Mirafiori Sud
Academic project
Collaboration
Year
Place
Customer/Organiser
Starting in the 1950s, the expansion of the Fiat factory on the south of the city of Turin attracted thousands workers from all over Italy, requiring the construction of those large low-cost dormitory neighborhoods that have become the symbol of Italian social housing. More than others the quarter of Mirafiori Sud assumed a negative connotation, characterized by inhabitants with social problems, high population density, isolation and crime. Recovery attempts failed and the deindustrialization in ‘80s involved the loss of many Mirafiori Sud inhabitants leaving a ghost quarter to degradation.
The task concerns a proposal to give new life to the district making it again attractive and habitable, providing new services and activities. The idea was developed following in-depth studies and with the participation of the community, local associations, considering external stakeholders such as Fiat itself.
The attention was focused on some poles that have kept the services still active, as a reference point for the recovery of the entire neighborhood. New pedestrian and cycle connections have been created, making the neighborhood permeable and eliminating the isolation of the most problematic blocks.
A user analysis was extremely useful to understand which activities to place strategically, a lot of free space and abandoned structures were useful to offer services to all types of users, from children, to pensioners to Fiat workers. Many spaces, mainly ex-garage, have been converted into laboratories that can be rented to researchers, start-ups and commercial activities near the poles and along the main pedestrian connections, these spaces are actually few and expensive in the center of Turin and Mirafiori Sud can be an effective solution.
A more detailed view has been taken for Pole 3. In this area there is a big uncultivated park which acts as a barrier for connect the two sides of Mirafiori Sud. The proposal offers the possibility of creating a new designed area, partly managed by the population and local associations. In the south of the district many abusive gardens have to be demolished, those areas will be reassigned in the upper part of te park, other parts will be destined to associations for urban agriculture management and the cultivation of fruit trees. In the centre of this sistem will be realized the “Casa del quartiere” a building for bring together a creative community, will be used for events and public courses. In front of the Casa a square connect the east side of Mirafiori with the wes creating a meeting point equipped with stands for outdoor events.
Near the new park the old parking lots will be rearranged offering new spaces for commercial activities. Following the example of the Rolling Mill Hill in Nashville this spaces will be rented or sold as mixed-income residences, studios for artists, and commercial/retail/restaurant space.
