WEAVING CORVETTO-Edible Landscape planning and design in Milan: Chapter 1-3

WEAVING CORVETTO

EDIBLE LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND DESIGN: URBAN AGRICULTURE APPROACH IN SHARED GARDENS AND PARKS OF COMMUNITY —— THE CASE OF LODI-CORVETTO COMMUNITY IN MILAN

Politecnico di Milano I School of AUIC and Eng

Final Thesis of Laurea Magistrale - LM (equivalent to Master of Science) Landscape Architecture · Land Landscape Heritage a.y. 2022 Yunrui Ren I Xiaoyu Wang

Crossroads nearby the metro station of Lodi-Corvetto Photography credit to Yunrui Ren

WAEVING CORVETTO EDIBLE LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND DESIGN: URBAN AGRICULTURE APPROACH IN SHARED GARDENS AND FARMS IN COMMUNITY ——THE CASE OF LODI-CORVETTO COMMUNITY IN MILAN

Final Examination of Laurea Magistrale - LM (equivalent to Master of Science) Landscape Architecture · Land Landscape Heritage Programme

POLITECNIDO DI MILANO - AUIC SCUOLA DI ARCHITETTURA URBANISTICA INGEGNERIA DELLE COSTRUZIONI SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE URBAN PLANNING CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING

Theme: urban agricultural landscpae

Site: the community of Lodi-Corvetto

Scale: community scale

Contributors: Supervisor: Nerantzia Tzortzi

Julia Nerantzia Tzortzi is professor at Politecnico di Milano. She was a professor at Universities in Cyprus (Neapolis University of Cyprus), Greece (International University of Greece) and visiting professor in ZUST University- China, Hellenic Open University- Greece, and Thessaly University- Greece. In the last 25 years, she has been leading more than 30 European Programs (e.g. HOMEE, YADES, proGIreg, GREENLINK, PERIURBAN, GARDEN ART DESIGN) with an emphasis on Natural Based Solutions, Climate Change, Cultural Proj Landscapes, and Design through: HORIZON 2020, RISE, JPI, INTERREG IVC, FP7, LIFE+. She is a Board Member of LE: NOTRE INSTITUTE, Fellow of Landscape Institute (UK), member of AIAPP (Italy), PHALA (Greece), ETEK (Cyprus), IFLA (International Federation of Landscape Architects). Julia has served for 15 years as Executive Professional in Landscape Architecture at the Ministry of Environment, Urban Planning and Energy – Climate Change of Greece. During her service at the Ministry, she served as National Contact Point at LIFE project, Special Scientists at Athens 2004 Olympic Games as well as General Project Manager at the Environmental Awareness Park Organization of Antonis Tritsis, the largest urban park in Greece (120 Ha)

Co-supervisor: Maria Stella Lux

Maria Stella Lux is a PhD candidate in Landscape Architecture at Politecnico di Milano- Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering. Ordinary member of AIAPP (Italian Association of Landscape Architects). She holds a double Master's degree in Architecture and Heritage Preservation at Politecnico di Torino and in Landscape Architecture at Politecnico di Milano. She also attended a Honour Course of Alta Scuola Politecnica. In 2020, she joind the ABC-PhD school with a research entitled “Re-integrating private spaces within the Urban Green Infrastructure: a culture-based approach to improve historical district”, which is part of the YADES project (H2020MSCA-RISE-2019). Since then, she’s continuously doing teaching activities in Master programmes at Politecnico di Milano and she’s taking part in the annnual conference of ECLAS and in the activities and annual forum of the Le:Notre Landscape Institute. In 2021 she partecipated in the international temporary garden design competition ‘Festival des Jardins de la Cote d’Azur’, where her team’s project was awarded by the landscape professional jury.

Graduates: Yunrui Ren

Yunrui Ren studies for Master of Science in Landscape Architecture · Land Landscape Heritage at Poli Mi, Italy, from Sept 2020 to Dec 2022. Ren was awarded Bachelor of Engineering in Landscape Architecture at Sichuan University, China in Jun 2020 and was fully funded for exchange study at University of California, Berkely in 2018. She was awarded national scholarship and national sustainable award, and won the first, second prizes, and the Excellence Awards in domestic and international landscape design competitions. The themes include landscape sustainability and resilience, healing landscapes, urban ecology renewal, and architectural renovation, etc. From 2017 to 2020, she led several national-level and provincial-level projects of innovation and entrepreneurship of Chinese college students, and worked as an intern at the Rural Planning Institute and landscape companies, participating in landscape, architectural and interior design projects.

