Lucca - City Sounding Board - STSM (Final Report) by PeopleFriendlyCities

COST Action TU 1204: People-Friendly Cities in a Data-Rich World Lucca City Sounding Board

Towards engaging long-term public participation in the urban planning of Lucca STSM Fieldwork, September 08-20, 2014 - Final Report STSM Co-Authors: Aisling Joyce, Laura Pirrone, Teresa Tourvas, Giulia Vallone and Carolina Vasilikou

Project Co-ordinators: Mark Dyer, Dick Gleeson Date of final submission: November 2014

Report Reference: 1204 / WG5 / STSM_002

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge: Francesco Rizzi, Chiara Certomà and Massimo Battaglia from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies for organising our meetings with key people from Lucca public authorities, business and commercial representatives and citizens’ associations. Our thanks for their whole-hearted participation, insight and valuable help during our research project to (in order of meetings): Massimo Marsili, Chamber of Commerce Lucca Ass. Serena Mammini, Lucca Town Council Enrico Fontana, Director of LUCENSE SCpA Silvano Papini and the members of the Association “Sto sul Serchio” Parrocchia di Monte S. Quirico Fabio Malfatti, Antrophologist Gabriele Olivati & Gabriele Olivati and the members of the Association Parco Sant’anna Gabriele Calabrese, Tourist Guides Association Lucca Pietro Bertolozzi and the members of the Association “Uniti per l’oltreserachio” Roberto Mannocci, Architect and President of Italia Nostra Onlus Fabrizio Cinquini, TERRE.IT s.r.l. Enrica Picchi, Consigliere Comunale, Lucca Town Council. Renato Bonturi, Partecipation Office, Lucca Town Council. Ass. Antonio Sichi, Partecipation Committe Chairman, Lucca Town Council. Vittorio Maschietto, Architect Our special thanks to: All the members of the public that kindly accepted to participate in unstructured interviews and share their views with us. Aisling, Carolina, Giulia, Laura and Teresa Lucca, September 2014

Report Design & Editing: C.V.

CONTENTS Acknowledgements I_ Introduction II_ Literature Review III_ Methods IV_ PART I A__The relationship between the old Inner City of Lucca and City of Lucca outside the walls B__An understanding of the urban space network of Lucca C__The PIUSS Project: Phases and proposed new spaces D__Public engagement in the PIUSS project: cultural context and group dynamics E__Conclusions V_ PART II A__Public Participation Framework in Lucca today B__Lucca City Sounding Board: The Manual VI_ Conclusions VII_ References VIII_ DISSEMINATION IX _Appendix

I__INTRODUCTION Lead Author: C.V. Contributor: A. J.

“What is the point of cities built without the people’s wisdom” (Brecht) A research fieldwork has recently been completed by the authors, in the context of the COST Action TU 1204, People-Friendly Cities in a Data Rich World, with the aim to understand the mechanisms of public participation in the Reference city of Lucca and to develop a methodology for the City Sounding Board. Following the first briefing note for the City Sounding Board (1204/WG5/001) that took place on May 2014, five researchers were appointed a Short Term Scientific Mission to investigate the citizen-focused approach with a digital age in Lucca. During two weeks, September 08-20, 2014, four architects with different specialisations and an industrial designer ‘got lost in Lucca’, with the goal to understand: • • • •

The history of public participation in Lucca, as experienced through the PIUSS project The different perspectives and interests of the main city stakeholders; these include the public authorities, the business sector, the commercial sector and the citizens of Lucca. The spatial and social qualities and needs of the City of Lucca The framework for the Initiation of the Lucca City Sounding Board; the context, key stakeholders, methods, long-term vision and public engagement.

A City Sounding Board would generate a people-centred city through a methodology that could be tested and replicated at other cities or urban centres, around Europe. It will act as critical facilitator between city institutions and citizens by building capacity for future collaborative urban decision making at neighbourhood scale by means of citizen focussed pilot studies and design challenges. The report is structured in two Parts: the first analyses the spatial qualities, fragmentations and social challenges of the city and explores the process of public participation in the PIUSS project as a starting point of mapping the degree of citizen engagement in the city. The second part investigates current development in involving citizens in the decision making of the city’s territorial planning and introduces methods of structuring and implementing a City Sounding Board in Lucca. II__LITERATURE REVIEW Lead Author: C.V.

In urban planning, consultation is sometimes seen as a necessary requirement, or box to be ticked, but new initiatives in Dublin, Europe and the United States suggest that it can advance the process and help identify creative solutions and new perspectives. New consultation techniques and discourses are made possible by an unprecedented confluence of technology, increasing public sophistication, dissatisfaction with current processes, and intense global challenges in the environmental and economic spheres. Kofoed (2009) in his report to Dublin city planners describes an optimal, perhaps necessary, new process: the architecture of conversations – a form of consultation that can inform and inspire local planning authorities’ practice. However, today there are a lot of definitions concerning public participation. The most common practices include: • • • • •

Informal consultation Circulating proposals for public comment Public notice and comment Public hearings Advisory bodies

Data collection and communication take advantages of technological advances and the application of new consultation tools, including blogs, email newsletter, online surveys, social networking sites, podcasts webinars, photo and video discussion boards and collaborative maps. According to Kofoed participants of the various participation forms point out that (1) only influential groups are consulted (2) processes tend to exclude those without resources to find out about the opportunity to be consulted, and (3) public consultation is cynically used by governments to support decisions that have already been made behind closed doors. This approach has created the need for a new defintion of public participation, that is based on values of active engagement, transparency and effective dialogue. New strands of engaging the wider public in the decision making process have been developed in the form of Living Labs (De Waal & Melis 2014). Gelh and Gemzoe (2004) applied an interactive method of public conversations model, where incremental implementation of urban interventions are effected at a small-scale, based on primary people surveys, interviews with the public and focusing on the users of the intervention spaces. After a period of time, further interviews are conducted to identify whether the initial intervention was successful. Based on that information, further interventions are performed. The designer takes the role of the facilitator in an effort to empower the citizen. At the same time, in the data-rich society of today, the role of the citizen is changing rapidly. Charles Leadbeater and Paul Miller (2004) introduced the concept of the Pro-Am: better-educated and informed citizens that are in the position of demanding more information from governments, and thus, creating pressure for more open consultative mechanisms. This apporach seems to create more effective opportunities for participation and dialogue than conventional passive consultation activities. The combination of facilitation and sense of responsibility impeded on participating citizens that are empowered to engage actively with urban planning decisions may lead to the formation of a new methodology and puplic participation tool: the CIty Sounding Board, a new multi-agents institutional body that facilitates public participation. At the same time, advances in information technology are enhancing governments’ abilities to meet citizens’ demands, as well as the abilities of civil society groups to organise to pursue and promote their goals. III__METHODS Lead Authors: C.V.

Investigating public participation involves the process of a ‘dialogue’ between the city and its citizens. The methods used to explore ways of initiating a City Sounding Board in Lucca were based on: • • • • • • •

On-site observations Photographic Documentation Sound recordings Recorded interviews and meeting with key city stakeholders Unstructured interviews with the public Qualitative assessment of data Mapping analysis

These methods were used in an intensive exploration fieldwork of a city’s structure and network of relations and challenges. Despite the limited time, the STSM’s presence in the city of Lucca created the possibilities of active dialogue between the citizens’ associations and the local authrities in view of a City Sounding Board.

IV_ PART I

A__THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLD INNER CITY OF LUCCA AND CITY OF LUCCA OUTSIDE THE WALLS Lead Authors: A.J. L.P. GV. T.T. Contributors: C.V.

Lucca as a city today: Lucca is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plain, approximately 15 km inland from the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is famous among other things for its intact Renaissance-era city wall. Total inhabitants are 89,751 of which only 10% constitutes those living inside the walls. A drastic demographic drop of population within the town wall was recorded after the 50ies when the residents’ number dropped from 30,000 to approximately 9,000 in 2011. Lucca has been home of the historical Italian brand Bertolli extra-virgin olive oil, founded by the Lucca family Bertolli, in 1865. The local family business grew into an international brand of Italian and Mediterranean food. This business was sold to a Spanish Food Group in 2008 leaving the Manufacture Building vacant in Lucca. The most developed economic sectors today include the paper manufacturing industry, one of the most important in Europe, especially for tissue and corrugated cardboard production. The paper/stationery industry is one of the largest local businesses and has strong links with the Lucchesian territory, making Lucca a pole of industrial and business development in Tuscany. The most important factory for Lucca since the XIX cent. is the Tabacchi Manufacturer in Piazzale Verdi, located within the walled. The industry provided work for thousands of workers,engaged in the manufacture of famous “Tuscan Cigar”. The Tabacchi Manufacturer largely influenced the economic, social and cultural development of the city of Lucca. At the present, production has moved outside the city walls, while the ex Tabacchi Manufacturer buildings, is essentially vacant, partly used as a prestigious venue for art exhibitions and cultural events. The historic buildings are in critical need of refurbishment.

