1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Venezia
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Apriamo i muri
Short description of the intervention
The Project "Let's Open the Walls" is an integrated program of urban and social regeneration interventions that aimed to revitalize a portion of the Venice Commune (that is, one in the former neighbourhood Quartiere Due: Dorsoduro, Santa Marta, Giudecca, Santa Croce, San Basilio). The program, promoted by the City of Venice and funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in 2004, provides for social inclusion and the weakest sections of the population and involved several interventions, including the planting of trees and the creation of green spaces for social activities. In particular, the Urban Italia program addressed to Venice is named: “Apriamo i Muri” (Opening the walls). It refers to the work-field “Quartiere 2” (District 2), in which are concentrated many actions that the city Administration has planned and approved during these last years. The Administration's objective was to transform and revitalize the degraded areas of the Venetian historical center, also through innovative actions. The program aims generally at urban, infrastructure and social regeneration of the Quartiere 2, moreover, it responds through articulated specific works to the critical complexity of the area. (1 and 4).
Address

Distric 2
Venezia
Italy

Location
The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Central Business District / City Centre
Website of the intervention
http://archive.comune.venezia.it/flex/files/D.0f625daadbe578aff013/2003_11_12_s…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
unknown
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2004
End date of the intervention
2006
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
The Administration's objective was to transform and revitalize the degraded areas of the Venetian historical center, also through innovative actions. The program aims generally at urban, infrastructure and social regeneration of the Quartiere 2, including the recovery of already existing green areas and the creation of new ones to stimulate outdoor social interactions (5).
Quantitative targets
Recovered degraded urban sites: the program envisages interventions on a total area of about 100,000 square meters, on which are planned measures of safety, urbanization, reclamation and recovery (2).
Monitoring indicators defined
total area in sq m of recovered urban sites
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Regulation of built environment
Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Social cohesion
Social interaction
Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
Real estate development
Employment/job creation
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Restore ecological connectivity
Public engagement
Implementation activities
The project focuses on several interventions of urban and social development. One of these is the demolition of an abandoned incineration site and the environmental rehabilitation of the area through the construction of new green spaces for families to spend time outdoors and a children playground (1 and 2).
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Vegetation Type
Trees
Please specify how many trees were planted
Unknown
Amenities offered by the NBS
Playgrounds
Sports areas and equipment
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Habitat and supporting services
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Citizens or community groups
Marginalized groups
Young people and children
Marginalized groups
Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Researchers, university
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Project funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, promoted by the City of Venice. Other partners of the project were: Actv, Centro Universitario Teatrale Shylock, Associazione "Il Granello di Senape", Associazione Stella Maris' Friends, Ater, Autorità Portuale di Venezia, Consorzio Cantieristica Minore Veneziana, Cooperativa Sociale "Il Cerchio", Cooperativa Sociale "Rio Terà dei Pensieri", U.e.p.e. Venezia, Belluno, Treviso (ex Cssa), Edilvenezia, Istituzione per la conservazione della gondola e la tutela del gondoliere, Esu Venezia, Immobiliare Molino Stucky, Insula, Ire - Istituzioni di Ricovero e di Educazione, Iuav, Judeca Nova, Ministero della Giustizia - Dip. dell'Amm. Penitenziaria, Casa Circondariale di Venezia, Università Ca' Foscari, Vesta (1 and 4).
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Public sector institution
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Private foundation/trust
Researchers/university
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Dissemination of information and education
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Yes
Please specify the "Regional Directive/Strategy"
All of the urban renewal programs represent nowadays in Italy important functional revitalizing motors for the degraded districts of our cities. The communitarian policy has set this objective at the focal point of the Urban I (1994-1999) and Urban II (2000-2006) actions (5).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
The project is part of the Urban Italia Program (2 and 4).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
This project covers a particular importance within the guidelines and operational conditions of the municipal Strategic Plan, reordering all of the urban renewal interventions, which are destined to re-vitalize and renovate both the city's social and the infra-structural patterns. In order to move towards active housing policies, the presence of housing assistance providing for services becomes necessary (kindergartens, public spaces, cultural services), as well as the regeneration of stable population (new residents, active people and activities, integration between different stable and temporary residents) (5).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Spatial planning law
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
No
Please specify
The NBS is part of the project, but it is not a central plant for the city of Venice, since it focuses more on the social impacts rather than the environmental impacts.
