Uccrn Education List of Contents
Context and Objectives
Climate change is already affecting cities worldwide with more frequent and intense heatwaves and extreme weather events. Urban planning must therefore integrate climate-resilient design principles. The Climate-Resilient Urban Design workshop (Naples, October 2018) explored innovative strategies for designing or retrofitting compact, mixed-use eco-districts that respond to climate change while meeting community needs. The methodology builds on the UCCRN ARC3.2 framework, emphasizing interdisciplinary, multi-scale, and process-oriented approaches.
Workshop Methodology
The workshop followed a structured process:
- Climate Analysis Mapping: Used tools like GIS (UMEP, Solweig) and parametric 3D modeling (Rhinoceros, Grasshopper) to identify urban hotspots and microclimatic issues.
- Site Surveys & Community Input: Mapped local needs (mobility, housing, green spaces) alongside climate data.
- Planning and Design Interventions: Focused on retrofitting buildings to NZEB standards, reducing urban heat islands, improving air flow, and managing stormwater through SUDS.
- Post-Intervention Evaluation: Assessed environmental and social impacts using modeling tools, ensuring solutions met both climatic and community priorities.
Ponticelli Case Study (East Naples)
Ponticelli, heavily transformed after the 1980 earthquake through the Special Housing Plan (PSER), is now a symbol of post-disaster urban failure. Issues include:
- Permanent use of temporary housing (e.g., Parco Galeazzo),
- Incomplete infrastructure,
- Social and spatial segregation,
- Deteriorating public housing,
- Increased climate-related risks (e.g., floods, heatwaves) due to sealed surfaces and degraded ecosystems.
The workshop used Ponticelli as a testing ground for climate-adaptive and community-driven regeneration, addressing urban heat, socio-environmental vulnerabilities, and fragmented development.
SIMMCITIES_NA Project and Research Framework
The SIMMCITIES_NA project, led by the University of Naples Federico II (2016–2018), developed a design toolkit to support local-scale, climate-resilient urban regeneration. It integrated advanced analysis methods and community-based approaches, tested through collaboration with international academic and research institutions. The project aligns with global agendas (2030–2050), emphasizing holistic, multi-risk planning strategies that combine climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable urban development.