The Historical Building of the Ex- Tabacchi Manufacturing factory a) ouside view, b) interior space, Lucca inside the wall. In (c), the Bertolli Olive Oil Ex- Manufacturing Factory Building outside the city wall, now part of the Lucense Technology Park.

The Nautical, pharmaceutical and engineering sector together with local food and wine production and tourism are today’s economic development of the city. The tourism sector is extremely prominent due the attractive heritage of the town and its unique “townscape character” preserved by the intact ancient city walls. The rich and scenic countryside bordering the city contributes also to Lucca’s tourism sector . Old farmhouses and Luxurious Classic Villas are set high into the hilly landscape, availing of stunning views of the city with its several towers and scenic natural trails. Moreover Lucca is very famous for the annual Comics & Games festival, the film festival and for seasonal important music events.These factors combined with others, have made Lucca into the tourist haven it is today, potentially to the detriment of the Luchessi themselves. 6

The Walled City: The City of Lucca, Italy is one of the most well-known walled cities in Europe. This massive piece of stone infrastructure, La Mura, has become a strong identity for Lucca, essentailly creating/generating a city so wrapped in its history it is physically bound by it. The Duchy of Lucca was founded in 1815 by decision of the Congress of Vienna which he named Duke Charles of Bourbon(Ludovico Di Borbone) with the regency to his mother Maria Luisa of Spain. The Congress had in fact held, as in other Italian republics, swept away by Napoleon , not to restore the old Republic of Lucca, but still maintain alive the State has entrusted to the Bourbons. The walls around the old town remain intact as the city expanded and modernized. As the walls lost their military importance, they became a pedestrian promenade which encircled the old town, although they were used for a number of years in the 20th century for racing cars. They are still fully intact today; each of the four principal sides is lined with a different tree species. The wall today has generated and divides two distinct town typologies; Lucca Dentro (inside the walls) and Lucca Fuori (outside). [Image 1]Lucca Dentro, the “Centro Storico” possesses distinct historical qualities that have designated the town as a popular tourist destination. Lucca Fuori, the “Living Suburbs”, are the product of the amalgamation of small rural clusters over time. These have joined to produce a large uncontrolled mass of low-density urban development located along a network of arteries radiating out from Lucca Dentro’s Portes. These have since been divided into 9 Fractions; divided as wedges along main radial routes. [image 2] Today three scales of fragmentation exist; regional (between dentro/fuori) and fractional (fractions within Lucca Fuori).

Map of Lucca in the XIX century. The walled part of the city witnessed today is part of the Rennaissance era ot urban growth. The traces of the old roman and medieval walls may be discerned in the above map in the urban texture of the city’s urban blocks.

Lucca Walls; the 16th-century wall is today a tree-lined avenue 4km long, flat, safe and perfect for walking or cycling. A boundary of defining the historic urban core, but also a space of fragmentation between the old and the new city.

Lucca Citta Interrota The most prominent urban characteristic of the city is its”fragmentation”. Over the centuries the province of Lucca was always independent and isolated regarding the nearer cities of Pisa and Livorno by keeping a different political and governmental state. The Catholic Church has always had a dominent influence in Lucca, which is also known as the City of the 100 churches. Furthermore, instead of being governed by the De’ Medici family as all of Toscany, Lucca, since the 13thcentury, had been under the authority of the Guinigi family. Nowadays the fragmentation is evident between the fractions that form the territory around the walls and between this whole area and the city town that is inside the wall. In fact, Lucca can be defined in two macroareas: the Outer Lucca and the Inner Lucca. Before there was an “Inner and Outer” Lucca. Lead Author: A.J.

In order to comprehensively understand the inherent physical and social charachteristics of Lucca it is important to consider Lucca’s long and prominent history. Lucca has always been a “walled city”. It has changed hands over the centries and each phase is left its mark. Lucca originally developed as a Roman Colony, within city walls. All that remains of the Roman walls today however are the two portes (gateways.) Their location gives an indication of the outer extents of Lucca under Lombard rule. As the capital of Tuscany, Lucca thrived economically under Lomabard rule. During the 12th and 13th centuries silk trade and and banking activities generated significant trade links and caused the city to prosper. As the economy prospered, so too did Lucca’s population. This increase in economic and social growth gave way to a new architectural developement. Towers and Tower Houses of wealthy merchants grew out ouf the dense fabric of the old inner Roman Centre and along the perimeters of the now ruined Roman Wall. The famous Guinigi tower is rumoured to have had oak trees planted on it’s roof after their tallest tower status was rivalled by a nearby rival merchant family. In order to avoid structural damage by the trees roots, each oak must be replanted every seven years. Development spread to the Eastern side of Lombardian Lucca in the form of lower density urban boroughs. By the 14th Century Lucca was thriving and powerful. While the rest of Tuscany was under Florentine rule Lucca resisted fiercely for over 4 centuries. This can be seen in Lucca’s physical development, notably by the absence of any Floretine infulence. Later in the 14th Century stonework became superceded to Brickwork. This period saw the development of Lucca’s second wall under the “Lord” of the most prominent and powerful family of that time, Paolo Guinigi. The circular brick defence encompassed the dense old Roman nucleus and its ramparts. 8

Lucca reached its peak economic develoment in terms of architectural development and urban structure by the end of the 17th Century. Lucca became a city state. The narrow winding Roman streets became enclosed as the dense urban fabric grew desnser. Houses or “Palazzo” grew together, enclosing winding streets and construction commenced on what was to become Lucca’s most iconic piece of infrstructure- “La Mura”. While Lucca’s two preceding walls were built for defensive purposes, this wall would serve as a declaration of authority and symbol of status. High and inpenetrable, this third wall was to act as a deterrent. It is important at this point to unsdertand the wall as not one single unique element but an thing that comprised many futher elements- earthworks, a moate and complex system of tunnels winding through the ramparts. A century later, at 12 metres high, thirty metres wide at its base and just over four kilometres in perimeter, La Mura was complete. In the late 1800s, with the unification of Italy, a divide began to grow between the old historic centre of Lucca within the walls and the newer suburbs outside the portes. Various scattered family farms began to develop and were subdivided beteen children of the families. Generation after generation, families moved on, land was sold off and small clustered setllements developed. Theses clusters outside of the wall grew along wide avenue routes radiating out from the wall’s portes or gates. This development merged over time into low density urban sprawl that we have today. The introduction of the automobile contributed significantly to the migrantion of Luchessi to sites ouside the wall and at one point in the 1990s, the wall ramparts served as a circular ring-road. The relationship between the inner Lucca and outer Lucca Today To completely understand the actual state of liveability and accessibility of the city and the public engagement during the city planning processes, it is important to be aware of the differences and the relationship between the old Inner City of Lucca, within the walls, and the City of Lucca, outside the walls that exist today. The percentage ratio of inhabitants that live in the respective areas is significant: as seen before, only the 10% of citizens still live within the walls. In the 50s it was approximately 40%. Lucca’s citizens have been migrating outside the wall, but retaining their old residences inside the walls for the purposes of B&B or apartments for tourist rental, especially between March and November. For this reason Inner Lucca experiences temporal and relatively short-term transitional accommodation. This loss of original Lucchesi inhabitants from within the walls is proving detrimental to Lucca’s cultural and social identity. This has also been detrimental to businesses within the walls, with a limited number of shops still functioning. Focusing on the tourist industry, the comercial uses compose mainly of expensive restaurants, luxury goods and ice cream shops. Supermarkets and everyday shops are mainly located outside the walls, emphasising the overwhelming number of transient inhabitants within the walls during the tourist season.

LUCCA DENTRO - INNER LUCCA

LUCCA FUORI - OUTER LUCCA VIA SS. ANNUNZIATA

VIA SS. ANNUNZIATA

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POPULATION DISTRIBUTION

Sistema Informativo Territoriale ed Ambientale Popolazione residente e densità di popolazione nei censimenti dal 1951 al 2011 sup. Ha Comune

LUCCA

18,539

Provincia

193,371

Regione

TOSCANA

pop. ab./Ha pop. ab./Ha pop.

