Abstract: The mountain and inland areas of the Italian peninsula offer forms of rural life deeply rooted in their topographic conformation. At the same time, today they are characterized by dynamics of strong marginalization, processes established starting from the economic boom after the Second World War, and which have not yet been reversed. The Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, and the specific case of Monte Cimone, are structured through a constellation of towns, villages, small hamlets, and borgate which for centuries have constituted their social-cultural, regional, and national backbone. The Apennines today would not exist, or they would remain a mere memory if the horizontal connections present between the plain and the mountain belt were missing. The underlying question during the entire research was: in these fragile contexts, what can and what should be the role of landscape architecture? And how can the physical design of a place be the means for the consolidation of sociocultural and economic dynamics capable of bringing out positive and sustainable development trends? In this sense, the thesis path tries to configure plausible possibilities in which communities support the landscape, and at the same time how the landscape can support the communities. The structure of the thesis brings out how it was developed. The composition started with the chapter Fragile Mountains, which includes the literature studied to support the research. Continuing, there is the Cartographic framework, which consists of the graphic designs developed for understanding the area under study and refers to the numerous site visits carried out over the last year through the construction of a photographic atlas. Then, the project definition of Communities supporting Landscape is developed, which contains the explanation of the project proposal defined through two pilot projects: Socio-Cultural Infrastructures and Re-Inhabited Heritage. Through the recognition and enhancement of the existing, the thesis project elaborates on the basic conditions for the consolidation of the habitability and infrastructure of the landscape of Monte Cimone. A research approach based on sustainable territorial regeneration is recognized. The developed scenario makes specific reference to the cooperative mountain community, a place for socio-cultural innovations. The intentions declared in the pilot projects answer in terms of the offer of services and new job opportunities. The strategies and motivations materialize in a punctual landscape project. The work carried out wants to be perceived as a starting point, research capable of generating indirect positive effects, both in the academic panorama and on the reference mountain communities.

Abstract: “How can we say that a river is a thing when its constitutive elements, water molecules, keep changing and will be found here, elsewhere in the river…We should see ourselves not as things, perhaps, but as processes. The common-sense definition of individuals as things, and even of things in general, seems, after all, to be illusory, the result of a naïve perception of the world.” (Hillier, 2007). This research is developed from the premise that urban rivers are ecological structures that distinguish a territory, accentuating the socio-spatial differentiation of river cities along their continuum. Therefore, this study aims to describe the relationship between urban rivers and the morphological inequality at their edges. By inequality, this study refers to the spatial distribution of resources and opportunities for accessibility to them in relation to the population in a territory. It also measures the degree of spatial division and separation communities have among themselves to strengthen their sociocultural fabric. Some of these communities are segregated from urban centres’ social and active integration, which may be associated with spatial aspects that accentuate a poor integration with the social structure. Explosive population growth, the concentration of poverty, unemployment, forced displacement, and limited opportunities for access to educational and cultural recreational facilities and public space are some of the consequences of this socio-spatial segregation evident in communities around the world and constituting significant targets of the global urban agenda. For river cities, it is commonly associated that the dividing structure of rivers highlights such socio-spatial consequences. In many cases, due to accessibility of public services and resources across the length of this natural structure or even to the unplanned extension of the urban grid at scoping the river edges. Therefore, the result of such socio-spatial differentiation can be described in this study as spatial inequality in urban rivers, as it relates the physical aspect of rivers to the unequal social configuration along them. That is, how rivers as natural structures allow reading societies’ evolution and development processes in their territories. In order to address the term spatial inequality, this study attempts to distinguish between unequal and inequitable urban spaces. The former refers to the spatial morphological differences of the urban space and what it can offer within its physical-spatial and social possibilities. The second seeks to balance social needs by understanding its spatial morphological differences and physicalspatial conditions. Under this theoretical basis, this study sets out first to describe the spatial syntactic characteristics that comprise urban rivers. Secondly, to articulate the socioeconomic characteristics mapped within the urban rivers’ riparian area. This is in order to obtain a socio-spatial coding of inequality in urban rivers. Accordingly, the goal of this dissertation is first to open a critical query about the strength of urban river inequalities, as well as to display a socio-spatial configurational analysis of urban rivers that can enlighten the unequal diversification that these networks provide to the city. The findings of this study aim to frame morphological differences in urban rivers as the natural process of societies’ movement along them and comprehend that by strengthening differences and diversity, it is possible to approach more socially and spatially equitable cities.