Xiaoyu Wang

Xiaoyu Wang studies for Master student of Science in Landscape Architecture · Land Landscape Heritage at Poli Mi, Italy, from Sept 2020 to Dec 2022. Wang received her Bachelor's degree of Fine Arts in Environment Design at Northwestern Agricultural and Forestry University, China in July 2019. She participated in domestic and international student landscape design competitions and won the first prize and honorary awards. The themes cover sustainable environment, urban regeneration, landscpae facility design, etc. She once led the provincial-level project of innovation and entrepreneurship of Chinese college students. From 2017 to 2018, she practiced in an interior company for the residential design, and did internship in a landscape company participating in park design projects.

CONTENT

Abstract

Keywords

Chapter I: Introduction

Chaptere II: literature review

2.1. Definition and benefits of urban agriculture

2.1.1. The definition of urban agriculture 2.1.2. Benefits of urban agriculture landscape

2.2. Edible landscape approaches and benefits 2.2.1. Edible landscape/food scaping 2.2.2. How to develop food garden 2.2.3. Benefits and influence of edible landscape

2.3. NBS carbon sinks and urban agricultural landscape 2.3.1. NBS approaches in agricultural landscape 2.3.2. Benefits of NBS in agriculture landscape 2.3.3. Current limits to urban agriculture

2.4. Methodology and data source 2.4.1. Thesis methodology 2.4.2. Applied methods and data source

Chapter III: Milan context analysis

3.1. Basic background of metropolitan Milan 3.1.1. Climate analysis 3.1.2. Municipal administration 3.1.3. Transport in metropolitan Milan

3.2. Landscape and agriculture analysis of Milan 3.2.1. Milan hydrographic system

3.2.2. Milan vegetation type condition

3.2.3. Urban shared gardens in Milan 3.2.4. Farmhouses of agritourism in Milan

3.2.5. Agricultural pattern and crop type of Milan 3.2.6. Milan food condition and municipal markets

3.3. Social and demographic analysis of Milan

3.3.1. Resident population in Milan

3.3.2. Foreign resident population

3.3.3. Poverty in Milan

3.3.4. The Milano Ristorazione school service

Chapter

IV: Lodi-Corvetto context

4.1. Social and historic context

4.1.1. Accessibility map

4.1.2. Immigration of community Lodi-Corvetto

4.1.3. Historic context and timeline of district

4.1.4. Public housing and building history

4.1.5. Traffic and transport in Lodi-Corvetto

4.2. Cultural and agricultural context

4.2.1. Cultural Heritage in the Lodi-Corvetto community

4.2.2. Farmhouses and water network in Lodi-Corvetto

4.2.3. Lodi-Corvetto agricultural crop type condition

4.3. Vegetation and plant species analyses

4.3.1. Lodi-Corvetto vegetation classification

4.3.2. Plant species list - investigated species 4.3.3. Lodi-Corvetto tree planting analysis

4.4. Survey of urban agriculture and edible gardens

4.4.1. Questionnaire survey design and data collection

4.4.2. Questionnaire analysis and visualisation 4.4.3. Interviewer portrait and stakeholders

Chapter

V: Lodi-Corvetto strategies, masterplan and project plan

5.1. Existing and ongoing landscape projects

5.1.1. Lodi-Corvetto existing and planned project types

5.1.2. Municipal planned landscape projects in Lodi-Corvetto

5.1.3. Lodi-Corvetto community planned landscape projects

5.1.4. Agricultural landscape events perception in Lodi-Corvetto

5.1.5. SWOT analysis of landscape regeneration

CONTENT

5.2. Landscape planning of Lodi- Corvetto

5.2.1. Selected design areas analysis

5.2.2. Regeneration strategies

5.2.3. Types and respective strategies plan 5.3. Master plan and project planning

5.3.1. Master plan of Lodi-Corvetto agricultural landscape 5.3.2. The regeneration plan and design concept 5.3.3. Project stage schedule and workflow