2,298,869

1961

1971

1981

1991

2001

2011

88,428

90,995

91,246

87,894

82,292

84,939

4.76

4.77

4.91

4.92

4.74

4.44

4.58

366,899

365,540

380,356

385,876

377,122

372,294

393,795

1.90

1.89

1.97

2.00

1.95

1.93

2.04

3,158,480

3,289,417

3,473,097

3,581,051

3,523,959

3,487,280

3,741,681

1.37

1.43

1.51

1.56

1.53

1.52

1.63

ab./Ha

around 90% residents

1951 88,302

NOTA: ab./Ha (densità di popolazione) = pop./sup. Ha Sistema Informativo Territoriale ed Ambientale Popolazione residente e densità di popolazione nei censimenti dal 1951 al 2011 1951

sup. Ha

around 10% residents

Comune

LUCCA

18,539

Provincia

193,371

pop.

ab./Ha pop.

ab./Ha

Regione

TOSCANA

2,298,869

pop.

ab./Ha

88,302

1961

1971

1981

1991

2001

2011

88,428

90,995

91,246

87,894

82,292

84,939

4.76

4.77

4.91

4.92

4.74

4.44

4.58

366,899

365,540

380,356

385,876

377,122

372,294

393,795

1.90

1.89

1.97

2.00

1.95

1.93

2.04

3,158,480

3,289,417

3,473,097

3,581,051

3,523,959

3,487,280

3,741,681

1.37

1.43

1.51

1.56

1.53

1.52

1.63

NOTA: ab./Ha (densità di popolazione) = pop./sup. Ha

Infrastructure and policies Fonte: ISTAT

(I.Stat)

Pagina 1

The old stone buildings inside the walls range in height from 5- 6 storeys, accessed by narrow and stairways, usually without any elevator. These buildings lack modern facilities and inhibit accessibility and usability especially for vulnerable categories of society for example the elderly, which constitute the majority of its inhabitants. The lack of basic amenities and car acesibility with Old Lucca is chasing away Lucca’s elderly and families with young children. The prospect of newer, larger, brighter and more accessible accommodation offered in the area outside of Lucca’s walls, proved more appealing to those with young families using stollers, shopping bags and front-of-house parking. Fonte: ISTAT

(I.Stat)

Pagina 1 di 1

Another detriment to life in the old city has been preservation laws. Most of the buildings do not conform to relevant energy consumption regulations. Until 2001, the Old town was protected by a town plan that authorised only conservation renovation works and consequently complicated any intervention on the buildings. The combination of these factors have inhibited any modern rennovation works that may enhance the buildings’ accessibility and sustainability. These problems, have forced offices, shops and services to move outside the walls further depopulating the Old Town. Moreover, in 2006 Lucca became World Heritage Site. Today, Lucca’s fragmentation is increased by physical barriers, both natural and artificial, that characterize the area: • • • • • •

the river Serchio in the North, (the area during the last decade has seen severe floods) the railway and the A11 highway in the South and the expressway ring-road around the walls of the city town. the Walls represent a strong physical and psychological barrier establishing a sharp distinction between the city town inside the walls and the rest of the city outside the walls that is considered as a different city. The connecting points (the gates) between inner and outer Lucca are through heavy traffic round abouts. This has hindered accessibility by bike or pedestrians despite the proximity of the inner and outer Lucca. The road junctions around the town has also eliminated any pedestrian traffic, or life on the street (eg shopping streets) further fragmenting the two areas.

Meanwhile Outer Lucca, because of the high density building speculation of the last 50 years, developed without a proper and consistent urban planning. (it is estimated that currently 4000 flats are vacant!) Although this accommodation has modern comforts, the urban space is unplanned less accessible and poorly organized compared to the Old Town that, as a result of tourism, maintained a better scale of usability and liveability of the urban environment.

The city of Lucca possesses two very distinct and different town typologies in terms of its economic, social, cultural, environmental aspects: Economic : Lucca thrived economically in Medieval times. As outlined previously, silk trades and banking industry thrived within the old city and it was a partiularly important focal point with communications in the Northern Regions of Italy at that time. Today, as a UNESCO Wold Heritage Site, Inner Lucca relies almost entirely on tourism and the service sector. Online resources such as Air BnB and Booking.com have enabled Lucchesi to rent their apartments to International tourists year-round rather than living in them. Retail Policy developed allowing retail use expanding at first floor suffocating any residential use at first floor. Via Fillungo, the most important shopping route in Lucca is not vibrant at night after shop closing time. While the service sector dominates Inner Lucca, Outer Lucca relies on other indusrties; including technology, agriculture and light indusrtry. It is important to consider that in terms of economy Inner and Outer Lucca remain interdependent. Income generated through tourist rentals allow Luchessi to afford the high maintenance cost associated with the upkeep of old stone and brick buildings. Social : There is a strong sense of pride and identity associated with Lucchesi. High emmigration rates worldwide have earned them the name “Lucchesi Del Mondo”. What is remarkeable, however is that such a high number of “Lucchesi Del Mondo” return to celebate the annual Processsion of the Cross Festival every September. The Procession of the Luminara has been identified by locals the main event for social identity of the Lucchesi. The main social category in Inner Lucca is the elderly. Regardles of the earlier point describing challenges in infrastructure and accessibility, the older population of Inner Lucca remain there due to their reluctance to leave the home where they grew up. A secondary social aspect to consider in Lucca is permanence and temporality. The high volume of tourists in particular at peak season has generated a “passing through” pressence. This is apparent in both the seasonal scale and on a daily scale. Lucca’s proximity to Florence and Pisa allows tourists to make short single day trips to the Old Lucca by bus. While settlement in Inner Lucca is transitional and season-dependent, Outer Lucca has a much more permanent settlement which can be seen in the presence of schools, shoppingmarts and other day-to-day facilities available for families and other long-term residents. Cultural : Inner Lucca is a town steeped in culture. It has generated its own cultural hub through its charming character, urban harmony, old towers and various churches that have been converted into museums displaying many historic artefacts. The combination of favourable acoustic properties of Lucca’s vast array of churches and the legacy of Pocinni makes Inner Lucca ideal for shows and Opera, not just for tourists but also for the Luchessi. Old farmhouses in Outer Lucca have been converted into Villas that are available to rent for events or special occassions. Outter Lucca also possess interesting historic features. The mountains are scattered with ancient “Torch towers”. Once lit, these served as warming symbols of an oncoming invasion from Pisa. The inability of any city to conquer Lucca stands a testament to them. Environmental : Inner Lucca’s dense urban fabric possess its own micro-climate. The narrow streets, hard paved surfaces and old high stone buildings amplify noise fom traffic and sirens. An old underground drainage system and shaded streets means that dampness can be a problem also. The environment of Outer Lucca differs significantlly. Wider streets and lots of planting make Outer Lucca brighter and more spacious in comparison. Further outside Lucca, the vast countryside with its vineyards and pastoral landscape generates an income for farmers. Occassional flooding of the river Sercchio, deposits rich allluvial soil on its banks. It is worth mentioning at this point that the River originally flowed along the outskirts of the old Roman walls of Lucca, where a narrow stream now exists. It is rumoured that an Irish Bishop arranged to have the Sercchio redirected West to reduce flooding of the old town. 12

Movement : Scale is an important aspect in considering movement in Lucca. The narrow winding streets of Inner Lucca make it difficult for vehicles to manoevre, but ideal for pedestrians. Only certain streets can are open to vehicular access- once the driver possesses a permit that is issued to residents by the municipality. The wall ramparts with their wide paths, green areas and stunning views, make an attractive circular park for both pedestrian and cyclists. Infrastructure in Outer Lucca is designed predominantly fror the car. A network of busy arteries radiate out from a ring road, encircling the Wall. Cycle lanes are designed along main routes and traffic junctions are controlled.

Typical Inner Lucca street section.

Typical Outer Lucca street section. 13

B_AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE URBAN SPACE NETWORK OF LUCCA Lead Authors: C.V. Contributors: T.T.

