Regeneration - The Responsive Process

THE RESPONSIVE PROCESS

SEAN JAMES SAVAGE

TPP1 - Regeneration

Regeneration as a tool for responsive change

TREATISE The word regeneration comes from the Latin term ‘Regenerare’ which means to bring forth again, this would indicate that regeneration is a positive process which works as a vehicle for modernisation. Regeneration can be placed into two main categories Emergency Regeneration and Continuous Dynamic Regeneration. Although regeneration is not a circular process, Continuous Dynamic Regeneration is a more controllable, less sporadic system than Emergency Regeneration.

PROPO An interface in which Anthropocentric and Biocentric systems can interact will materialise from a series of data mapping exercises.

OSITION The overall outcome will aim to determine the nature of future regeneration, whether it be an emergency or a continuous process.

PROCESS Data mapping will act as a vehicle for responsive regeneration. Elements such as, population profiles, employment distribution, building use, used/abandoned land and buildings will be analysed. The data collected will be mapped, compared and overlaid to determine where the anthro-biotones and bio-anthrotones materialise, these will give the opportunity for responsive regeneration. These mappings may uncover similar interests between two opposing elements, for instance; the employment distribuation may be closely related to the population profile of the location. The aim is to create an interface that encourages dialogue between spaces, uncovers information which isn’t immediately obvious and indicates where there is a need for regeneration.

Idanha-a-Nova

Iberian Peninsula

Location

The site in context The site in focus is situated on the Eastern boarder of Portugal, in the Iberian Peninsula. Idanha-a-Nova is perfectly situated between three major cities Lisbon, Madrid and Porto.

North Atlantic Ocean

B D A

C

Mediterranean Sea

There will be an element included in the framework which exploits and expresses the importance of this strategic positioning, supplying residents with the tools and knowledge to utilise this opportunity.

Location

The site in context

Issues with mobilisation The 17 parishes spread across Idanha-a-Nova are situated with a significant amount of distance between them.

Idanha-a-Nova to Idanha-a-Vehla = 21.2km

A Idanha-A-Nova

B

Porto

C Lisbon

D Madrid

546.9 Square Miles 10,929 Residents 20 People Per Square Mile 150 Square Miles 1.3m Residents 14,856 People Per Square Mile 370Square Miles 3m+ Residents 16,726 People Per Square Mile 233.89 Square Miles (City) 3.3m Residents 14,000 People Per Square Mile

Lack of public transport The sparse dispersal of parishes proves to be a significant issue for tourists and residents without cars. Getting from A-B which should be a simple task, becomes a difficult task.

Tourists are able to hire cars from Castello Branco (the closest major district), but after travelling to Idanha-a-Nova they then have to drive the 40km route back to return the car.

Clearly this is unsustainable, uneconomical and puts a lot of potential tourists off.

Topographical issues

Idanha-a-Velha

The topography of the landscape also proves to be an influential factor, creating mobility issues for residents and tourists. The majority of the municipality finds itself nested in a ‘bowl’, this makes it even more of a challenge to create any coherence of spatial networks.

Connectivity

Case Study - BOOM Festival An example of this lack of connectivity is proven by the accessibility issues the BOOM Festival goers experience every year in Idanha-a-Nova. The festival runs every year from July 28 - August 04 and attracts around 15,000 visitors.

In order to access the festival, the visitors must either use their own cars and ‘care share’ or make an attempt to reach the festival by the limited public transport. As a result of these restricted methods of transport, the festival organisers have had to create a shuttle bus service from Lisbon airport known as the ‘BOOM Bus’.

Boom festival in full swing Despite the fact the festival is troubled by mobility issues and poor transport links, other elements of sustainability are expressed and embraced, this proves that the sustainability of the location is in mind, but the issue of transport still seems to be too much of a challenge to address.

BOOM has won sustainability awards for their environmental awareness which include: • Outstanding greener festival award 2008, 2010, 2012 • European festival award 2010 - Green’n’Clean festival of the year The issues they focus on tackling with sustainable methods include: - Energy – Sanitation (Composting Toilets) – Water Treatment – Reuse of materials and reduced consumption – Regeneration of habitats and ecosystems – Recycling – Public Transport – Eco-Art – Bio-Construction

“WE ARE A TRIBE INTERCONNECTED WITH THE SACRED EARTH, IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CREATE AN ALTERNATIVE REALITY THAT RELATES POSITIVELY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND CONTRIBUTES TO THE EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE OF ALL BOOMERS.”

“The possibility of an interface which connects nodes (parishes) and utilises the space in between to offer a richer, more diverse and direct framework.�

Population

Analysis of inhabitants Total inhabitants = 10,929 Population density = 20 people per Sq Mile Darker areas = Higher population density

Lighter areas = Lower population density

Concentration of dwellings in Idanha-a-Nova With a total population of just 10,929 people, Idanha-a-Nova is a very scarcely populated area with an average of just 20 inhabitants/Sq Mile. Some of the parishes appear to be very scarcely populated such as Rosmaninhal, which has a mere 2 inhabitants/Km2. The significance of this could indicate the need for better spatial connectivity and stronger linkages.