Chapter VI: Detailed site design

6.1. Sites plant species

6.1.1. Plant species investigated on sites 6.1.2. Sunlight visualisation of two sites 6.1.3. Planting species recommendation list

6.2. Site one design proposal

6.2.1. Climatic and site analysis 6.2.2. Site master plan and sections 6.2.3. Design proposal and details 6.3. Site two design proposal 6.3.1. Climatic and site analysis 6.3.2. Site master plan and sections 6.3.3. Design proposal and details

6.4. Sites construction 6.4.1. Bio-waste recycle 6.4.2. Construction details

Attachments : cartographic drawings, drawings of different formats, complements and audiovisual links, relevant landscape case studies

References: bibliography, webliography and iconographical references and sources

Acknowledgement

Grassland in the South Park of Milan Photography credit to Yunrui Ren

ASTRATTO

Questa tesi è un lavoro di ricerca e progetto sul tema dell’agricoltura urbana. Partendo da una revisione della letteratura e delle esperienze pratiche, sono stati approfonditi i potenziali benefici dell’agricoltura urbana in contesti socialmente fragili. In una seconda fase, focalizzando l’attenzione sulla città di Milano e sul quartiere periferico di Lodi-Corvetto, la tesi fornisce una visione d’insieme delle pratiche di agricoltura urbana attualmente esistenti nella municipalità, mostrandone la rilevanza per la costruzione di paesaggi urbani resilienti. La metodologia mista adottata per questa tesi prevede l'utilizzo di tre metodi di analisi: revisione della letteratura, indagine sul campo, studio comparativo e casi studio. La ricerca combina l'attuale condizione agricola generale e il modello d'immigrazione territoriale di Milano e analizza le caratteristiche locali specifiche di Lodi-Corvetto. Si concentra sull'analisi delle risorse agricole, del patrimonio paesaggistico, delle problematiche sociali e dei progetti in corso. Lo studio esplora il paesaggio edibile e gli eventi partecipativi che stanno rivitalizzando l'area, nonché la possibilità di aumentare la diversità culturale della comunità e di migliorarne la coesione.

L’area di studio si trova in prossimità del Parco Agricolo Sud di Milano, che è un’area ricca di risorse e di condizioni uniche per lo sviluppo di paesaggi agricoli edibili. Tuttavia, la condizione socioeconomica e la diversità culturale rendono la situazione complessa, soprattutto per quanto riguarda la cultura alimentare. Sebbene la comunità sia vicina alle aree di produzione agricola, si trova ancora in un ‘miraggio alimentare’. Per migliorare la qualità della vita, l’amministrazione comunale ha proposto e portato a termine una serie di progetti e le organizzazioni locali hanno programmato diverse attività. Questi progetti ed eventi sono relativamente indipendenti e mancano connessioni sistemiche. Il nostro progetto si concentra principalmente sull'analisi spaziale dei piani e dei progetti esistenti per identificare i siti potenziali per la progettazione di paesaggi edibili

ASTRATTO

e il miglioramento degli scenari alimentari. Allo stesso tempo, aiuta a integrarsi con le attività regionali e con i progetti in corso e futuri per formare uno scenario paesaggistico complesso, mitigare le ingiustizie sociali e la loro distribuzione nello spazio urbano e migliorare la coesione sociale e il senso di appartenenza alla comunità locale. Il progetto ha categorizzato i potenziali siti d’intervento in tre categorie: ii) le aree industriali dismesse da riconvertire nel frutteto del parco sud, ii) i parchi comunali partecipativi e iii) gli spazi aperti per la comunità e l'istruzione. Sulla base dei un approccio interdisciplinare e dell’idea "tessere” la rete sociale e urbana di Corvetto (Weaving Corvetto), proponiamo una strategia di pianificazione, fornendo una guida per lo sviluppo di paesaggi edibili negli spazi verdi a diverse scale, e socondo diverse tipologie e approcci. Il progetto si è concentrato su due siti di piccola scala situati al confine rispettivamente a nord e a est, che si configurano come ingressi al quartiere di Lodi-Corvetto e sono diventati i rappresentanti del paesaggio edibile.

