En el concurso internacional de ideas para la transformación de Porto Marghera, Venecia, propusimos una transformación paulatina, progresiva, que se apoyase en lo local y agentes externos estratégicos, además de la mejora de las condiciones estructurales del ámbito.

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En las siguientes líneas, el manifesto que acompaño a los dibujos y vídeo presentados:

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DELOCALISED IMPOSITIONS

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Now, more than ever it is crucial to redirect the cities towards a sustainable economic model. In that matter the preexistent infraestructures play a major role, and therefore european cities are reimagining their relationship with the historic ports. This big areas are often designed in the form of masterplans, macroprojects that favor big stock investments, resulting in anonymous, external and insensitive processes. The establishment of this rigid development frames makes it impossible to respond to the current internal logics of the place. Therefore, employing space’s economic opportunity as the driving force for transformation results in the ejection of the small local actors in favour of the big speculative capital. This way, the city loses relationship with identitary activities and spaces, not identifying the project as part of the urban fabric.

 

SLOW MAKING INDUCTIVE TRANSFORMATION

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What is the alternative to this transformation model? 

Instead of determined masterplan, a spontaneous process.
Instead of tabula rasa, revalorization of the existing spaces.
Instead of delocalised big companies, small productive vulnerable entities.
Instead of big investment risky projetcs, calibrated interventions in the tissue.
Instead of programmaed spaces, polivalent spacial structure.
Instead of economic opportunity driven transformation, activities as engine.
Instead of external logic implementation, reconstruction and reinterpretation of identity of the place.

The freedom that is granted to the process allows the simultaneity, progress and redirection of the transformation. Ensuring the preservation of the local identity is the key to avoid falling into the model of the artificial real estate product. Strengthen the mix of activities and users through the urban form of small and large scale, with activity being the engine of change. Preserve to create and overlay.

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COMPELLING ACCESIBILITY CONDITIONS

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The appropiation process is kicked-off by a change in the paradigm of the place: free access to a previously restricted area and the integration of this scenario within the public mobility system. Strengthen the spatial structure with low-cost enabling operations in terms of accessibility and logistics.

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HERITAGE RECOVERY PARTICIPATIVE PROCESSES

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The first step is the recovery of heritage, an ecological operation that takes conscience of the site; a revaluation of the spaces and architectures that can accommodate a process of productive colonization. For this scenarios to be inhabitable once again it is compulsory a process of soil remediation.

Give the opportunity to small businesses, productive entities, young entrepreneurs and cooperatives to occupy industrial spaces. Value the small user, main characters of the local economy that already belong to the social structure. 

Cause a leverage effect, minimum intervention triggers a first phase of unpatterned transformation where internal synergies are created.

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FOSTERER EXPERIMENTAL SCENARIOS

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The restoration of these identity shells through public investment consists of efficient envelopes and renewable energy powered systems that draw the path for sustainable activities. Temporary events and happenings can take place in these publicly advertised spaces, frictioning citizens and workers, yuxtaposing situations and users.

It is this consolidation of local actors and activities that puts Porto Marghera on the map, it revalues the port space and attracts  further investment.

 

EMBRACEMENT OF EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES

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Take advantage of external inputs like the relocation of Venice’s cruise terminal next to the regenerating area. A new terminal as a reference place in people’s mind and the strengthening of infraestructures needed, at the service of the small local entities.

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SPACE IMBRICATION

Only when the local structure is consolidated, other soil transformation parameters come into play. This progressive approach requires large interventions to be integrated into an existing spatial fabric and to interact with local actors. 

The mixture and correlation of different sized entities and activities as a multiplier of unexpected situations.

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HYPER-CONNECTION

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The apparition of large companies is linked to larger scale enabling operations such as the redefinition of infrastructural systems that favor both the smaller grain and incoming one. This second phase of transformation is based on a discussion of the area’s gaps, how large pieces are introduced compacting space; a space that must participate of Venetian’s spatial logic, the multiplicity of situations and the activities it supports.