Resumen: A sus 64 años, el reconocido arquitecto Le Corbusier decidió construir el Cabanon, una pequeña cabaña de 16m2 en la orilla del Mediterráneo, como un refugio apartado en el que pasaba sus vacaciones. Resulta intrigante que el arquitecto emblemático del ""movimiento moderno"", símbolo de progreso cultural y tecnológico basado en la ciencia e industrialización, optara, al final de su carrera, por apartarse de la vida ""moderna"" y las ""comodidades"" que ésta conlleva. Esta es la motivación para un análisis que se adentra en la evaluación de las condiciones de habitabilidad térmica de la estructura, junto con la implementación de estrategias bioclimáticas que logren prolongar el tiempo en el que ésta mantiene temperaturas interiores dentro de rangos considerados como confortables. Esta aproximación busca explorar el comportamiento térmico de arquitecturas icónicas y fomentar la reflexión sobre el concepto de la mínima habitabilidad en un contexto de crisis ambiental. Además, presenta la oportunidad de comparar las exigencias normativas españolas con los estándares de confort más actuales. La metodología implica simulaciones del comportamiento térmico a lo largo del año y la aplicación de los rangos de temperaturas confortables según las normativas CTE- DB-HE y EN 16798-1. En la medida en que el Cabanon sea capaz de ofrecer condiciones confortables desde el punto de vista térmico, podríamos cuestionarnos si la arquitectura y energía que demandan nuestras ciudades es un imperativo para proporcionar ambientes térmicamente habitables. ¿Es la reducción de un consumo inevitable e in- sostenible de energía la única vía hacia la sostenibilidad? ¿O es a partir de una arquitectura deconstruida, que elimina la dependencia de energía externa, como podemos acercarnos a estándares de vida contemporáneos? Los resultados revelan que, según la EN 16798-1, el Cabanon lograba proporcionar condiciones de confort térmico durante el 88% del tiempo del mes en que era habitado, y un 53% según el CTE-DB- HE. Mediante un análisis detallado del contexto y la aplicación de estrategias bioclimáticas, esta cabaña consigue extender el porcentaje a un 91% de todo el año dentro de la EN 16798-1 y un 60% en el rango CTE.DB.HE. Ofreciendo hasta un 25% más de horas de confort que una vivienda estándar que cumple con la normativa europea vigente en cuanto a ahorro energético. Esto confirma la utilidad del modelo adaptativo para elevar los límites de confort durante los meses cálidos y proporcionar una proyección precisa de la neutralidad térmica en edificios ventilados naturalmente. En contraste, la normativa española no provee esta precisión y sus exigencias conllevan al aumento de la demanda energética. El análisis del comportamiento térmico del Cabanon, además de ser un trabajo investigativo de arquitectura histórica, explora en qué medida la energía del entorno puede proveer condiciones que nos acerquen al confort térmico en la vivienda mediterránea. Partir de esta comprensión, ofrece un abordaje alternativo con fines proyectuales en el que se vuelve válido comenzar con lo mínimo para alcanzar lo máximo, en lugar de partir de lo máximo para lograr lo mínimo.

Abstract: Bogotá Social Backbone proposes the development of a backbone of social infrastructure for the most needed people in Bogota, those who usually do not have access to the professional services of an architect. I selected three ""free"", abandoned, and problematic spaces along the Caracas Avenue in Bogotá, and three clients who inhabit them; a drug addict who was displaced from El Bronx, a prostitute from Santafé neighborhood and a recycler from Caracas 59. Social architecture is proposed with the objective of being a platform for these people to reintegrate into society with dignity, providing minimal housing, as well as places for training and for the development of a life project. Resumen: Bogotá Social Backbone propone el desarrollo de una columna vertebral de infraestructura social para las personas más necesitadas de Bogotá, aquellas que normalmente no tienen acceso a los servicios profesionales de un arquitecto. Seleccioné tres espacios ""libres"", abandonados y problemáticos a lo largo de la Avenida Caracas en Bogotá y tres clientes que los habitan; un drogadicto desplazado de El Bronx, una prostituta del barrio Santafé y un reciclador de la Caracas con 59. La arquitectura social se propone con el objetivo de ser una plataforma para que estas personas se reintegren dignamente a la sociedad, proporcionándoles una vivienda mínima, así como lugares para la formación y para el desarrollo de un proyecto de vida.