The duality of Luccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s built form: a city of urban harmony, but also a city of fragmentation Lucca is a fascinating example of a resilient city, in terms of urban form, which has undergone successive transformations and gradual and systematic urban growth. This is the case for the city centre, where the urban network is characterized by a continuity of spaces, high interconnectivity of public squares and narrow winding streets. Many aspects of the former Medieval residential organisation remain still today. The Lucca residence frequently contained a palazzo, a portal and an atrium space. According to the influence of the property owner, squares would be formed to celebrate and promote the power of the famiglia. These squares form a dense network of public hard-paved surfaces that punctuate the streetscape of the historic city. Main squares of the city centre include Piazza S. Michele, Piazza Napoleone and Piazza Anfiteatro. As an indication of the extension of urban transformation, Piazza Napoleone was not always piazza, but was formed as such in the context of the Visualisierung; the late 17th ventury notion of demolishing old buildings (here including an old church) to create a monumental public space that celebrates and promotes the image of the Palazzo or the Church. Public spaces became a connected network of influence and power. Vegetation in public squares is rare. Green spaces are found in the semi-private or private gardens of palazzi or informal courtyards of residential blocks. Apart from the palazzi, the numerous churches inside the walls provide a monumental framework that characterises the city as an entity. Lucca dentro is an openair museum offered to visitors and tourists, with a striking homogeneity of spatial qualities, materials and character. Often compared to Florence or Pizza, it is its entirety that gives Lucca its unique character. This dense formation of the historic centre is surrounded and separated from the rest of the city by a ring of fortifying walls. This defensive apparatus was never used for military purposes; the last, external extension of the walls is used as a more than 4 km long embankment lined with trees [photo]. Arranged as public walkway in the 19th century, the walls were later used as an elevated vehicular ring road until up to the 1990s, to be later re-transformed into a green esplanade for residents and visitors. Extended areas of green spaces with unspecified use surround the outer side of the walls. Parts of them are currently used for informal cultivation.

Outside the walls, the urban extension of the city did not follow a strategic urban plan of growth. What used to be agriculture lands, owned and managed by the important families of the city, was developed into farming structures and later neighborhoods of second residences of the large and powerful families (networks of property ownership). These small nucleuses of habitation created a fragmented territory that was never considered as an alternative destination to the historic city centre. This resulted in difficult and sometimes awckward connections within the road plan and in particular to the access points in and out of the walled city. The modern city has preserved its historic character in the city centre and spread without any urban planning outside the walls. Green spaces are rare in the main historic part of the city centre (Roman and Medieval part) whereas large garden are situated in the eastern part of the city centre. Outside the walls, the ringroad is punctuated by an unused green area, currently used informally as cultivating land in the northwest part of the walls.

Urban space network of Lucca: routes-piazzas hard paved spaces Lead Authors: G.V.

Public space within Lucca Dentro is a network of formal piazza connected to small scale informal areas. These areas often have not names and have not any geometrical shape. They look almost left over space from the town’s topography medieval grid of narrow streets. DAY USE /NIGHT USE: These Pocket Squares are often used for social activities including street performing, cafe’ seating etc. during the day. At night time same space is used for residents’ car parking. After shop closing time, these claimed pocket squares are not attractive and deliver a different perception to the passing public.

Patterns on the paving: While the strong geometrical pattern on the paving, offers a positive and legible perception of the town-walk ability and Heritage network to tourists, the public space lacks of perception of local identity for residents Very little have changed in the design and perception of public space in Lucca over the years. The public realm has not developed into contemporary amenity for the residents but rather has kept its neutral “way finding” character for helping the visitors’ experience.

Shared surface and public space ownership: defensible space concept. People priority over the cars is well established urban format in Lucca Dentro. An historical “Shared Surface” principle allows for successful balance between people social activities and vehicular use of the space. A more defined “private edged space” for residents use to allow a community place-making development in Lucca Dentro rather than a tourism focused use of the public space, might be desirable. Contemporary public realm intervention can be a tool to deliver a new brand for Lucca Dentro to attract local families and young generation users.

Pre-Tourism and Tourism Dominated Economy: Trading, social and cultural activities took place historically in the main Square of Lucca. Town community and strong feel of ownership of public space is shown in the Amphitheatre Square in historical picture. After the Market activities, traditional food was served in the local Osterias around the main town square and people maintained a strong community and perception of local identity with the place.

PIAZZA ANFITEATRO, Trading, social and cultural activities in the Square. Not a tourist insight.

PIAZZA ANFITEATRO, High profile Public Realm dedicated solely to the tourist service industry. 16

Public space methamorphosys following the car use after the 50â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s : Piazzale Verdi, Tabacchi Manifacture, showing the old tram line in 1930 and Piazzale Verdi today: The change of public space use has negativetly effected the local polupation. The car advent changed the mind set of people that started to move out of the city wall to be able to park the car outside the house, to shop by car etc. Since the 50s the number of residents from 40,000 dropped into 9,000. Lucca has become dominated by cars and tourists and accordingly has lost some of its worth to locals. This proposal is to address this defect through the introduction of a Defensible space concept.

Today the same town gate is a roundabout for car users. The public space has lost its historical function of representative formal town gate and amenity . Undefensible space.

Porta s.Pietro, xix cent. Social activities at the town wall entrance indicating a vibrant town. Guinici tower at background.

Porta s.Pietro, sept 2014. Car focused traffic engineereed measures at the town gate. Lack of social activities in the use of public space

Citizen and local identity: Searching for Local identity in a tourist dominated city Local Residents could re-establish a cultural identity with the town centre through a process of education and valuation of indigenousl heritage. Local Authority could promote the conservation of the streetscape for instance by involving the citizen of Lucca into painting schemes, traditional crafts like window details and shop fronts. Heritage signage of a shopfront in via Fillungo is shown on image A showing the traditional streetscape. Window frame detail on below image at risk of being replaced with PVC window frame in absence of strict Heritage conservation policy.

A_Via Fillungo traditional shop front at risk of being replaced. B_Delericted Religious Edicola .

C &D_Traditional craft of timber window frame in process to be replaced with PVC windows

The Luminara Procession is the most important event for the Lucchesi citizen. People travel from around the world to participate and to experience a strong sense of identity with the town.

Green space There are three main urban park spaces in lucca: The twin walls, the river serchio park and the aqueduct nottolini park. At about 15 minutes drive form the city centre. All of them offer magnificent amenity for walking, cycling, horse riding,educational activities etc.

Defensible space concept within the town walls The city is surrounded by 4 levels of the surrounding rings of walls; the last - external - extension of the walls represents more than 4 km long imposing embankment planted with trees. This defensive apparatus was never used for military purposes, but did it best to protect Lucca from overflows of the Serchio river. For these reasons during the Napoleon era the walls were demilitarized, and since that acted as a public walkway. The history of fortified walls of Lucca begins in 200 A.C. - with a classic square of walls that surrounded the city centre, and with part of it seen there up to today. The second ring of walls is dating back to 1100 - 1200, when the perimeter of the city was increased from 3 sides (excluding the southern part - from the Pisa side). Parts of this circle - that included all the most renowned historical buildings of the cityĂs centre - can still be seen as the fortified gates of Porta dei Santi Gervasio e Protasio and Porta dei Borghi. All the important buildings that had not yet been within the boundaries of the walls, were included in the third ring (1400-1500) - with the expansion only in the north-eastern direction. The belief in the power of fortifications compelled the Republic of Lucca to dedicate more efforts to the fortification of the walls.

Based on the historical city wall development of Lucca, with the related town expansion over the century, shown by the overlay of walls, it could be possible to create a defensible public space area within the town centre that is necessary primarely for local community to re estabilish sence of identity, natural perception of survellaince, image of physical edge and private amenity public space. This can be easily linked to a defensible green space as a further amenity for the local population. Defensible space in venice Yellow signs demarking clear touristic itinerary are peppered across almost every intersection in the most heavily touristic areas to point sightseers in the right direction. Tourists on a short time visit would not enter the private defensible space as to avoid the risk of getting lost. Thereby creating a separate network of streets for exclusive local use.

MAP OF VENICE, SHOWING IN YELLOW THE TOURIST ZONES

EXPANDING TOURISM OFFER TO CONNECT TO THE AGRICULTURAL INTERLAND.The Nottolini’s Aqueduct .

SOCIAL IDENTITY Contributors: ALL

Spatial Networks and Connectivity. Lead Authors: CV

The network of public spaces in Lucca is based on a distinct differentiation of density and coverage. Below is shown the different coverage density for city space outside the walls, at the area of urban walls and inside the historic core of the city.The latter may be described as a compact system of interwined streets and squares inside the walled area. It s interesting to point out the monumental nature of the walled area. Despite the elevated walkway with the elaborate treelines, the area of the walls is still acknowledged from a distance. No built space interacts with the volume and green spaces amply provided. Outside the walls the old second residences of the Lucchesi have been transformed in a contemporary garden city, characterised by unplanned dispersed built forms with wide streets and treelines at each side.

Network of urban squares and green spaces soft and hard surfaces There is a compact network of urban squares in the historic core of Lucca (indicated in yellow below). The trilogy of Piazza S. Maria, Piazza Amfiteatro and Piazza Napoleone form the main North-South axis of the city, while Piazza S. Michele and Piazza San Martino (Luccaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Duomo) are the main squares on the WestEast axis. Green spaces in this network of hard surfaces is sparse, especially inside the Roman and Medieval part of the historic core. However, in the Rennsaissance part there are a series of botanical gardens around the main institutes of the city (IMA). Apart from that, soft surfaces may be found in the private gardens of prominent palazzi (below, in blue). The core of green spaces is found in the area of the city walls. This is characterised by low-cut grass and treelines. There is a lack of landscaping and the ampleness of space calls for a diversiy of uses that today no longer exist. Immediately outside the wall, there are a few urban squares (of lower compactness), such as those close to the railway station and outside the city gates. However, because of the presence of the high-traffic ringroad, the latter remain largely unused.

