Symbiotic Regeneration
A post pandemic evolution of Biella as a medial territory.
A Symbiotic City has mutually beneficial relationships with its macro and micro ecosystems. The transition to a symbiotic city requires a cultural and economic recognition that we are embedded in and dependent upon our ecosystems. It enhances the natural environment, sustainable economic activity, and quality of life.
POLITECNICO DI TORINO
- Laurea Magistrale in Architettura per il Progetto Sostenibile
Atelier D / Urban Design
prof. Michele Cerruti But / Urban Planning
prof. Daniela Ciaffi / Urban Sociology
Gauri Mankeekar I Nicolas Esteban I Batuhan Dizlek I Disha
Shroff I Aditya Joshi
Climate Urbanism Planning
Biella, Italy
City scale
Auto-CAD I Photoshop
Analysis I Conceptualisation
Biella, Italy
City scale
Auto-CAD I Photoshop
Analysis I Conceptualisation
Project type :
Location :
Area :
Software :
Skills :
Location :
Area :
Software :
Skills :
Project proposal & it’s social considerations
Emergent Metropolis:
Concept emerges as country side
living for the growing population in
the medial territories. The 3 natural
reserves around Biella are
connected with 2 major green
belts along the rivers. A network of
smaller green corridors is laid
across the city in connection with
the major belts. The urban cells
thus formed now move towards
regeneration & self sustenance
through 3 steps - the abandoned
are up-cycled, the existing is
preserved and newer interventions
are in collaboration with the need
of the specific urban cells.
Concept emerges as country side
living for the growing population in
the medial territories. The 3 natural
reserves around Biella are
connected with 2 major green
belts along the rivers. A network of
smaller green corridors is laid
across the city in connection with
the major belts. The urban cells
thus formed now move towards
regeneration & self sustenance
through 3 steps - the abandoned
are up-cycled, the existing is
preserved and newer interventions
are in collaboration with the need
of the specific urban cells.
Built environment analysis:
- Symbiotic relationship
- Abandoned infrastructure.
- Industrial city.
- Abandoned infrastructure.
- Industrial city.
In order to understand the impact
of built environment on climate, it
is important to understand the
association of built with life and
nature around.Hence in the process of analysing the built environment of Biella, we have tried to draw a relationship between 3 main factors:
- Existing infrastructure categories.
- Their distance from the city center
- Natural topography
The fragmented morphology of
infrastructure for low population in
Biella directly points at the following major concerns :
-High carbon footprint compared
to built up.
-Waste of resources ( energy ) to
provide services to the secluded
areas
-High maintenance cost
-Lack of public transport due to less density.
of built environment on climate, it
is important to understand the
association of built with life and
nature around.Hence in the process of analysing the built environment of Biella, we have tried to draw a relationship between 3 main factors:
- Existing infrastructure categories.
- Their distance from the city center
- Natural topography
The fragmented morphology of
infrastructure for low population in
Biella directly points at the following major concerns :
-High carbon footprint compared
to built up.
-Waste of resources ( energy ) to
provide services to the secluded
areas
-High maintenance cost
-Lack of public transport due to less density.
40% residential
10% historic
10% commercial
15% public
25% industrial
10% historic
10% commercial
15% public
25% industrial
Landuse
Residential
Industrial
40% reorganisation
35% old
25% new
35% old
25% new
80% old
20% new
20% new
- Develop Biella as medial territory
- Bring its people back
- Liven up the city
- Bring its people back
- Liven up the city
Natural environment analysis
- River as textile heritage.
- Dried up river, needs revival
- Ground water recharge
- Dried up river, needs revival
- Ground water recharge
The confluence of mountain ranges,
valleys, plains & rivers identified as
the node of Cervo valley for the
image of Biella. The Cervo river
flowing through the city of the Biella
identified as an edge & landmark
since it has long been used in the
rich heritage of textile industries.
valleys, plains & rivers identified as
the node of Cervo valley for the
image of Biella. The Cervo river
flowing through the city of the Biella
identified as an edge & landmark
since it has long been used in the
rich heritage of textile industries.
The Cervo river flowing through the
city of the Biella identified as an
edge & landmark since it has long
been used in the rich heritage of
textile industries.
city of the Biella identified as an
edge & landmark since it has long
been used in the rich heritage of
textile industries.
Understanding the vast presence of
natural ecosystems on the whole
area, we have to strongly consider
the principal ecological structure as
one powerful tool to approach a
possible solution.
natural ecosystems on the whole
area, we have to strongly consider
the principal ecological structure as
one powerful tool to approach a
possible solution.
Valleys
Rivers
Natural reserves
Agriculture & farm lands
Forrests
Significant areas of interest
Greens
Rivers
Natural reserves
Agriculture & farm lands
Forrests
Significant areas of interest
Greens
Result of planning is improved socio-cultural lifre making it cohesive.
15 minute walkable neighbourhood with more nature & less pollution.
Cells organised so, each is a neighbourhood with hierarchy of spatial planning.
Soft scape with potential for ground-water recharge & ecosystem boom.
Green belt along the axes & connecting them with minor green belts across.
Identifying the 2 rivers as main axes that also interconnect the 3 natural reserves.
Landuse
Residential
Commercial
Public
Adaptive reuse
Social / Cultural
Sports
Energy barns
Circulation
Verhicular
Pedestrian
Residential
Commercial
Public
Adaptive reuse
Social / Cultural
Sports
Energy barns
Circulation
Verhicular
Pedestrian
Regeneration of residential neighbourhoods -
Creating a sensitive country side living environment.
Creating a sensitive country side living environment.
Co-existence : How to establish a
symbitioic relationship between the
built and un-built such that none of
them over power's the other ?
symbitioic relationship between the
built and un-built such that none of
them over power's the other ?
Regeneration of industrial edge -
Softening the active edge with
agricultural lands.
Softening the active edge with
agricultural lands.
Resilience and Climate Adaptation : How to develop & implement
strategies for both adaptation &
increasing the resilience capacity of cities in the face of future shocks and stresses associated with increasing anthropogenic climate change?
strategies for both adaptation &
increasing the resilience capacity of cities in the face of future shocks and stresses associated with increasing anthropogenic climate change?
Regeneration of abandoned
infrastructure -
Adapting to the immediate
neighbourhood requirements.
infrastructure -
Adapting to the immediate
neighbourhood requirements.
Regeneration, Symbiosis & Self
Sustenance : How to regenerate the damage that has already been done to existing ecosystems and move towards a state of symbiosis & self sufficiency with local and regional ecosystems?
Sustenance : How to regenerate the damage that has already been done to existing ecosystems and move towards a state of symbiosis & self sufficiency with local and regional ecosystems?
Regeneration of river basins- Generating spaces for socio- cultural exchange.
Environmental Harm Reduction : How to plan for the growth and densification of cities while at the same time reducing the city's negative impact on the ecosystems they are embedded in?
Biella territory
Mix
Open apple
Industrial
Closed apple
Irregular
Contemporary
Grid
Cervo Valley
Section across river
Section across agriculturlal fields on river banks
Section across forest lands
Section across mountains
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