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The NBS is part of the project Urban regeneration and territorial politics - URBAN ITALY "we open the walls" financed by the Municipality of Venice (2).
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
Urban redevelopment plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Ministry of Infrastructures financed 5.060.000,00 €, 37,7% of the total cost. The remaining costs were financed with national budget through multiple investments (http://archive.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/4353). [not available as of October, 2020] (4)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
13.426.000,00 € (4)
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green densification model
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
The project targets disadvantaged groups (i.e. former and current prisoners, children in degraded areas and elderly people and focuses on the infrastructural rehabilitation of both buildings and green areas in this degraded neighbourhood (1, 2 and 5).
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) with substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Urban Italian project shows an important innovation based on a more integrated and diversified programming in comparison to earlier positive urban development experiences, which have characterized the last ten years of works undertaken in Venice (5).
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Water management and blue areas
Improved water quality
Green space and habitat
Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
Increased green space area
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
1. 18,129 square meters have been converted to green spaces and public parks.
2. 1000 square meters have been converted to public and cultural facilities.
3. The parks have reported to host many species and contribute to the overall biodiversity of the city.
4. The project involved the installation of the white water sewer system.
5. Vacant and non-developed area of the District 2 has given new look with the intervention. (7)
Economic impacts
Stimulate development in deprived areas
Description of economic benefits
1. District 2 has been given a new look with the introduction of green spaces and different public and cultural activity places. (7)
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved social cohesion
Improved liveability
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
Description of social and cultural benefits
1. 1000 square meters of public and cultural activity spaces have been created.
2. Along with creating the public parks, the intervention also included the development of public roads, bridges, lighting and walkways.
3. The citizens were consulted at the beginning and throughout the project implementation for their inputs.
4. This has developed District 2 and provided the locals with an improved living style. (7)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Square meters of green space created, square meters of public places, parks, roads and walkways created.
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Paid employment positions
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Positive distribution of NBS benefits
Improved access to green and/or blue spaces
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of October, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation
Collection of monitoring data continuously throughout the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Interviews
Focus groups
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown.
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Project webpage
Intervention website
Project leaflet
Municipality of Venice
Success and further financing of the project
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
EN version Project Brochure (936.45 KB) 936.45 KB
List of references
1. Ristretti (no date) Venice: the Urban Italy Project "Let's open the walls". Available at: http://www.ristretti.it/areestudio/territorio/vari/urban/index.htm. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
2. Apriamo i muri: http://archive.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/4267 [not available as of October, 2020]
3. Apriamo i muri Brochure. (2004) Available at: http://www.ristretti.it/areestudio/territorio/vari/urban/depliant.pdf. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
4. Municipality of Venice: http://www.comune.venezia.it/archivio/2353 [not available as of October, 2020]
5. EN version Project Brochure: attached
6. Success and further financing of the project: http://www.comune.venezia.it/archivio/18976 [not available as of October, 2020]
7. Direzione Centrale Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Comunitarie (no date) Relazioni Internazionali e Politiche Comunitarie. Urban Italia "Apriamo i muri". Available at: http://archive.comune.venezia.it/flex/files/D.0f625daadbe578aff013/2003_11_12_slide.pdf. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
8. Artway (no date) 20 URBAN LET'S OPEN THE WALLS. Available at: http://www.artway.info/aot/archives/archivio_progetti/20_urban_apriamo_i_muri/index.html. Accessed on 1st October, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
The documents and publication sections of the project website are not updated, I will attempt contacting them for further info.
Additional insights
A critical factor in the area is social integration, or "exceptional" presence in the lagoon city and throughout the municipality of Venice of "segregated" populations, separated by physical, cultural and historical walls, which compromise the normal neighborhood life. In particular, with regard to physical and logistic walls, the Giudecca linking system (representing 25% of the population of the target area) is certainly inadequate. Another critical element is the high level of crime. In fact, the intervention area is located within a municipality where the "people reported on a resident population" indicator is 59% higher than the average of the North Center and the presence of the port contributes to increasing the risk threshold. It should also be remembered that all the Venetian penitentiaries are located in the area of ​​intervention. There is another aspect to consider, that is, the environmental degradation that is expressed in the area through a particularly degraded territory, to the point where, along with Marghera's space, the intervention area is included in the regional remediation plan as the only zone of the old town with these features (2).