Pedestrian movement network: walking and cycling The historic core is dedicated to pedestrian activities. The main N-S and W-E axis of the city remain completely pedestrianised (yellow areas below) whereas the spaces closer to the walls allow low-traffic (green areas below). Despite the wide pedestrianisation of the city centre, piazzas and streets are used as parking space, which remains one of the main challenges of public space in Lucca. Outside the walls, the pedestrian is underrated by vehicular movement. Streets width is larger and pavements are minimised at 0.90 m (if not inexistent). This conforms with the lifestyle of the Lucchesi. Walking outside the walls seems pointless. Cycling forms part of the Lucchesian tradition and lifestyle. It may be suggested that it is the form of transport the unites the two cities (dentro and fuori). While in the city centre, pedestrians and cyclists mingle, outside the walls, dedicated cycle lanes are designated. However, these are largely located on pavement space (in order to allow larger street width for vehicular movement).

Religious network of churches: poles of influence and attraction The city of the 100 churches is definitely worth its name. Below there is a map of connectivity between hot spots of religious power. It may be observed that the densty of churches (and consequently touristic interest) is concentrated inside the walls. Interestingly, points of influence outside the walls denote the nucleuses of urban neighborhoods that have developed into the 4 large territories around the historic core. Also, notice the higher connectivity and walkability that characterises the network of churches inside the walls. Moving at a closer scale, one would be able to verify the influence of religious places by the prominence of public space used to promote the power of the church. Indeed, the network of compact squares and street axes follow a planned order of power prominence. We could go as far as to say that piazzas are not there for the people, but for the celebration of buildings. However, modern values have changed this dynamic and the network of churches may be used to illustrate the network of attraction interest for the user (both inhabitants and visitors) of the city.

Commercial network: Shopping, Luccaport and the ‘smart periphery’ Traffic network_ permeability and the network of round-abouts Commercial and business activities are the driving force of the city’s economic engine and tourism. These provide the framework services that promote the pedestrian-friendy character of the historic core to enhance touristic activities and attraction. Below (in yellow), Via Filungo, Via Paolino and Via di Roma form the main N-S and W-E axes of commercial high-end retail activities in the city centre. However, the success of this economic model is based on the extrapolation of any kind of necessary everyday commerce outside the city walls. Residents do not choose to pass the barrier of the walls to find services and retail. Instead there are two poles of commerce outside the walls, at the North and West part of the city (in yellow), that serve the inhabitants needs. Connection between the two commercial worls is minimum as the physical barrier of the wall and management of ring road allow for low permeability between the two ‘cities’.

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Apart from that, the historic core seems to demand more of its periphery than just accommodating challenging retail (such as large supermarkets and modern-commodities shops). The creation of a ’smart’ periphery is called to feed the historic core with goods and touristic amenities. The business network of the Greater Lucca is using innovative and sustainable ways to respond to this need, such as the Luccaport service: a cost-effective, sustainable network of electric transportation vans that distributes commercial goods rom the outside world to the the historic core. During the interview fieldwork, it became apparent that citizens involved in the public participation process, were not fully aware of the advantages and innovation developed by private stakeholders of the city. The synergy between private and public stakeholders seems to become one of the great challenges of public participation in Lucca.

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C_THE PIUSS PROJECT: PHASES AND PROPOSED NEW SPACES Lead Authors: G.V. & C.V.

Phase 1: • New uses of urban interventions had a cultural aspect focused on touristic attraction. Proposals of civic infrastructure were developped but not completed. These proposed new public spaces, facilities and a public- private synergy and leverage, allowing for some flexibility in future adaptation. • The project was financed by EU Structural Funds, up to 24 million. • The urban development included initially 12 projects. However, only 2 of them were partly realised during the timescale. These include the Bus terminal (WC) for tourists at Palatuzzi (as part of parking project) and the new Touristic Welcome Centre at ex-Cavalerizza. • Outlined in the PIUSS document describes the 5 fields of interventions. Lucca Municipality selected to focus on cultural heritage and conservation issues rather then social regeneration. (see reference document “Connecting Cities, Building Successes, URB Act the ERDF, page 3) Phase 2: • Additional 16 million of funds for the second phase of development with the aim to attract private investments • the project never reached Phase 2.

Piuss and urban space: From the list below the proposed works within the PIUSS funding project are listed including brief description and funding allocation. Although the list included some scope for urban design and public space projects including market space, public realm and amenity for local residents etc. the funding allocation says: NOT BUDGET ALLOCATION. “Leggendo il programma dei Piuss siamo riusciti a identificare quella che poteva essere l’area del progetto. Siamo partiti da un’idea più grande che erano tutti i contenitori urbani non utilizzati […] PIUSS 2013. Reading the PIUSS programme we were be able to identify the most important project area brief. We started from the big idea which consists of all these “not utilized urban containers”. Touristic Terminal Bus Ex-Cavallerizza Piazzale Verdi Ex Manifattura Tabacchi

D_PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN THE PIUSS PROJECT: CULTURAL CONTEXT AND GROUP DYNAMICS Lead Authors: G.V.

Brief stage: In 2008_no call for participation. Brief was generated through European funding, which defined budgets for Cultural Projects. Grant of E24 million was approved. Regional funding was also approved in 2009 to be added to the EU funding for a total of E36 million. Design stage: no call for participation, no architectural competition, no call for ideas. Design was generated based on potential sites cultural activities- disused parks (Piazza Verdi) and vacant plots/units, such as the Ex Tabacchi Manufacturer Building.

Timeline for PIUSS (phase 1) projects construction.

Tender stage: Public anouncement: public presentation by municipality, passive participation, one way communication. Public Protests started at Piazzale Verdi rememberance project by Italia Nostra Association against the elliptical proposed Park designed by German Architect - independent groups formulating sceptics/ rejectivists. The Piuss Project was received by Italia Nostra as a project strategy to further develop tourism rather than a citizen focused project to develop & deliver the town centre for the people of Lucca. Although late, a public engagement from the Local Authority came towards the citizen inviting them to participate. In this occasion Italia Nostra wrote a letter of ideas and suggestion to outline an alternative PIUSS brief based on citizen users focus above tourists. For instance, a mixed used for the Ex Tabacchi Manufacturer consisting of a permanent exhibition space for Comix and residents users facility was proposed. A school for citizens to learn the local art craft of the heritage of Lucca and how to re-establish indigenous ways of construction, building elements, carpentry, stone mason, etc. A strong brief to enhance the Lucca heritage coming from the local skills unfortunately was lost during the last decades due to high emigration numbers and lack of investments towards it. A strong call for avoiding to loose permanently tradition and culture of the place was put in place by Italia Nostra. The PIUSS brief for this building, consisting of an international school for artists, was not welcomed as it was a clear tourism target. Outsiders were listened instead. (Paul McCarthy.) Another strong site was called up in the Italia Nostra submission at PIUSS brief stage where the Mercato Centrale (piazza del carmine) was brought up to the municipality attention. The strong connection of this site with the citizen was outlined to be key strategy for the success of a cultural plan of the town redevelopment. The Market function in the heart of the town would attracts all citizen to the use of the walled town claiming the lost function of SOCIAL ACTIVITIES in the town centre. ...”who did they take permission from to put their hands on a national monument and to fence a public place?”........

2000 signatures were raised against the project Piazzale Verdi proposed works by the Piuss

Legal action from the Public are raised against the new Anphiteatre Project in Piazzale Verdi. The project included the relocation of the National Monument. LAST ATTEMPT from the Municipality: .....“If we don’t build the project we will loose all the funds!”....

The PIUSS brief was to exclude car-parking and residential use of the town centre. Three meetings were organized for three different groups. Piazzale Verdi was the most controversial proposal as it was affecting a national heritage monument, the remembrance garden. No-one was asked their opinion on the elliptical park design. While Italia Nostra opposition was translated by the local authority and politicians to be the voice of conservative citizen, closed minds to changes and a mere protest to contemporary design projects, the failure of this proposal was the absence of public input, communication and overall project brief. Piazzale Verdi opposition developed a strong legal case and after almost 5 years of public opposition in 2014 the works on site were stopped due to illegal procedure against Heritage National Law (1926). Italia Nostra acted as a facilitator and technical resource for the rest of the citizen that all together became successful to stop the whole Piazzale Verdi project. Means of engagement used: flyers in kiosks and newspaper stands and the website of the commune. However, participation happened at too late a stage in the project... they presented proposals. Lost opportunity to incorporate the full dynamic of the city. People became â&#x20AC;&#x153;rejectiveâ&#x20AC;? because they were not included in the process. The whole tender process both at consultant procurement and contract stage with the contractor was not clear. Design and built contracts were selected for restricted timeframe. Formal Participation was part of the PIUSS process to gain the EU funding. It was badly applied only to comply to EU conditions but not for genuine appreciation of form of participation and public consultation.

