EX-perience NATO. A regenerative and metabolic approach for re-estabilishing sustainability in cities.

The ex NATO base in Bagnoli, in the province of Naples, represents an opportunity of transformation for the contemporary city, an opportunity to reflect on the possible relationships between the consolidated historical fabric and the wider urban context. It is named “acropolis” of Bagnoli (ref. A.Attademo, E.Formato, M.Russo) for its privileged position in the area, both from an environmental-landscape and architectural-urban point of view; the ex Nato base had various functions over time. The grand opening of the complex took place on 9 May 1940 with the name “Collegio Costanzo Ciano – Institute for the children of the people” (ref. G.Menna) and he was created with the aim of assisting the most disadvantaged populations, a function that never accepted due to the entry into war the day after the inauguration. In 1941, in fact, the area was handed over to the Italian army, becoming both a place of occupation by the Allies and a refuge for war refugees. From 1953 the complex became the headquarters of the NATO command for the Mediterranean until 2013, the year in which the command itself was dismissed and the area assumes the current name of “Ex NATO base”. The military functions that have taken place have led to creation of physical enclosures, which caused the denial of the area to the people and generated complex relationships with the neighborhood and the urban context. These relations caused the neglect of the area, as well as the abandonment of certain areas of the district. The research carried out during the Laboratory of Urbanism held at the Department of Architecture of the University of Naples Federico II,, in the MAPA Course - ‘Laurea Magistrale in Architettura Progettazione Architettonica’, aimed to re-evaluate the peculiarities of the place in order to implement sustainable, open and inclusive development models. (The course carried out during the academic year 2020-2021 was co-taught by Libera Amenta -Urbanism module - and Vincenzo Gioffrè - Landscape module - with the teaching assistance of Marilù Vaccaro). This has been done through an urban metabolism and a multiscale approach (reif. M.Russo). Thus, the regeneration of the neighborhood and the broader context, started from the definition and mapping of the local wastescapes (ref. REPAiR, 2018). These areas became a design opportunity for socio-environmental reconstructions. In this lens, wastescapes could be read as a structuring reference for the reorganization and reconnection of the urban fabric, which is currently highly fragmented. The laboratory was thus an opportunity to carry out an integrated design experience on an urban scale, investigating new reciprocal relationships between urban and rural, multifunctionality of open spaces, ecological functions and landscape protection, also related to water and waste cycles. Results have been projects capable of offering spaces for the production of lasting wealth and spaces which could be adaptive over time. In this way, the research carried out through the laboratory course seeks to re-estabilish added value to the territory, through a reticular and non-hierarchical model. The contribution of this research therefore offers a reflection on the potential of the regenerative approach in the contemporary city, in particular in areas highly at risk of abandonment and depopulation, thanks to laboratory design experiences.