PAROLE CHIAVE

Agricoltura Urbana, Paesaggio Edibile, Rigenerazione Resiliente del Paesaggio, Partecipazione e Interazione della Comunità, Integrazione del Paesaggio

ABSTRACT

This thesis is a research design project about urban agriculture. The starting point is the review of the literature and practices to deepen the potential benefits of urban agriculture in socially fragile contexts. Then, taking as a case study the city of Milan and the peripheral neighbourhood of Lodi-Corvetto, the thesis provided an overview of urban agriculture practices in the municipality as one of the important means of urban resilient landscape design. The sites undertake events and activities and attract more people. people, driving the development of the community. As the mixed methodology adopted for this thesis, three analysis methods are used for comprehensive analysis, namely literature review, field trip survey, comparative study and case study. The research combines the current general agricultural condition and territorial immigration pattern of Milan and analyses the unique regional characteristics of Lodi-Corvetto. It focuses on the analysis of agricultural resources, landscape heritages, social issues, and ongoing projects. The study explores the edible landscape and participatory events that revitalize the vitality of the area, as well as the possibility of increasing the cultural diversity of the community and enhancing social cohesion.

The study area is close to the South Agricultural Park of Milan, an area rich in agricultural heritage resources and unique conditions for the development of edible agricultural landscapes. Nevertheless, the socio-economic conditions and cultural diversity here make the situation complex, especially the food culture. Although the community is close to agricultural production areas, it is still in a food mirage. To optimize the living environment, the Milan municipal and community governments have proposed and completed a series of projects, and organizations have scheduled a certain number of activities. These projects and events are relatively independent and lack systematic networks and connections. Our project mainly emphasizes the spatial analysis of plans and existing projects to

ABSTRACT

identify potential sites for the design of edible landscapes and the improvement of food scenarios. At the same time, it helps integrate with regional activities and ongoing and upcoming projects to form a complicated landscape framework, improve the spatial injustice of landscape space, and enhance community cohesion and residents’ sense of belonging. The project categorizes the potential sites into three categories: i) the transformation of brownfield in the south park orchard, ii) participatory city municipal parks, and iii) community and education open spaces. Based on the interdisciplinary consideration and concept of “To Weave Corvetto”, we propose the planning strategies, providing guidance for the development of edible landscapes for green spaces of different scales, types, and approaches, which forms a crossing network of a weaving shape. The design concept started with two small-scale sites located on the border of respectively the north and the east served as the entrances to Lodi-Corvetto and become the representative of the edible landscape.

KEYWORDS

Urban Agriculture, Edible Landscape, Resilient Landscape Regeneration, Community Participation and Interaction, Landscape Integration

CHAPTER I:

INTRODUCTION

The first chapter starts this volume by offering the abstract and keywords at the beginning, and then this chapter gives the introduction of the book structure in detail.

CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW

Chapter two introduces the relevant literature review, and the methodology used in the research. It also applies data source corresponding to the research literature and methods.

CHAPTER III: MILAN CONTEXT ANALYSIS

This chapter analyses the context of metropolitan Milan with the related background, landscape and agricultural analysis, and social and demographic analysis, to introduce urban agriculture and edible landscape in Milan.

CHAPTER IV: LODI-CORVETTO CONTEXT

The fourth chapter investigates the site of the community of LodiCorvetto more specifically. This chapter contains social and historic context, cultural and agricultural analyses, plant analysis, and a survey of urban agriculture and edible gardens involving questionnaires and interviews.

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER V:

MASTERPLAN AND PROJECT PLANNING

This chapter focuses on the site selection, strategies and master plan of the urban agriculture regeneration planning, based on the analysis and investigation of the existing and ongoing landscape projects in the community of Lodi-Corvetto.

CHAPTER VI: DETAILED SITE DESIGN

This chapter mainly focuses on the detailed design of the selected sites of type two: city parks participation. And it further develops the design and detailed construction part, to provide realistic solutions that detail the entire future vision.

CHAPTER VII: ATTACHMENTS AND REFERENCES

This part provides specific details of case studies and other references and sources attached to the volume, with a bibliography and webliography.

Field in the South Park of Milan Photography credit to Yunrui Ren

CHAPTERE Ⅱ

LITERATURE REVIEW

This chapter contains the literature review and methodologies.

The part of the literature review consists of the theme of urban agriculture, edible landscape and relevant nature-based solutions, including the basic definition, development and benefits and influence, etc.

According to the bibliography, webliography, publications and references, the definitions have been put forward for some years, and there are a certain number of studies and cases to be referred to.