E_PART I CONCLUSIONS Lead Authors: L.P & AJ, TT & G.V.

Within the context of the STSM, the series of interviews formed a primer for understanding the problems and aspirations of the citizens, businesses and municipal authorities of Lucca. The interviews also helped identify possible failures or weaknesses of the PIUSS project with regards to public participation but also an opportunity to examine how the newly established participation labs propose methods to bridge these gaps. The city of Lucca has great social and cultural potential that can be developed through a clever, transparent and enterprising urban model that would aim to “connect” the fragmentation of the city. The issue is not to redesign Lucca but to re-open the city to enable citizens and businesses to use the public space and essentially to create a community that will actively participate in the planning process to develop the life of the city. The challenge that today’s Lucca has to face is to build up the lost number of citizen that left the the historical centre to move outside the walls adding up the fragmentation due to the absence of a development plan that only happened in 1958. In the end of the XIX high emigration occurred caused by land discgragation. Today’s AirBnB phenomenon have caused a large number of houses vacated by the residents and being located to tourists. Residents are now landlords and are at risk of losing their cultural and social identity with the place. The Anphiteatro Piazza, once stage of the trading activities as shown on the HISTORICAL images, have been replaced by cafes, souvenir shops and restaurants for visitors. Locals don’t hang around these areas anymore and as a consequence the town square has lost its historical function. From interviews to residents it was outlined that the only event where the Lucchesi feel their identity with their “Lucca Dentro” is during the Luminaria Event. The Procession of the Luminara, every September is the most important event for the Lucchesi including the vast number of emigrated people that travel from around the world to join the community and celebrate their identity. The local community perception of the public investment within the PIUSS projects, was mainly a tourists focused investment that didn’t take the need of the residents nor their collaborative participation since brief development. Beyond a critical assessment of the PIUSS project, on a planning level, and its overall objectives it is apparent that the citizen engagement processes were essentially not an organic part of the process. Public participation and transparency were absent from the onset of the inception and during the development of the project. Public engagement was applied too late during the process creating opposition from the wider public. The late point at which the citizens became engaged in the process had no space for an active participation and was limited to one way information/briefing rather than two way communication. Citizens had no trust in the authorities and eventually started to biycot the projects, while correspondingly, the authorities saw the wider public as “conservative” and “the real Problem” .The interviews also indicated a lack of trust towards the municipality, with past scandals of corruption highlighting the need for more transparency. Because of this social fragmentation the two lines that describe the PIUSS process on the one hand, and the citizens participation on the other hand, ran paralled but never intersected. A recent example of this is the School Custer De Nobilis in Maria a Colle (a fraction of Lucca) that took ten years to complete because of the change of tender due to the bankrupty of the first contractor and the bureaucracy and the interests of involved parties. As an inhabitant of Maria a Colle said: “I don’t mind that it took ten years to be finished. I complain because of the lack of perseverance and transparency around the project!” Recently, Lucca’s Municipal authorities have implemented a public participation framework. It has been set up with the aim of developing communication and collaboration between the various stakeholders and the city officials and to create an awarness with regards to their role and responsibilities. Although the process is at an early stage and needs time to develop and growth for more active,participation, it aims to give a voice to Lucca’s citizens and gradually to deliver a community and a network between the parts: the citizens and the Institutions and the different citizens committee. 34

V_ PART II

A__Public Participation Framework in Lucca today Lead Authors: C.V.

The main source of information and understanding of the public participation process in Lucca was the opportunity to meet and interview key people from the local authorities. Although the process of public participation in different urban projects of Lucca had come up during the interviews of the previous days, its definition was not clear. With PIUSS as a starting point, it was suggested that the public was invited to participate in a passive manner. As was made clear during numerous interviews, in the PIUSS project participation did not have a role. Public participation was understood as public consultation. The position of the public would be that of a spectator. Citizens would be invited to consult specific proposals that were past the initial design stage. In 2013, with the initiative of the Comune di Lucca a new public council was formed with the aim to engage the public in participation processes. We interviewed Renato Bonturi, the appointed advisor (consigliere) of public participation, at the offices of the Commune di Lucca in Palazzo Santini on 17 September 2014. During the interview, the advisor described the processes of public participation that are currently under way, along with the different stages and further development. The first step towards engaging citizens is suggested to be the management of the territory into legible parts. Abandoning the division of the Lucchesian region in 9 fractions, the territory of the City of Lucca (dentro e fuori) was divided into 5 distinct parts: the historic city centre, the north, east, south and west part. This facilitated the understanding of what was the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision and needs for their own territory. Counting two public participation meetings (Participation Labs) since the May 2014, citizens were grouped to address smallscale projects related to their particular territory. The Participation Labs (Lavori Pubblicci Participativi) are based into distinct steps: 1_Communication to the public of the existence of the participation process. This is realised through the website of the Comune, publication and newspaper articles and flyer distribution in public spaces. 2_Involving people in a group process of maximum 40 people for each Participation Lab (in total 200 people for all 5 territorial parts). Currently 150 people have register for participation in this process. Registration is possible in person at the offices of the Comune and through online forms. 3_Meeting for group discussions are arranged and structured around a) common discussion on the needs and improvement of the built environment in each territory, b) smaller group discussion to share views on the same aspects. Duration of meetings up to 5 hours. 4_Selecting the arguments to be brought up to the City Council. 5_New meetings set up at the specific territories according to the agreed intervention projects (locality). During this process, proposals are discussed to conclude on a decision. 6_Desicion making (final decision by the Comune, in respect to the proposals that where brought forward during the public group meetings). The scale of the projects at this initial phase is referring to street paving, street lighting and urban furniture. 35

Key issues pointed out in terms of the process: -Time keeping and meeting arrangements for all participants. -One moderator for each small group, with a consensus made that a person from the Comune will mediate. -Transparency issue: need for 2 representatives from each of the 5 territorial parts to be present in the City Council meetings. -The know-how and communication methods to engage with people. -The role of the Architect. -Risk of creating a simulacra of public participation. -Financing and the management of funds. The vision of this â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;experimental processâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; [quote] is to engage people to participate permanently. In a larger process, each territory would have appointed a permanent group of people to participate in the decision making, an organism of the territory. B__CONSIDERATIONS AROUND THE PARTICIPATION LABS Lead Authors: L.P. & T.T.

There are some considerable observations around this first Participation Labs. First of all there wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a big tournout from the public to take part of the process; infact only 150 citizens have registered of the expected 200 (40 for each area) and most of them are elderly. The council noted a realtively low number of youth possibly due to the lack of trust following the PIUSS project experimece. At the same time some women and youth find it difficult to participate due to time restrictions and time comitments(often 6-8 hours in late afternoons). According to this, the council is trying to arrange meetings at specific times and locations that can be more accesible. A second interesting point is that the conclusions of the meetings are reviewed by specialists in participation (sociologists) that can translate the citizens needs in coinsise proposals. At the same time is very important that 2 citizens representatives from each of the 5 territorial parts can participate in the City Council meetings. Finally, dividing the territory in only 5 parts consolidated more dinstrics and consequently it gave the opportunity to generate an exchange of views. Infact citizens from different dinstricts may have different needs so during the meetings were possible to increase their awareness around each other needs and understand the shared priorities. People with any kind of physical or sensorial impairment have so far not been part of the process. The second phase of the Participation Labs about the social issues will involve mostly people with impairment as the issues is strictly related to this. Surely this is not a universal aprroach but it is interesting as a starting point. Although the process is in an initial stage it aims to give a voice to the citizens and gradually to deliver a community and a network between the parts: the citizens and the Institution and the different citizens committees. The public participation process can reach a mature step when the citizens will be involved in an active and continuous process starting from the beginnin and actively be part of the decision making process in shaping their city. 36

C__LIMITATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TOWARDS A CITY SOUNDING BOARD IN LUCCA Lead Authors: CV

The creation of Participation Labs is a positive initiative that increases public engagement and communication between different city stakeholders. However, despite the faact that specific public interests gain representation in the consultation and partly in the desicion-making process, there are inherent limitations in the application of public engagement: 1) Setting clear lomg-term objectives and purpose of consultation 2) Setting clear limits and boundaries concerning timescale, budjets and subjets to be covered or not 3) defining whether the approach of public engagement is auditory or learing 4) identifyng the level of engagement 5) collection of usable data: define stages of data collection throughout the process as baseline, ongoing and/ or data on completion of engagemnet process. At the same time, the timeline of data collection needs to be identified (setting a benchmark, at the end of each public event and at the end of the whole process). In addtiion, identification of source of data is important including the public participants, general public - in the form of surveys - the policy-makers, the commissioner of teh process, the designers of teh process -if different - and the facilitators. Finally, the nature of data provided: on 8th Novemeber 2014 an instant report of publi consultation was published by the municipality of Lucca. Although detailed minutes of the meeting are recorded there is not a clear statement of involvement and capacity building. 6) confidentiality of results: is the process open to full public scrutiny and is that clearly communicated, including accessibility of maps and data through a transparent, cost- and time-efficient process. D__A STARTING POINT IN LUCCA: THE CITY SOUNDING BOARD Lead Authors: L.P. & C.V.

