Theory and practice of “urban voids”

Abstract

Between 1970 and 1990 the industrial cities of many advanced Countries have suffered a progressive degradation of the urban fabric, consequence in first place of the industrial crisis. The downsizing of the productive activities have caused an acceleration of the processes of decommissioning, which the rapidity of the changes has also contributed in the spatial organization of the tertiary activities. The “vacant land” have started, therefore, to be as important problem, cause of degrade and of the city and the environment and often also of risk for the health and for the ecosystems. Nevertheless, has been evident well soon that the “empty”, close to the problematic aspect, have great potential.
During the nineties, in which is verified a deceleration of the processes of decommiossioning, the interest for the vacant land is also grown weak between the researchers and only at the end of the decade, under the push of the pressing necessity to increase the competitiveness and the quality of the cities, the interest is relighted for the voids. Recently the term “vuoto” has become wealthy of new meanings understanding different typologies of abandoned areas marginal e/o of open spaces, waiting for to be recovered.