Urban renewal: strategies for high density residential suburbs regeneration
This article summarizes the main results of a research conducted by the University of Bologna, Department of Architecture, within the framework of the Research Program PRIN 2008, «Renovation, regeneration and valorisation of social housing settlements built in the suburban areas in the second half of last century». Once quantified the residential stock, a methodology for multidisciplinary analysis, applied to a specific case study (the district of Pilastro in Bologna), aimed at evaluating the different complementary aspects of building quality (social, functional, technical and environmental ones) was developed with the objective of formulating strategies of intervention and models aimed at reducing the problems detected.
Evaluation and Feasibility Study of Retrofitting Interventions on Social Housing in Italy
Abstract While there are an increasing number of new projects aiming at combining high residential quality and low power consumption, it is clear that the main challenge in the short term concerns the performance upgrading of the existing residential buildings stock. The feasibility analysis should consider the economic implications of the retrofit projects. A Disocunted Cash Flow analysis can be implemented in order to investigate the economic aspects of such interventions. The DCF approach allows the analysis of costs as well as the revenues and savings with the objective of understanding the period of time needed to recover the initial investment.
Integrated design and building process: what research and methodologies are needed?
The integrated design process encompasses cross-disciplinary teamwork enabling the improved integration of building, community, natural and economic systems and therefore is a key to sustainable design. The needs for further research, methodologies and validation for the integrated design process are considered by two design practitioners. A workable, replicable model demonstrating the costs and benefits is argued as having an enormous positive impact on the environment and the design and procurement processes. Assessment of some recent initiatives in Canada, Finland and the United States examines progress and identifies further research and practical needs. An agenda for research on integrated design processes is proposed, along with methodologies to codify practice. Le processus de conception intégrée inclut une collaboration interdisciplinaire qui permet d'améliorer l'intégration des systèmes immobiliers, collectifs, naturels et économiques. Il constitue donc la clé de voûte d'une conception durable. Deux concepteurs examinent les besoins complémentaires en termes de recherche, de méthodologies et de validation du processus de conception intégrée. Ils affirment également qu'un modèle reproductible, réalisable et décrivant les coûts et les bénéfices peut avoir un énorme impact positif sur l'environnement et sur les processus de conception et d'approvisionnement. L'analyse de plusieurs initiatives récentes prises au Canada, en Finlande et aux Etats-Unis examine les progrès réalisés et identifie les nouveaux besoins en termes des recherche et de pratique. Un agenda de recherche sur les processus de conception intégrée est proposé, ainsi que des méthodologies de codification de la pratique.