369 27.1/Km2

748 5.8/Km2

272 8.9/Km2

1345 7.4/Km2

224 3.9/Km2

560 13.6/Km2

79 3.8/Km2

608 11/Km2

355 12.9/Km2

202 3.6/Km2

237 6.4/Km2 170 2.1/Km2

2352 10.4/Km2

1028 98/Km2

1290 20.4/Km2

176 2.4/Km2

537 2/Km2

Parishes

Dissecting the current physical order Parishes with high density population Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova Zebreira

Ladoeiro

This map graphic illustrates the dense areas and compares them with the more scarcely populated areas. Areas highlighted in pink are the parishes which would be considered significant enough to be deemed as important.

These parishes act as nodes throughout the municipality.

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Parishes with amenities Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova

Ladoeiro

Zebreira

Rosmaninhal

Segura

This map plots the parishes which have a significance of local amenities. Some may only have 2 places to eat and one bar, but this is still much more than most, which have next to nothing. The areas highlighted in pink contain amenities.

The interesting occurrences on this map indicate where there is an area which is heavily amenity based, the surrounding areas generally have almost no local amenities. For example, in Idanha-a-Nova itself, there are 12 restaurants, a bar and 3 places to stay over. Yet, in bordering Oledo, there are just 2 restaurants, no bars and no accommodation.

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova Zebreira

Ladoeiro

Segura

Parishes with significant road/path networks The pink areas indicate the parishes which have adequate internal road and path networks. However, this is not to say they couldn’t/do not need to be improved.

The majority of paths are small cobbled indirect routes and the roads tend to be heavily restricted by speed limits and very tight to manoeuvre around. The terrain also makes it difficult with both walking and driving.

Rosmaninhal

Hierarchy of connecting roads

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova

Ladoeiro

Zebreira

All 17 of the parishes are connected by some form of through road, however some of these roads appear much more direct and efficient than others.

Portugal divide their road networks up into categories of importance.

Main: N1-N18 N/A

Segura

Other 1st Class: N101-N125 N/A 2nd Class: N201-N270 Rosmaninhal

3rd Class: N301-N398 Municipal Roads: M501-M999

Parishes

Dissecting the current physical order Parishes which currently have tourist attractions

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova Zebreira

Ladoeiro

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Idanha-a-Nova: Museum, shops, bars, restaurants, located in the area of the Geopark Natrutejo.

Idanha-a-Velha: Rock museum, stone olive oil press, creative industries incubator.

Monsanto: ‘The most portugese village in Portugal’ Penha Garcia: Located in the Geopark Natrutejo, River Ponsul dam, outdoor pools, taverns.

Attempts of regeneration

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

The parishes highlighted in pink currently have some form of tourist attractions.

However these tourist attraction may not be pubs and clubs or sandy beaches, they could be museums and Geoparks.

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova

Ladoeiro

Zebreira

Rosmaninhal

Segura

The parishes in pink have already undergone some regeneration or are currently undergoing regeneration.

Idanha-a-Nova parish itself is the most built up of the 17 parishes with a contemporary museum/cinema and supermarkets. Penha Garcia has been given the luxury of an outdoor infinity pool thanks to water controlling of the dam. Idanha--Velha however is undergoing some experimental regeneration in the form of a ‘creative hub’ which aims to nurture local talent and allow artists/designers to collaborate.

Ladoeiro a mass producer Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova Zebreira

Ladoeiro

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Ladoeiro is the biggest producer in the municipality, farming produce for internal trade markets. The parish produces a range of olive oil, baked foods, honey, cheese, water melon, wine, tomato, lettuce and cakes.

Although the parish is able to produce some great goods, they currently have no knowledge or linkages with other European countries or even the surrounding areas in Portugal. This lack of knowledge in trading and poor connectivity is causing the parish to suffer, where they could be cashing in on fine exports they’re simply trading it around the community or giving it away to family and friends.

Parishes with an identity

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova

Ladoeiro

Zebreira

Rosmaninhal

Segura

One of the main reasons why an area can be lacking in tourism and interest is the simple fact it’s lacking an identity. If a place is to be memorable it must have an identity. Visitors want an image that they can remember a place for, things they can relate a place to, space then becomes place.

The pink areas indicate the parishes which have some form of identity. For instance, Monsanto is known as the ‘Most Portuguese village in Portugal’.

Attempting to regenerate Creative industries incubator

The Creative Industries Incubator is a live project being carried out in the tiny parish of Idanha-a-Velha by Cristina Rodrigues Architects. Idanha-a-Velha has the smallest population in the municipality, not only is it small it’s also decreasing as they older generation pass.

Population Migration The population migration is also having an adverse fact up on Idanha-a-Velha (and Idanha-a-Nova for that matter). The remaining younger inhabitants are striving to learn new skills, make money and fulfil career goals. The problem is, in such a deserted place this will never become reality for them, this is where the incubator plans to make a change.

