Tech Justice

04.2 CASE STUDY 1 Turin, Italy

TECH JUSTICE

“... highlights access to technology, the presence of digital infrastructure, and open data protocols as an enabling driver of collaboration and the creation of urban commons.” (S.F and C.I, 2017)

As well as many other platforms, Neighbourhood Houses network in Turin, uses internet as a tool to advertise what they do, spread knowledge and encourage public interest. The network is formed from 8 houses located in various parts of the city. The properties vary in size and function, some serve as meeting rooms, classrooms and workshops whereas others are used as concert halls, theatres and cinemas. They follow a manifesto which states that they do not focus on any target or field of activity and are open to everybody. The network website informs about each house and has direct links to the individual houses page with more information regarding events and space available at each location. Another network which uses internet as an enabler is Firstlife; a social network platform for cities, which has been developed by the University of Turin. The idea emerged from the desire to encourage participatory planning on a local scale, stimulate self-organization initiatives and develop collaborative practices between public and private territorial actors. Firstlife allows for digital mapping of events such as Terra Madre food festival as well as mapping of interactive personalized routes for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using the Personalized Interactive Urban Maps for Autism(PIUMA) project.

Figure4 - Plan and list of the 8 Neighbourhood Houses (Neighbourhood Houses, n.d)

05.1 CASE STUDY 2 Ghent, Belgium EXPERIMENTALISM

“... is the presence of an adaptive and iterative approach to designing the legal processes and institutions that govern urban commons.” (S.F and C.I, 2017)

The city of Ghent has around 500 different

commons-related projects which has become apparent as a result of Michel Bauwens’

research in collaboration with many others. The research was commissioned and financed by the city officials and was

done to establish a transition plan for Ghent to become ‘The city of commons’ in order to create a sustainable and ethical economy. Bauwens says the fastgrowing success in the number of commons in Ghent “is quite exemplary precisely because it covers an ecosystem in an area

that requires a lot of capital and must overcome a lot of commons-antagonistic regulation.”(Bauwens, 2017) Ghent showcases

a large range of commons which cover the ideaology of ‘Experimentalism’ through the constant public initiative of setting up new commons. Some of the most popular and successful examples are: Wooncoop 1 , Gent en Garde 2 , Driemasterpark 3 , EnerGent and REScoop 4 which focus on matters such as housing, food, neighbourhood restoration and energy.

Figure5 - Driemasterpark, Ghent (Plus2POP, 2017)

1 - Wooncoop is a housing cooperative that buys, refurbishes, and mutualizes buildings. Once someone buys a share, they can rent a house or apartment in one of their properties owned by the co-op. They are guaranteed a house there for a lifetime while paying reasonable rent for a well-maintained residence. 2 - Gent en Garde focus on developing political support and citizen involvement for fair, organic, local food. 3 - Driemasterpark is a park located in a poor neighbourhood on an old industrial site and is completely managed by residents. As well as a playground the park has areas allocated for vegetable plots and chickens.

4 - EnerGent with REScoop is a cooperative that invests money from the partners in projects of energy saving and renewable energy.

Figure6 - Tinkstraat, Co-op Inhabited Property (Wooncoop, 2018)

TECH JUSTICE

05.2 CASE STUDY 2 Ghent, Belgium

“... highlights access to technology, the presence of digital infrastructure, and open data protocols as an enabling driver of collaboration and the creation of urban commons.” (S.F and C.I, 2017)

Similarly to Turin, Ghent uses modern technology as an enabler to collaboration between the many commons. It offers several platforms from which commoners can receive support in terms of expansion, survival and even setup. One of these platforms is “Assembly of the Commons” which aspire to unite, support and represent the commons in Ghent. They do this by introducing the commons initiators and uniting them through their shared values and help to articulate them into something productive, trough the use of online resources. The support is mainly provided with regards to governance which is one of the key elements for the survival of commons. Tools and information such as car sharing platforms, administrative plug-ins and legal advice are all shared between the commons. Some information on the available support is provided on the blog named “New Commons” (https://new-commons.blogspot.com/) which is regularly updated.

Figure7 - Ghent an Garde: Lighthouse Activity (UNCC, 2019)

According to David Bollier (2011) there is no commons without commoning; both cities are an applaud-able example of the continued public initiative. However, in order to achieve such scale of the commons within a city, they must be able to connect, grow and spread. The two principles explored in this essay have indicated the importance of their role in development of commons. Experimentalism allows for adaptive and iterative approach to the legal process, but also to the design and regeneration of urban spaces. The urban spaces emerged as a result of commoning are often spaces which are multi-purpose, flexible and on many occasions temporary. This is clearly demonstrated in the Neighbourhood Houses in Turin, the network promotes the saying “houses are to be lived in, not to be looked at”. They believe in creation of spaces which are driven by function and are easily adaptable to suit the next activity. Similarly, tech justice enables the digital infrastructure to share and spread the knowledge through online resources.

Bauwens, M., (2017). A Commons Transition Plan for the City of Ghent. Retrieved from http://commonstransition.org/commons-transition-plan-city-ghent/

Bollier, D., (2011). The Commons, Short and Sweet. Retrieved from http://www. bollier.org/commons-short-and-sweet

Dellenbaugh, M., Schwegmann, M., & Kip, M. (Eds.). (2015). Urban commons: Beyond state and market. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Casa del Quartiere. (n.d). House of Vallette District: Courtyard [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.casadelquartiere.it/spazi/

Citta’ di Torino. (2013). House in the Park: Neighbours Party [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.comune.torino.it/festadeivicini/edizioni/casa-nelparco-2013.shtml

Citta’ di Torino. (n.d). Cascina Roccafranca: 10 year Anniversary [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.spaziotorino.it/scatto/?p=6969

Delsante, I., (February 2020). Architecture and Democracy. Commons (space) and its negotiations. Retrieved from https://brightspace.hud.ac.uk/d2l/le/ content/58395/viewContent/508034/View.

Foster, S. & Iaoine, C., (2017). Ostrom in the City: Design Principles for the Urban Commons. Retrieved from https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2017/08/20/ ostrom-city-design-principles-urban-commons/

Moor, T.D., Utrecht University. (August 30th, 2013). Homo Cooperans. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/humanitiesuu/docs/gw_moor-tine_de_oratie_en_definitie.

Neighbourhood Houses. (n.d). Plan and list of the 8 Neighbourhood Houses, Turin [Online image]. Retrieved from http://www.retecasedelquartiere.org/

Plus2POP. (2017). Driemasterpark, Ghent [Online image]. Retrieved from https:// twitter.com/Plus2POP/status/932631123087233024

United Nations Climate Change(UNCC). (2019). Ghent en Garde: Lighthouse Activity [Online image]. Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/climate-action/momentum-forchange/planetary-health/ghent-en-garde

Wooncoop. (2018). Tinkstraat, Co-op Inhabited Property [Online image]. Retrieved from https://www.wooncoop.be/tinkstraat/