Integrating Bolognina. Urban regeneration project for PhD Catapult Programme Urban Transitions Summer School

With more than half of the population living in urban areas, neighborhoods face a problem known as urban heat island (UHI) in which the difference in temperature between day and night is reduced as a result of the absorption of heat caused by opaque surfaces of building and infrastructures, that is released during the night. The main scope of this study is to propose a common vision based on various practical solutions to address this problem in the residential district of Bolognina increasing the green cover and converting the urban heat island into the urban green island. The defined problem is addressed by means of a literature study to define best practices that dealt with the same problem but having in mind the peculiarities of the place. After this part, a study of the district showed possible obstacle and barriers interfering with the prosperity of the neighborhood and the challenges that need to be faced to make this place a livable reality for its community. The proposed pilot project of developing courtyards of two building blocks will be a base to achieve the overall vision of creating green corridor and increasing green cover of Bolognina neighborhood. The business model which involves various association which are already exists in the neighborhood will boost the process. It will help to create the circular economy which doesn’t demand big money to start the project. In the long term, it will help to mitigate the Green House Gas emissions in Bolognina because of all the green initiatives and eventually help cities to mitigate the overall climate change effect. And it will turn into an urban green island where community spaces will belong to people and not to cars.