Report - Urban gardening "Ecos" for CEC 2012 Guimaraes (PT)

Chiara Sonzogni ECOs Project Manager 2010 Graduated in Architecture with Master degree in Extraordinary Landscape at the University Institute of Engineering and Architecture In Milan

ReTornåveis – Returnables Since August of 2011, there has been an ongoing initiative to occupy abandoned and empty spaces in the Historical Centre of Porto, a World Heritage Site; it intervenes with derelict buildings, interacts with the space in question and everything around it.

EMPTY, transformed in temporary public space, can be potential,could be a culture chance

2° CALM the shock

POP UP culture

take care act experience

1° IDENTIFY the traumatized space conditions distinctive characters limits scale urban power

3° OFFER the space relations strategies processes effects generated footprint

POP UP = happen when and where you are not expecting it. So, can void be a POP UP space?

To discover the neighbourhood: walk observe lost To came near neighbours: “door to door� approach ask talk listen In June the neighbourhood has undergoing a great work of rehabilitation of its public space

Before to intervene in a place, feel and understand it to refine intentions and strategies

@ June WORKS IN PROGRESS

@ Couros

Action in and for the neighbourhood:

1. TALK about it

2. Know and show it

3. Know his inhabitants

4. Live and fun it

CampUrbis: a social project involved the population of Couros; created a sense of belonging

'Tis is a Square' is an

intervention project in public space that converted this abandoned area in a 'new public square' open to all.

Te transformation of this space, the construction process and potentiation, were be made with the local community.

This is a Square is a project of collective esterni, for Pop Up Spaces, June 13 < July 1

@ Pop Up Space “Isto é uma praça” _ Largo do Cidade / R. de São Francisco.

@ property of Fraterna Association _ Travessa de Vila Verde – S. Sebastião

2 ECOs' places in the area of Couros

(in front of Youth Hostel),

historical center of the city

First step: clean the space Is fundamental as well as demonstrate that you are ready to put your hands in the earth, to work, to star and to DO it.

The images show cases of spontaneous participation of the community in the project

Second step: spread the message = take care of public space, improve the quality of your streets, give ... NEW LIFE to neighborhood!

June 27/28 : workshop building green spaces

The action participated in the new yorker' magazine Red Flag, that collects active proposals around the world

Tird step: infra-structure the place

Since the soil of the area was not suitable for cultivation, we constructed some plant's box to accommodate the future garden.

The construction happened in only two days, with the help of two voluntaries girls

Make a HORTA in one square:

HORTA = vegetable garden

1. allows to cultivate in small spaces; 2.is possible to reach all the space of the garden, to sow, cultivate and irrigate, without the need to pass over the same; 3. the crop rotation is automatic; 4. is possible raise the level of the garden at waist level to facilitate the work.

Te long and vertical wooden boards, are to: a. sustain the growth of the vertical plants; b. support a light cover, to protect from the sun (often too strong).

vertical plants

big plants

small plants 4th step: finalize the â&#x20AC;&#x153;hortaâ&#x20AC;? and set up the team. The responsible group was formed

OPENING DAY 11th August

ACTIVITIES of the opening ceremony

SOW

TRANSPLANT

and...BLESS the garden The urban garden is composed by 4 hortas and create a “public space” under the cover

5th Step: Unexpected (but hoped) = independent & spontaneous activity

Rapid growth

Spontaneous construction of garden box

The best result: the group increased the garden without my supervision! And the garden...

The garden became a place for community life, the work in the garden a reason to meet

CONSTRUCTED IN DAYS

10

m

5th June

Space: 25 GARDEN

4,5

A URBAN GARDEN RE-USE AN EMPTY SPACE IN Couros.

IT WAS COSTRUCTED WITH THE HELP OF NEIGHBOURS AND THEY ARE TAKING CARE OF IT

s @Pop Up Space

993.00 €

7th October -

ECOs @Pop Up Space

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ECOs @Pop Up Space

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ECOs @Pop Up Space

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ECOs @P

READY FOR USE IN DAYS

2

16 m

A URBAN GARDEN OCCUPIES AN ABANDONED SPACE Only 2 crops (cabbage and pumping) to test the quality of soil

28th June

20.00 €

@Fraterna's space

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ECOs @Fraterna's space

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ECOs @Fraterna's space -

14th October

ECOs @Fraterna's spa

1th NOVEMBER come the dead line for the ECOs Pop Up Culture' project

?

And now

“We want continue!”

“We want space!”

keep

the

“We love take care of garden. Is a moment for us, a reason to meet!”

“We clap when a plant germinates, take a photo when a flower bloom...”