an evaluation methodology. The second part of this chapter
describes some Italian BP cases, selected by the Water Companies themselves.
Our common water: a survey on water quality and awareness issues
The survey, carried out in autumn 1998 in two distinct localities,
Venice and Padua, included approximately 200 people and had two principle
objectives: test awareness levels regarding water; promote water saving
and integrated management of the water cycle by making the results of the
enquiry available to the general public as well as public administrations,
thereby facilitating improved measures of the market for non conventional
technologies.
Water and regulations
Outlines of the water European and Italian legislation. In addition,
the main international water conferences are listed along with the major
declarations and Charters. Finally, there is a report on urban planning
instruments for the so-called “municipal planning”in water resource protection.
The room of wonders
An illustration of 6 “water projects” with an invitation to explore
the magic world of water through various times and cultures of the east
and west.
Glossary
One of the most complete listing available in the Italian (and foreign)
literature containing around 300 words concerning the water cycle. A lexical
collection designed to allow rapid understanding of the words most frequently
used in the water project.
Thematic bibliography
It is composed of various sections: general texts (history, planning,
project design, water culture); the second part is specific to the water
cycle; other sections are dedicated to green architecture, eco-engineering,
ecologically sensitive urban and land-use planning; ecology and landscape
ecology. Finally, some titles on Feng Shui and sustainability.
Main sites of the water cycle
It is subdivided into: main web site for the water cycle, other relevant
sites, sites relating to water and the environment in the rest of the world,
partners list and web and finally reference sites of the “Urban Forum for
Sustainable Development” network.
Presentation of partners
Brief description of all partners participating in the Venice U. Forum
“Streams” project.
text by labsla@iuav.it
(Erich Trevisiol e Stefano Parancola)
html by webdaest@iuav.it
(Renato Gibin)
february 2001