Resumen: A través de la investigación en un barrio de Estambul y sus transformaciones físicas y sociales se plantea un proyecto que parte de la lectura del entorno construido. El entendimiento del mismo y de su valor arquitectónico (el valor de la no-arquitectura) genera un diálogo entre lo propuesto y lo existente. El edificio resultante sirve de marco para dar un nuevo significado a aquello que está ahí pero pasa desapercibido, transformando algo común en algo inusual. El objeto arquitectónico se convierte en una exploración en sí mismo, e intenta generar nuevas relaciones espaciales, retando convenciones establecidas por la arquitectura. El proyecto explora nuevas maneras en las que pueden habitarse y apropiarse tanto los espacios exteriores como interiores del edificio, un poco más cercanas a la forma en la que puede ocurrir en la arquitectura espontánea e informal de ciudades como Estambul. Abstract: Through the research of a neighborhood in Istanbul and its physical and social transformations, a project is proposed from the reading of the built environment. Its understanding and its architectural value (the value of the non-architecture) produces a dialog between what is proposed and the existent. The resulting building works as a frame to give a new meaning to what is already there but isn’t seen, making the common, uncommon. The architectural object becomes an exploration within itself and tries to generate new spatial relations, which challenge the conventions established by architecture. The project explores new ways in which both the exterior and interior spaces can be appropriated, closer to what can happen in the informal or spontaneous architecture of cities like Istanbul.

The cities are composed by a series of complex networks of relationships that shape an urban fabric based on the social condition developing around the territory. The urbanism that rules most human establishments today, can be clearly differentiated by the conditions in which the inhabitants have appropriated the spaces that constitute the urban centers. In the case of the city of Bogotá, the contrasting territory is notorious. The capital district stands as the largest urban center in the country, which has a great historical, economic, and social burden and yet stands out strongly for its anti-value of urban deterioration. Within the rest of the city, some sectors coexist despite of being on undergoing process of deterioration because of urbanistic and social reasons that determined the spatialization of the crime and marginal dynamics. This issue has spread and become more complex over time. The areas called “ollas”, remind the city the consequences of oblivion and indifference toward broken zones, and at the same time, set an opportunity to transform the urban environment through architectural actions. “Ollas” urban phenomenon in the city of Bogotá, intends to analyze the cases known as “ollas” in the Colombian capital scenario, understanding these urban decay cases from an abstract concept applied to an area of high complexity where spatial, institutional and social factors converge and result in a built territory inhabited by vulnerable populations isolated from legality and conventional city dynamics; the above, with the aim of generating an urban and architectural proposal in the character of a model of acting based on the analysis of causes and effects of the entire system.

Abstract: This article begins by posing the question of how to re-elaborate stories that respond to our different sets of crises, by enquiring into the urban development of New Faisalnagar: an informal settlement in the outskirts of Ahmedabad (India), which is investigated through an infrastructural lens. By doing so, it recognizes the inventive value found in the creation of ‘Jugaad’ systems (jugaad understood as a Hindi word denoting an ad-hoc, clever solution to a problem) which is then tied to incorporating this within the disciplinary realm of design, from a perspective of responsible experimentation. The artlicle reviews different contemporary architectural cases that display similar appointments, and hence proposes this condition of participative, citizen-led infrastructural improvisation as a hopeful future of practice. Resumen: Este artículo comienza planteando la cuestión de cómo reelaborar historias que respondan a nuestras distintas crisis, indagando en el desarrollo urbano de New Faisalnagar: un asentamiento informal en las afueras de Ahmedabad (India), que se investiga a través de un lente infraestructural. Al hacer esto, reconoce el valor inventivo que se encuentra en la creación de sistemas 'Jugaad' (jugaad entendido como una palabra hindi que denota una solución ad-hoc e ingeniosa a un problema) que luego se busca incorporar dentro del ámbito disciplinario del diseño, desde una perspectiva de experimentación responsable. El artículo revisa diferentes casos arquitectónicos contemporáneos que demuestran metodologías similares y, posteriormente, propone esta condición de improvisación infraestructural participativa y dirigida por los ciudadanos como un futuro esperanzador de la práctica profesional.