Besides, this chapter introduces the methodologies that can be used and suitable approaches and methods, as well as the research structure and corresponding data source.

2.1. DEFINITION AND BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

2.1.1. THE DEFINITION OF URBAN AGRICULTURE

Urban agriculture can be defined as all forms of agricultural production (food and non-food) occurring in or around cities(Wagstaff and Wortman, 2015). Urban agriculture as an infrastructure for healthy activity is considered a complementary form of green space provision with unique value (Contesse et al., 2018; Harada et al., 2021). Urban agriculture is increasingly seen as an important sustainable way to adapt to and mitigate climate change, build more resilient cities, and for the health of citizens (Gustavsen et al., 2022). Current innovative and sustainable growing methods used in urban areas include community gardens, rooftop farms, backyard farms and gardens, greenhouse farms, and indoor hydroponic farms (Sridhar et al., 2022). Urban community gardens are being used as spaces where people can respond to alleviate food insecurity and demand urban rights justice (Ghose and Pettygrove, 2014). By using abandoned brownfield sites, for example, the area of green space is expanded, thereby addressing environmental injustice and improving public health conditions, and strengthening urban ecology. It is also proposed to use the landscape as a nodal transition between urban agriculture and community gardens. In this way, the project is more closely linked to local food security, job creation, and human health (Xie et al., 2020).

2.1.2. BENEFITS OF URBAN AGRICULTURE LANDSCAPE

Urban parcels can potentially be leveraged for developing a local urban food system by growing high yield food crops. Urban building rooftop and ground level areas have potential to produce enough fresh fruits and vegetables for city’s population, while providing both environmental and economic co-benefits (Saha and Eckelman, 2017). Urban agriculture can enable cities to achieve partial selfsufficiency and improve the resilience of food and energy systems through diversification of supply. It can also bring a variety of common benefits, including improving food access and security, increasing food varieties, enriching landscapes, local economic development, and improving environmental quality (Lovell, 2010) (Hodgson, Campbell, & Bailkey, 2011).

Urban agriculture can also benefit the local environment by improving urban air quality, increasing carbon sequestration rate, regulating urban heat island and mitigating water pollution problems related to rainwater runoff (Lovell, 2010). Local food production also avoids environmental impacts associated with long-distance food transport and loss (Kulak et al., 2013). Besides, the potential economic and social benefits may include employment and local activities; Reconstruction and productive utilization of low-income, underserved communities in marginal urban areas; And reduce noise, get food and nutrition, and promote neighbourhood interaction and community education (Hendrickson and Porth, n.d.; Lovell, 2010).

2.2. EDIBLE LANDSCAPE APPROACHES AND BENEFITS

2.2.1. EDIBLE LANDSCAPE/FOODSCAPING

The edible landscape turns the yard into an edible landscape with fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Edible landscaping, also known as food scaping, brings more homegrown foods to life while beautifying a home or garden landscaping (Stilgoe, 1983). Edible landscape is using vegetables and fruits instead of ornamental plants and grasses to landscape yards or gardens (SCRIVENS, 1990). Grounded in the tradition of the Victory Gardens of World War II, edible landscaping allows people to keep their yard green and growing while enjoying a delicious harvest (World War II Victory Gardens). It is defined as The Garden Space You Didn’t Know You Had. On the opposite, there are food deserts – areas where people don’t have access to fresh or local produce – across our country, but the opportunity to solve these food shortages is right under our noses (Sullivan, 2014). In our imagination, the situation is the same for the food mirage area - where people cannot afford the high expense of fresh food or products.

2.2.2. HOW TO DEVELOP FOOD GARDEN

Depending on people’s needs, almost any food plant can be used as edible landscaping. Vining plants like passionflower, squashes, and melons would be great for fencing around the yard. Alternatively, fruit trees like cherry, fig, elderberry, and apple might be nice for edging the property (Bertoli, 2020).

Marlin Keesler

Arts on the farm

Some plants are more beautiful than others – like towering, purpleflowered artichokes or frilly asparagus plants along walkways, bright nasturtiums or hearty mint as ground cover, or tall sunflowers along the property line (Nardozzi, 2015). Edible landscaping allows people to free themselves from the limitations of row or garden-box growing and turn the whole yard into a garden (Larkcom, 2019).