D U NDI N G B O ARD

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TY CI

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B O AR D

During the Short Term Scientific Mission in Lucca it was possible to meet and interviews various key city stakeholders both from the decision-makers side and the citizens side; moreover unstructured interviews were added thanks to an expanding network created through the structured interviews. The interviews initiated an opportunity for dialogue, in which the various stakeholders shared information, while at the same time, helped create an awarness around their needs and views. Like a mosaic, piece by piece, the interviews helped put together an understanding of the city, its problems and its potential. The interview process started to become a tool and in a way, the beginnings of a city sounding board. Luccasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; physical and social fragmentation is part of its history and its culture. In a way, it is part of the identity of the city. If the physical fragmentation could be addressed would it be possible to eliminate the phsycological and social fragmentation/alienation? Can each part of this fragmented area identified its values and roles inside a consistent system that would linked all of them? How would it be possible to create systemic network? These are some of the questions that can be the starting point for a participatory debate and a co-creation process that involved the citizens of Lucca.

SO U N D

E__CITY SOUNDING BOARD: THE MANUAL Lead Authors: T.T. & C.V.

The city of Lucca and the PIUSS project were used as a vehicle to examine the requirements for setting up a City Sounding Board (CSB). The previous analysis has shown the particularities of Lucca and its spatial and social intricacies. It is possible however, to begin to identify recurring themes beyond cultural or geographic context. By addressing transferable notions, and methodology, the CSB can be applied in new locations adapting to local characteristics. A CSB would generate a people-centred desicion- making process through a methodology that could be tested and replicated at other cities or urban centres, around Europe. It will act as critical facilitator between city institutions and citizens by building capacity for future collaborative urban decision making at neighbourhood scale by means of citizen focussed pilot studies and design challenges. The CSB will beyond creating a platform for voicing opinions and data collection, will be a tool for facilitating collaboration between community members, stakeholders and professionals to a) develop a design brief, b) complete a site and context analysis though hands on experience, c) share technical and lay knowledge of a place (wider and specialised public), d) share and comment on evolving schemes, e) Prioritise aspects within complex strategies which might involve various stages. and respond to specific design-thinking challenges, including: - Which aspects of the neighbourhood design community involvement process could be accommodated the CSB, and how? - How can community stakeholders in neighbourhood design processes inform the development and refinement of the CSB? - How does the CSB take on a life of its own according to the nuances of the local culture? The CSB Manual is a product of a collaborative method, with partners in different countries and different time zones. The geographic locations of the researchers added a unique perspective as the results filtered though public engagement experiences in different countries. This multi-geographic setting has also required developing new methods in sharing, organising and disseminating information. The use of technology has been vital in organising collected data, sharing it, and addressing the issue of a long term methodology for organising data, applicable in participatory planning processes. Digital technologies can enhance participation processes and it is important within this analysis to examine the role of data management within the framework of the CSB. Bringing People Together The interview phase aimed at identifying urban and social dynamics. The interviews conducted by the COST STSM researchers with a planning and design background. The professional background of the researchers did not limit the conversation to strictly planning issues, but later helped in organizing the data in relevant areas of interest, and allowed for the use of spatial tools to define the issues. Visits and Maps were vital during these early stages to understand the physical, financial, and social balances. The researchers took on the role of the facilitator, probing questions, and facilitating discussions, but mainly listening and collecting information. The conversation was at this stage diagnostic. However, this process revealed the importance of the initial stage of designing the CSB and the vital role the STSMs played in this. It became apparent that an amount of pre-CSB research is necessary in order to identify the dynamics of collaboration in a reference city. Through a series of interviews the researcher attempts to create a basic understanding of the situation, the dreams, aspirations, but also the issues in the particular area. The problems or the solutions often reach far beyond their geographically defined boundary.Objectives and structures need to be clearly defined early on, in order to achieve best results within defined time frames. 38

In Lucca, people are generous with their time and the scale of the city allows for active involvement, where in a larger context it may have been more difficult to achieve immediate results. During the interviews with the citizens’association groups and the wider public, Citizens are in many occasions willing to dedicate time and knowledge but may not be aware of organised activities, and in other occasions citizen groups may not be aware of parallel attempts in addressing similar issues to what they are working on. In discussing the PIUSS project with the interviewees we observed two recurring issues: the lack of trust in authorities, and lack in transparency in the process. Contrary to assumptions, the wider public is keen to participate and very clearly has a voice and opinion. The authorities on many occasions doubted the ability of the citizens to enter a productive/creative dialogue. These issues became central to the development of the City Sounding Board (CSB). The creation of a shared platform where trust can be built, voices can be heard, and to enlighten all stakeholders in the potential of engaged and creative participation.The CSB can begin to address some of these issues while setting up a framework for active citizen participation: 1)Developing a long term vision, 2)Underlining greater themes/strategies 3)Bringing different stakeholders together 4) Providing the scale and context of public participation 5) Making decisions on urban and social interventions

The CSB manual for engagement will include various methods for public engagement: • engaging: triggering interest, interactive, showing the public that they have valid input • understanding: coffee shop settings/casual small teams, allowing all sides to understand the complexities of the project, implementation, budget, timing, needs, future changes • co-creating: open ended design games for scenario building, “imagine your city” games, level of abstraction for developing a vision, but interactive enough to allow for engagement, abstracting the components, use of verbs rather than defined programs. • defining a brief: organise the data in organograms. Feasibility financial and chronological/deadlines • representing: train the stakeholders to understand spatial relationships, reading plans etc. Train the authorities and specialists in developing better communication tools for communication with other stakeholders-for example: physical 3d models, videos, flyovers, chronological development • deciding: what is the framework for the decision making process? Beyond public consultation how can the legal framework protect the opinions of the least represented communities? • supervising: how can the wider public observe and safeguard processes during the projects implementation, safeguarding finances and deadlines and timeframes • maintaining: degrees of completion, phasing of projects, anticipated outcomes, and open-ended areas which are free to be defined at a later stage. Data Collection As described in the COST presentation in September 2014, the CSB will take the role of a table, on which all issues are placed. The collection of a wide range of information representing the various stakeholders at large, begins to formulate a mosaic of current issues and concerns. The question now lies in how this information is obtained, organised and how it can serve the need to build stronger ties between the various communitiesstakeholders. The CSB expresses the need for a platform/soundboard for all parties to be heard. However, more surprisingly, the interviews also revealed how the citizens groups of a small city like Lucca are actively stepping in to shape the future of their city. In the meantime, on a municipal level, the city officials are attempting changes in the decisions making process though the introduction of the Participation Labs. 39