Resumen: El propósito de “Sociability and ethnic identity” es discutir el papel preponderante que juega Seven Sisters integrando su marcada identidad latina con la diversidad cultural de su entorno. Así mismo, explora las formas en contra de la posible demolición del mercado ha unido a las comunidades locales para defenderlo. El capítulo comienza con un breve recuento en el que se describen los procesos de crecimiento de las ciudades suburbios. Se subraya la relación estrecha de la calle principal con los mercados y el papel predominante social y comercial de grupos de personas totalmente diferentes entre sí. De este modo, los mercados son inclusión a la sociedad de grupos usualmente marginados. La interacción social que se presenta en los mercados se vuelve aún más importante si dentro del análisis diversidad cultural y étnica de las personas, pues puede llegar a crear puentes y puntos de coincidencia culturales. Este es el caso de Seven Sisters Market. Localizado al norte de Londres este mercado promueve la asociación, negociación de diferencias entre diversas culturas. Ubicado en el cruce de dos calles principales y multiculturales, tiene su propia impronta. El mercado es un importante punto de encuentro para la gente del sector: Van con su cultura, a trabajar. A través de un recuento del proceso de migración de latinoamericanos a Londres y de una descripción de los comerciantes para crear una atmósfera latina, las partes dos y tres del capítulo discuten las formas en migrantes contribuyeron a que Seven Sisters Market se convirtiera en punto de encuentro para latinos de algunos lo identifiquen como un “hogar lejos de casa”, un lugar para mantener su conexión con sus países sus tradiciones o de establecer redes de apoyo que van desde soporte emocional hasta consejo legal y profesional. Las interacciones sociales con las que se logra lo mencionado en el párrafo anterior se describen en la cuarta resultados de trabajo de campo realizado en el 2013, se establecen las dimensiones de la vida social en forma como éste amplifica las redes de solidaridad y los conflictos entre migrantes. Por otro lado, se analiza lenguaje tienen un rol contradictorio: Por un lado, es la razón de su éxito como punto de encuentro para acrecienta la distancia social entre ellos y la comunidad local extendida. Finalmente, el capítulo analiza cómo la dimensión espacial de un lugar contribuye a “negociar la diferencia” sociales. Lo anterior mediante el estudio de las interacciones entre los diferentes grupos étnicos de comerciantes inesperadas consecuencias que trajo consigo la amenaza de demolición del mismo, promovida por planes sector. La causa común de diferentes grupos de personas de la localidad para defender el mercado, manifiesta visión de valor de quienes promueven la demolición y la visión del mercado como un lugar ya de por si valió.