Depending on micro-climate, personal needs, and abilities, people might choose to plant mostly perennials like fruit and nut trees, berries, asparagus, and other shrubs, or annuals like tomatoes, peas, and root crops. Perennials will provide residents with a bounty of fresh fruits and veggies for years, while annuals planters will need to regrow each year (Toensmeier, 2007). So, depending on how we’re wanting to organize our garden and how often to replant seeds, we’ll want to consider using perennials, annuals, or a combination of both.

2.1.3. BENEFITS AND INFLUENCE OF EDIBLE LANDSCAPE

It helps to improve the local ecosystem by attracting bees, butterflies, birds, and other beneficial pollinators to your garden. When people mingle edible crops with ornamentals, there is more flexibility in how much you need to plant from year to year (Hayes & Smith, 2016). Barren garden beds can make even the busiest of us feel like we’ve failed, but when mixing edibles in with perennial plants and shrubs, it’s easy to switch things up or even skip a season based on what might have been planned for the summer (Hemenway, 2015). The ornamental palette will already be in place to compensate for the lack of edible plants.

Intermingling these types of plants is also the best way to increase biodiversity in planned and designed landscape. Grouping several of the same plants together – like in a traditional vegetable bed – can draw in more of the pest insects which like to feed on that type of plant (Soley and Perfecto, 2021). Placing the broccoli or kale among lavender, black-eyed Susan’s and hydrangea can not only confuse the pests, but those ornamental plants are more likely to draw in the beneficial insects which eat those bad bugs (Mayer, 2015). A healthier ecosystem in landscape will mean less maintenance and more enjoyment for people.

Foodscape

Mixing various edible plant types (such as the cabbage, kale, tomatoes, eggplant, and herbs in this bed) into one area creates healthier biodiversity to confuse pest insects and benefit good guy bugs. (photo: Brie Arthur)

Growing our own food also helps to cut down on some of the chemical pressures in the environment. Those enormous commercial agriculture operations are growing acres of a single crop (Horrigan et al., 2002). Large monocultures pose a greater risk of pests and diseases, so commercial operations typically use a lot of chemicals to treat those issues (Ellis et al., 2020).

2.3. NBS CARBON SINKS AND URBAN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE

2.3.1. NBS APPROACHES IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCPAE

Recently, it has been increasingly recognized that nature-based solutions (NBS) are relieving humans from climate change impacts while mitigating global warming, supporting biodiversity, and securing ecosystem services (Seddon et al., 2020). In the latest Decade of UN Ecosystem Restoration, at the forefront of the sustainability discourse, interventions of nature-based solutions (NBS) are applied in urban, rural, natural forest, and wetland ecosystems, while they are underutilized in agricultural landscapes (Simelton et al., 2021). The review by Li L et al. of bibliometric analysis and thematic analysis for NBS studies in urbanism concluded adaptation to urban areas (Li et al., 2021). The research indicated that nature-based solutions facilitated restoring coastal ecosystems (i.e., mangroves, coral reefs, oyster beds and saltmarshes) protecting communities from coastal flooding (Narayan et al., 2017).

Global trends of rapid urbanization and climate change are predicted to shape society and the biosphere in the coming decades, and the approach of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the agricultural landscape can be applied for carbon mitigation, biodiversity benefits, agricultural production and supply chains (Sowińska-Świerkosz et al., 2021) (Miralles-Wilhelm, F. 2021). Taking Lublin, Poland as a study case, it was evaluated at the city level that woods together and allotment gardens (defined as nature-based solutions to existing elements of green-blue infrastructures) were crucial to maintaining the diversity of at the landscape scale at a high level and contributed to preserving the ecological structure (Sowińska-Świerkosz et al., 2021).

2.3.2. BENEFITS OF NBS IN AGRICULTURE LANDSCPAE

By urban gardening, urban edible landscape contributes to food security in quantitative terms (Vávra et al., 2018) and provides provision to food of high quality (Kortright and Wakefield, 2011). Urban edible landscape in cities scale which combines various forms of sustainable urban food production (UFP) (Oliver et al., 2018) in urban and peri-urban areas, can be seen as multifunctional nature-based solutions. The concept of edible cities as naturebased solutions mainly focuses on public and private spaces with different forms of urban food production (UFP), such as farming in and on buildings in Berlin (zero-acreage farming) (Specht et al., 2016), or professional urban farming in Metropolis Ruhr, Germany (Pölling et al., 2016). Edible City Solutions proposed by Ina Säumel emphasized its significance as further step deepening the sociocultural and socio-economic dimensions of NBS (Säumel et al., 2019).