The incubator will act as a studio space for young Architects, Designers, Artists and the like to get together and collaborate on projects. Ideas as simple as the introduction to internet and software packages could be revolutionary in an area suffering from desertification. The users will also be taught business marketing skills to showcase their talents online and begin to obtain an income from their already developed skills.

Migration to coastal areas which offer greater opportunity

Ecotones Spatial tension

An Ecotone is a transitional area between two biomes (similar climatic conditions), it is where the two communities meet and dialogue between the two takes place. Ecotones can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, physical and conceptual. They can be local or regional, national or worldwide. For instance, the transition between a field and forest or the transition between information systems. An ecotone may appear on the ground as a gradual blending of the two communities across a broad area, or it may manifest itself as a sharp boundary line.

Illustrative demonstration of ecotones The various diagrams above demonstrate how ecotones might look if they were to be drawn. One biome merges and mixes with another creating some sort of dialogue between the two.

An Ecotone examplar This image illustrates the ecoline which is created by the two biomes (water and land) merging.

Ecotones

Occupying ‘No-Mans land’ By utilising a landscape framework (my proposition), the possibility of connectivity becomes even more apparent. A conceptual mesh emerges from the mapping of data in particular spatial form. For instance Idanha-a-Nova may have the most amenities yet Monsanto the richest history, therefore these two areas will need to be closely connected. The mesh will form an interface in which fluid communication between spaces will materialise.

This ‘communication’ will be the planned regeneration which can take form of roads, path networks, local amenities, vegetation structures, flora and fauna etc.

Meshes are formed from layers in the landscape

After the analysis of various layers, the data can be overlaid and compared to indicate where regeneration needs to occur.

Ecotones

Analysing the layers By utilising the information collected we can test the method of regenerating where ecotones occur. The following example illustrates what happens when the data is overlaid and compared.

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

São Miguel de Acha

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

São Miguel de Acha

Monfortinho Alcafozes

Ladoeiro

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova Zebreira

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Parishes with high density population

São Miguel de Acha

Idanha-a-Velha

Idanha-a-Velha

Oledo

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Ladoeiro

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova Zebreira

Penha Garcia

Medelim

Penha Garcia

Medelim

Penha Garcia

Medelim

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Parishes with amenities

Three maps of completely seperate layers: • High density parishes • Parishes with adequate local amenities • Parishes which have undergone some attempts of regeneration

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova

Ladoeiro

Zebreira

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Attempts of regeneration

Aldeia de Santa Margarida

Penha Garcia

Medelim

São Miguel de Acha

Monsanto

Proença -aVelha

Idanha-a-Velha

Monfortinho

Oledo Alcafozes

Toulões Salvaterra do Extremo

Idanha-a-Nova

Ladoeiro

Zebreira

Segura

Rosmaninhal

Combining the three maps results in an indication of which parishes are more habitable than others. This notion is based up on sturdy evidence derrived from in depth analysis, Amenities, Density and Regeneration are three major importances in any location. By combining

Metaphor

Utilising maquettes to enhance clarity This maquette is a three dimensional abstract representation of how my framework may be interpreted.

The maquette focuses on the 17 parishes as nodes, each one at different heights giving a hierarchy of importance to each. The parishes are connected with black thread, symbolising systems which could be put in place to create this dialogue between the spaces. The whole area is covered by a black mesh net which symbolises the framework itself, the focus on connectivity, unused spaces, underpopulated areas and the opportunities of ecotones.

The framework

Deploying the framework across the landscape The image on this page is an abstract representation of the framework being put into practice. The ‘mesh’ form acts as an interface which links the lesser used parishes and also utilises the spaces in between.

The framework might well result in simple adjustments such as adding adequate infrastructure (road and path networks), or it may be something much more complex which fuses many of the layers at various levels of detail.

The framework

Categories of Landscape Urbanism regeneration and it’s similarities Landscape Urbanism is a theory of planning and design for urbanism arguing that landscape, rather than architecture, is more capable of organizing the city and enhancing the urban experience.

Landscape urbanism highlights the horizontality of landscape, making connectivity a key element. The emphasis shifts from one to many, objects to fields and singularities to openended networks.

The theory will support the framework creating: • Pathways across the ground to support future programmes • Adequate infrastructure evenly spaced across an open network of space • Sustainable methods of transport available to all • Extended vegetation systems, comprising of structures of existing and new vegetation types • An extensive field of data which will determine the nature of regeneration to be chosen.

This can be Emergeny Regeneration or Continuous Dynamic Regeneration

Landscape Urbanism Gardens by the bay - A case study

Gardens by the Bay is a park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. Gardens by the Bay is an integral part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”. The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

This project echoes the theories of Landscape Urbanism. Landscape here is the driving force, allowing for dialogue between elements and creating interesting instances where ecotones occur. The supatrees act as heavy infrastructure providing floating path networks, sculptural element and landmarks.