An interactive map process will be used to clarify the citizens intention to participate, and on a second stage to start the introduction of urban game methodology. This will start training the citizens in a way to formalize an opinion, and create tools for managing the collected information. The architect acts as a facilitator to decipher knowledge, and incorporate data in the design process from the early stages, making the role of the citizen an organic part of the process. In a data-rich world, tools that convey the actibe engagement of the stakeholders need to be incorporated in cluding: 1) use of props 2) interactive Maps 3) active walls, 4) idea charettes, 5) drawing maps, 6) urban games, while the potential space and time factors of coordination and clear communication may be mitigated by the use of digital technologies. Assuming that both citizens and authorities are in agreement that in order to achieve Friendly Cities it is necessary to develop a series of orchestrated processes, that will provide a framewokr of better communication and dissemination of knowledge, immediacy in contacting the authorities and more active role of the citizen representatives both ways to the community and to the municipality. The citizens of Lucca showed great generosity with their time and energy. Citizen groups have been working independently in the fractions achieving varying degrees of change. The public participation project led by the municipality is initiating a structured participatory process. Within this context, a discussion has been initiated regarding the use of technology and applications in mobilizing and organising the different community initiatives for a more orchestrated process. The CSB Manual in Lucca would include the following sections: Data collection 1) defining the enlightened stakeholder, preconceptions initiatives and what we discovered 2) the role of specialists and municipality, educating the specialists to setting up a framework to allow and accommodate stakeholder participation 3) exercises and interactive processes to educate and involve all parties 4) framework to collect and organize data 5) data analysis: how to continue the participation beyond predesign and brief formulation? Setting the scope 6) parallel processes: architectural competitions, ideas competitions and citizen actions 7) activation: create interest for a project, by defining issues, objectives and level of engagement. 8) funding scope: availability and management of funds, bsed on structural plans, business plan, industry issues, social issues. 9) call for participation in data rich world: through the web, posters, media aiming for Inclusiveness and balance of team cohesiveness. 10) setting time and scope: organized and facilitated by the local authority, with a clear and structured form ensuring transparency and cultivating a sense that the community is participating in a decision making process. Decision-Making 11) the table, il Tavolo: animation of putting down information, engagement in process, idea generation. 12) scales of public engagement: to generate thought process and understanding of the scale of the city through open calls for idea and public events in the city. Smaller scale groups could follow the world-cafe set up, suing tools such as discussions themes, active walls, idea charettes, drawing maps, urban games, interactive maps and three dimensional models.By interacting with models or drawing on plans the issues begin to take a physical dimension and areas of interest begin to surface more clearly. 40

Examples such as the Living Lab (Webb, 2014) provide a reliable framework in order to collect information, identify overriding themes and emergent patterns, prioritise decisions and intervention needs and decide the co-design phase. A series of design exercises may direct at actively understanding the implications of each decision, create an understanding of the mosaic or peoples interests, cost implications, practicalities and how to come to a solution having clearly defined a problem. The concept of porta voce is instrumental in this process, so that large citizen groups need to cultivate the concept of reactive representation, by carrying the voice of the community and achieving a common representation of the group.

Lead Authors C.V

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VI_ CONCLUSIONS

Finally, the formation of the professional amateur (Pro-Am), remains the essence of the City Sounding Board. Educating all stakeholders in all stages of the design process is the primary factor of successful public participation. However, this aspect is based by default on a self-organising framework. Thus, the dissemination of data in an inclusive and coherent way may attract more interest from the public and create citizen representation in all design stages.

STSMs - a microscale of a city sounding board Primary fieldwork was carried on September 2014 in the case study city of Lucca, in order to identify unsuccessful past practices of public participation and the reason behind the fragmentation between the local authorities, business stakeholders and of self-organised citizens associations in a city of less than 100.000 inhabitants. The main objective of the study is to identify unrealised links in the closed loop of citizen engagement in the urban planning process and propose new design processes and digital tools for the facilitation of trans-disciplinary organisation and participation in civic self-organisation practices. The City Sounding Board manifests itself as an organised body of facilitation in bringing together the main city stakeholders through the use of appropriate tools for data collection. Public participation is based largely on self-organisation and the emerging role of the Pro-Am to inform the decision-making at the city level. Its main function is the setting of a clear procedure where values of public participation are clearly defined around transparency, independency and active engagement, but also responsibility and self-organisation of the city stakeholders. The primary fieldwork in Lucca consisted of interviews that initiated an opportunity for dialogue, in which the various stakeholders shared information pinpointing specific needs and views, according to their function in the city infrastuctures. Like a mosaic, piece by piece, the interviews helped put together an understanding of the city, the challenges and potential for building a framework of collaborative decision-making, based on capacity building. The interview process and STSMs collaboration started to become a tool and in a way, in itself, the beginnings of a City Sounding Board (CSB). Finally, there seems to exist a territorial factor in public participation, in which the historic core of Lucca has been playing the most prominent role. At its initiation, Lucca City Sounding Board needs to overcome the challenges of the physical wall barrier that fragments both the territory and citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cohesion. The CSB becomes thus a closed loop of public collaboration, communication, active engagement and capacity building that strengthens the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identity, based on design-thinking outside the walls.

VII_ REFERENCES - Al-Kodmany K. (1999). Using visualization techniques for enhancing public participation in planning and design: process, implementation, and evaluation. Landscape and Urban Planning, 45(1), pp. 37-45. - Bartoli, Velia Gini (2013). Lucca 700 800 tra repubblica e principato. Lucca: PubliEd. - Brislin P. (2012). Human Experience and Place: Sustaining Identity. Architectural Design, 41. - De Waal, M & Melis, G (2014). Urban Living Labs & Citymaking: Open innovation and urban design [made available during the COST Action MC meeting in Pisa, 11 September 2014]. - Evans-Cowley, J. & Hollander, J. (2010). The new generation of public participation: internet based participation tools. Planning Practice and Research, 25, pp. 397-408. - Gehl J. & Gemzoe L. (2004). Copenhagen: plublic spaces, public places. Copenhagen: Danish Architectural Press. - Gordon C. (1971). The Concise Townscape. London: Architectural Press. - Horelli L. ed. (2013). New Approaches to Urban Planning Insights from Participatory Communities. Aalto University Publication series. - Kofoed K. F. (2009). Re-designing dublin in public: towards an open-source urbanism, Report to Dublic City Council [made available by Dick Gleeson]. - Leadbeater C. & Miller P. (2004). The Pro-Am Revolution. Demos. - Oscar N. (1972). Defensible Space. New York:. - Pallot M. & Pawar K. (2012). A Holistic Model of User Experience for Living Lab Experiential Design. In: Proceedings of the18th International Conference on Engineering, Technology and Innovation (ICE). Germany: Munich. - Sanders E. &Simons G. (2009). A Social Vision for Value Co-creation in Design. Open Source Business Resource, December 2009: Value Co-Creation. - Webb, Rosie (2014). Towards a Design Led Co Creation/ Co Production Process/ Methodology. Personal Notes on Urban Living Lab and CSB. WG5 meeting. Lucca: September 2014. ONLINE [accessed in October 2014] http://www.lhac.eu/?i=accessible-cities.en.cities.3 http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertolli http://www.mastercartalucca.it http://flickrhivemind.net/Tags/lucca,manifatturatabacchi/Timeline http://www.manifatturesigarotoscano.it COREP Torino, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Piuss, Lucca Dentro, Una valutazione di processo, Torino 2013 [accessed in September 2014]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca. http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ducato_di_Lucca http://urbact.eu/fileadmin/general_library/URBACT_16_08_11_pre_BAT-3.pdf

VIII_ DISSEMINATION 1) People Friendly Cities in a Data Rich World, Architecture and Society, All Ireland Architectural Research Group Conference 2015, Dublin, 30-31 January. 2) City Sounding Board: empowering public participation in a data rich world, Design, Social Media and Technology to Foster Civic Self-Organisation Conference 2015, Belgium, 21-22 May.

IX_ APPENDIX HANDOUTS

R / L no.____ date_______ start time_______ end time_______

COST Action TU1204 STSMs Researching for a City Sounding Board

LUCCA FUORI LUCCA FUORI RAILWAY

LUCCA DENTRO

LUCCA FUORI

Map of Rome Walk: Starting Point at Campo dei Fiori & Finish Point at Piazza Cairoli.

MOTORWAY

WORKSHOP RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1. What is a City Sounding Board? 2. How to create an nterface for data collection from the public? 3. How to build trust between local authority & stakeholders? 4. What is incusive participation? 5. How to overcome fragmentation?

Teresa Tourvas - ttourvas@cytanet.com.cy

Aisling Joyce - aislingjoyce@gmail.com

Laura Pirrone - info.laurapirrone@gmail.com Carolina Vasilikou - carol.vasilikou@gmail.com Giulia Vallone - giulia.vallone@gmail.com

R / L no.____ date_______ start time_______ end time_______

COST Action TU1204 STSMs Researching for a City Sounding Board CA LUC I R FUO

CA LUC I R FUO

CA LUC RO T DEN

ORW

MOT

LWA

RAI

Creating a City Sounding Board 1. How to engage citizens and stakeholders?

2. Under which consensus to co-create? 3. How to define a brief?

4. How to make decisions? 5. Who would

supervise? Laura Pirrone - info.laurapirrone@gmail.com

Giulia Vallone - giulia.vallone@gmail.com Carolina Vasilikou - carol.vasilikou@gmail.com Teresa Tourvas - ttourvas@cytanet.com.cy Aisling Joyce - aislingjoyce@gmail.com COST Action TU1204 STSMS/ City Sounding Board / Oslo - Oct 2014