Smortr > Thein Manimekalai Sowrirajan >Regenerative Design

Regenerative Design

A project proposal to regenerate a peripheral neighborhood with a new identity, community life and altered outlook within society

Piazza Kaleidoscope , Gratosoglio, Milan.

01 Neighborhood ≠ Future prospects

We started the project wanting to change the mindset of the youth, that they can change their course of the future. They get judged because of where they come from, the periphery. How can poverty cycle be broken?

02 The current condition

Through interviews conducted with local actors, adult residents expressed a strong discontent with the state of the neighborhood and a possessed a sense of hopelessness for its future contributing further towards the unbreakable poverty cycle.

03 Framework proposal

The proposal of creative urban village ecosystem are creative spaces, creative people and a creative economy. These elements interweave as part of a nexus, serving as the foundation of the neighborhood revival framework.

BRIEF

Gratosoglio is a peripheral neighborhood characterized with deteriorated social fabric after the mid-70’s. The economic crisis caused a sharp decline in the neighborhood’s vitality, as drug-related crime and violence began to emerge. The brief was to define regenerative design ideas. neighborhood.

CHALLENGE

The problem of poverty in Gratosoglio runs very deep, pulling residents into an unbreakable poverty trap. The youth are at the highest risk because they come to terms with their “inevitable fate” therefore losing their desire to aspire, further their education, pursue employment and other social goals.

GOALS

The goal was to analyze the neighborhood through a different lens, looking past the poverty and degradation. Particularly to empower the community with sustainable organizational capacities, develop a new brand and identity and increase citizen engagement within the area.

UNIQUE SOLUTION

Looking deeper behind the physical and social decay of the neighborhood, we see Gratosoglio through a different lens: as an urban kaleidoscope. Its colors and patterns come alive as they collide with each other. Inspired by the art scene in the community- we started building on its assets.

01 Node 1: The playscape

An area dedicated to active recreation for people of all ages with a strong focus on sports and fitness.

Programming : Sport events, Community picnics, fitness training. Funder : Vismara Sport Association

02 Node 2: The rootS

A hub for practicing and aspiring artists to live, work and showcase their artwork, and a place to celebrate the community’s cultural diversity.

Programming : Cultural workshops

Funder : GTA Gratosoglio, Kandinsky

03 Node 3: Piazza Kaleidoscope

A hub that will serve as a Living Lab, with hybrid learning and working spaces, serving as the heart of Gratosoglio and its community.

Programming : Performance space

Funder: Chiesa S. Maria, Bar Sapoaro

04 Node 4: The Avenue

A commercial trail providing for shopping using the multicultural and educational assets to create a good shopping street.

Programming: Weekly Street Market

Funder: Ri.Abi.La, Milan.

05 Node 5: Stairscape

A system of plazas and actives where the youth of gratosoglio gather to attend art classes and music training.

Programming: Co-working Spaces

Actors: Lo Scrigno, Communita Oklahoma, Agrivis L’Impronta, Comune.

AREAS OF INTERVENTION

The flexible framework developed was aimed at concentrating and integrating life rather than segregating it. Key to this was breaking the existing visual monotony of the housing scheme by creating identities for multi-functional spaces and connecting those spaces. To make the neighborhood readable on a human scale, we proposed a variety of solutions that foster ownership and belonging.

PHYSICAL ELEMENTS

Lighting, street furniture and paving – plus ‘softening’ buildings at street level with forecourts and terraces – were designed to create spaces for people to gather and get to know each other. Restored buildings have been converted into multi-functional cultural facilities accommodating activities such as business startups, artist studios and student housing.

NON-PHYSICAL ELEMENTS

The non-physical elements were suggested in the form of marketing and branding for the community. The #GratoRinato Marketing Plan will have three major responsibilities: 1. Branding and Marketing: Showcase neighborhood identity through way-finding signage, street banners, social media and local events. 2. Build Relationships: Face-to-face dialogue with local youth to figure out community needs and desires. 3. Citizen Engagement: Social media visual art competition open to youth in Gratosoglio. Winning piece will be displayed in Piazza Kaleido.

DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

The creative urban village project adopts Lindblom’s concept of incremental planning to develop a phasing and management plan. The project is expected to be implemented within three phases: Short term (now to 2021), Medium term (2021-2026), and Long term (beyond 2026). The phasing framework consists of eight categories of which five are the main nodes of the project. The other three are of general actions which are nonphysical. Further, to ensure sustainability of the project, the actors in Gratosoglio are identified and their roles in the project outlined and submitted to authorities.

Thein Manimegalai Sowrirajan

Architect / Regional Planner / Entrepreneur

in Milan

I love the countryside and its unique puzzle of nature, people, and challenges. My dream is to use my research in rural entrepreneurship, architectural background, and prefab construction experience to improve life in these places.

Smortr > Thein Manimekalai Sowrirajan >Regenerative Design

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