Resumen: Después de medio siglo de preocupación por las implicaciones en el ambiente del estilo de vida consumista, no se han visto cambios que estén impulsando la relación entre economía y naturaleza positivamente. Los procesos lineales en las ciudades aumentan el agotamiento de recursos, producción de desechos y contaminación. Por lo tanto, se debe impulsar una mentalidad circular para evitar el derroche de energía y promover una mejor gestión de recursos para relacionarse con las lógicas metabólicas naturales. Es necesario repensar cómo nuestras ciudades pueden cambiar la idea errada de basura, por la de material esperando a ser reintegrado al sistema. La arquitectura es uno de los impulsores de la generación de desperdicios mediante la construcción y demolición de edificaciones. El diseño arquitectónico, la producción de materiales y la disposición de edificios antiguos, son problemas a resolver para proporcionar un cambio en el medio. Por lo tanto, la presente investigación buscó encontrar relaciones entre diferentes grupos de diseño para crear una ciudad circular sostenible con un modelo de producción circular. Se realizó un análisis de cadenas productivas para encontrar relaciones en busca de cerrar bucles abiertos. Se analizaron materiales, agua, alimentos, naturaleza y energía como recursos básicos de un enfoque ecosistémico. Posteriormente, se presenta una investigación en producción cero residuos y la creación de materiales sostenibles, plasmando al final todos los hallazgos en el producto arquitectónico de una fábrica de materiales reciclados. Se definió un plan maestro para el barrio Muide Meulestede en Bélgica para el año 2030, como población objetivo. Esta exploración reveló que las iniciativas dispersas pueden orientarse hacia objetivos más resilientes y definió que la creación de relaciones puede ser una estrategia de diseño sostenible para lograr una mentalidad circular. Una vez se utilizan lógicas circulares como metodología principal de diseño, es posible adaptar estrategias para ser uno de los principales núcleos a tener en cuenta en el desarrollo arquitectónico y planteamiento de ciudades. Abstract: After half a century of concern about the environmental implications of consumer lifestyle, there have been no changes that turn the relationship between economy and nature positively. Linear processes in cities increase resource depletion, waste production, and pollution. A circular mindset is needed to avoid energy waste, a better resource management and a strategy to relate to the nature metabolic logics. It is necessary to rethink how our cities can change the mistaken idea of garbage, for a material waiting to be reintegrated into the system. Architecture is introduced as one of the drivers of waste generation through the construction and demolition of buildings. Architectural design, production of materials and renovation of old buildings are problems that must be solved to provide a change in field. Therefore, this research finds relationships between different design groups to create a sustainable circular city with a new circular production model. An analysis of productive chains was carried out to find relationships to close open loops. The basic resources dealt to respond to an ecosystem approach were materials, water, food, nature and energy. Subsequently, an investigation in zero waste production and the creation of sustainable materials will be presented, to finally translate all the findings into the architectural product of a recycled materials factory. A master plan for Muide Meulestede neighborhood in Belgium, projected to 2030, was defined as the target population. This exploration revealed that dispersed initiatives can be geared towards more precise and resilient goals, and defined that creating relationships can be a sustainable design strategy to achieve a circular mindset. Once circular and metabolic logics are used as a main design methodology, it is possible to adapt these strategies to be one of the main nuclei to take into account in the architectural development and planning of cities.

Abstract: Because there is nothing intelligent to say about a massacre. Everybody is supposed to be dead, to never say anything or want anything ever again. Everything is supposed to be very quiet after a massacre, and it always is, except for the birds.” All wars are atrocious, and the task of incorporating such inglorious events into a nation’s collective identity becomes understandably hard. But it needs to be done, otherwise, the memory of the war might be trivialized and forgotten and, hence, are more prone to be repeated. War is bound to replicate itself without confrontation and awareness. Mosul city was established on the western bank of the Tigris River in the 6th Century, just across the water from the ruins of the Assyrian city of Nineveh. The city flourished during the ancient era establishing itself as an epicentre of the Islamic world, therefore it is rich with ancient ruins and cultural heritage. The war which erupted in Iraq didn’t aim to destroy only its defence, but also its identity. Entire urban blocks of Mosul’s city were damaged so severely, that when it comes to reconstruction it cannot simply restore the former fabrics, either of space or architecture. The war has changed everything, and most critically the structure of society itself. The spatial reconstruction will mostly require more than just physical rehabilitation and restoration of the cities devastated infrastructure and housing. In order to provide sensations for the need of diversity and unity, more urgent concern should be given to restoring public facilities and daily utilities. Architectural and landscape design can be judiciously used in healing the social structure. How can common spaces be rearranged to create conditions for a peaceful and creative coexistence among citizens which survived such horrors? How can the location and the design of such utilities be done in a way as to meet the needs for intimacy and peace? This thesis study intends to recommend an urban and architectural regeneration project, to be taken upon during the redevelopment of the old city of Mosul. Furthermore, a set of strategies that may ensure the preservation of the urban identity of the area, while redeveloping and coping with the environmental, socioeconomic and political changes have been identified for reclaiming the urban identity and promoting the sense of belonging.