Abstract ( English)
“Cities and climate change” project has been developed in one of the Beijing’s outskirts districts – Fangshan. It comes as a response to rapid urbanization processes that take place in major Chinese cities. It investigates the role of water infrastructures within the city as a medium to improve social life, decrease pollution and increase level of comfort. In the context of Chinese rapid industrialization, we explore the potential of water and phytoremediation as an instrument of modernization. Opposing the problem of water scarcity, the Project helps recycling water through sustainable and environmentally friendly techniques. The water infrastructure itself generates a new landscape that increases the aesthetical and economical value of the future city. Mega-polices such as Beijing consumes much of the world’s energy, and thus produces much of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, contaminated water and soil. The water is more than just a basic necessity for everyday life, it becomes the central element for a new urban social ecology. The masterplan’s design is inspired by traditional social spaces in Beijing, modified and merged with contemporary architecture and water-lands, this transformation represents a challenge, but also a huge opportunity. The relationship between water and people has been the basis for all decisions that have been made while designing the new shape of the city. Our aim is to establish a relation between people and water, merging the new ground into a continuous network of programs, activities and spaces, while pollution is being decreased significantly.
Abstract (Italian)
Il progetto "Le città e il cambiamento climatico" è stato sviluppato in uno dei quartieri della periferia di Pechino, Fangshan. Esso si presenta come una risposta ai processi di urbanizzazione che si svolgono nelle città cinesi principali. Il progetto analizza il ruolo delle infrastrutture idriche all'interno della città come mezzo per migliorare la vita sociale, ridurre l'inquinamento e aumentare il livello di comfort. Nel contesto di rapida industrializzazione cinese, viene esplorato il potenziale dell’acqua e della fitodepurazione come uno strumento di modernizzazione. Ponendosi il problema della scarsità dell'acqua, il progetto aiuta il riciclaggio dell’acqua attraverso tecniche sostenibili e rispettose dell'ambiente. La stessa infrastruttura genera un nuovo paesaggio che aumenta il valore estetico ed economico della futura città. Grande città come Pechino consumano gran parte dell'energia mondiale, e producono quindi la maggior parte di emissioni di gas serra nel mondo, contaminando acqua e suolo. L'acqua non è solo una necessità di base per la vita di tutti i giorni, ma diventa l'elemento centrale per una nuova ecologia sociale-urbana. Il design del masterplan, modificato e fuso con l’architettura contemporanea e i paesaggi paludosi è ispirato da tradizionali spazi di socializzazione di Pechino. Questa trasformazione rappresenta una sfida, ma anche una grande opportunità. Il rapporto tra l'acqua e la gente è stata la base di tutte le decisioni che sono state fatte durante la progettazione della nuova forma della città. Il nostro obiettivo è quello di stabilire una relazione tra le persone e l'acqua,unendo la nuova terra attraverso un programma di relazioni, attività e spazi, portando ad una significativa diminuzione dell’inquinamento.
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