In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the field of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) that improve ecosystem functions of environments and landscapes affected by agricultural practices and land degradation, while enhancing livelihoods and other social and cultural functions (Sartison and Artmann, 2020). Relevant research indicates that the NBS approach also facilitates the alleviation of the Heat Island Effect and helps establish a comfortable microclimate. According to Elmqvist et al. (2015) a 10% increase in the tree canopy cover resulted in 3.4°Creduction in the cities studied. In her research, conducted to explore the cooling effects of green infrastructure, Moreno-García (2019) examined the microclimatic effect of the existing vegetation and green features in and around the urban park of Ciutadella in Barcelona, Spain. Her findings suggested that urban parks with mixed tree cover and open spaces provided a decrease in night-time temperatures between the park and the peripheral built area of 3.0°C and 4.5°C (del Carmen Moreno-García and Baena, 2019).

2.3.3. CURRENT LIMITS TO URBAN AGRICULTUR

The current limitations of urban landscape main concentrate on the lack of NBS approaches. Many of the barriers experienced in rural settings have the same root causes as the ones described from urban areas, and the main barriercreating mechanisms are institutional factors, resistance among stakeholders and technical and economic issues

(Solheim et al., 2021). The key element, however, is the lack of knowledge about the ability of NBS to deliver a series of co-benefits in addition to their risk-reducing effects and that long-term thinking is required to see the effect of many of these co-benefits (Badura et al., 2021).

2.4. METHODOLOGY AND DATA SOURCE

2.4.1. THESIS METHODOLOGY

A mixed methodology is adopted for this thesis. A certain amount of relevant literature review is done to conduct qualitative analysis and provide theoretical support for the study. For the Milan context and Lodi-Corvetto community, data on relevant elements and layers are collected and processed, and primary and secondary data will be collected and processed for quantitative analysis. In the next chapters, interviewees are going to be identified, questionnaire forms will be distributed and collected, and group interviews were organized. Besides, site investigation and measurement will be carried out during the field trip.

The thesis also identifies research subjects and conducts a mixed study to enhance the credibility of the results. The advantages and corresponding strategies of NBS urban agriculture are analysed by comparing the performance of current traditional urban landscapes with that of NBS urban agriculture in our scenario and planning vision. The analysis shows that urban agriculture is useful for reshaping the urban landscape in the era of a sustainable and resilient urban landscape. It can solve the problem of the irrational spatial distribution of green space, improve the quality of green space and promote landscape equity. In addition, it will improve the foodscape in the peri-urban area of Lodi-Corvetto with a more proper territorial distribution of urban farms and edible gardens.

2.4.2. APPLIED METHODS AND DATA SOURCE

As the mixed methodology adopted for this thesis, three analysis methods are used for comprehensive analysis.

A. Literature analysis and other references: To be guided by the relevant concept, the mixed research method is used as the basis for literature review and analysis by consulting relevant

academic papers on the concept of urban agriculture, edible landscape, and nature-based solutions, as a guide to developing the planning and design related to the edible landscapes, public green spaces, environmental justice and other key issues. The basic information and analyses are derived from the bibliography, webliography and iconographical references.

B. Survey data collection: To improve the accuracy of the findings, the thesis selects specific study areas, conducted field surveys, questionnaires research and group interviews to obtain primary data, and combined with the Internet to collect secondary data (including geospatial data, government statistics, socio-economic data, etc.) for cross-processing, and complete the corresponding diagrams and mappings for analysis.

C. Comparative study and case study: A comparison was made between current urban agriculture and new urban agriculture to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of chosen urban agriculture approaches. Apart from the comparative study, certain case studies and analyses of innovative projects are done to better understand the cases of modern urban agriculture.

All the cases are derived from the literature, websites and relevant publishments. The targeted urban agriculture strategies are beneficial to the reshaping of the urban landscape and the construction of a sustainable and resilient urban landscape. It will solve the problem of the irrational spatial distribution of green space, improve the quality of green space, increase biodiversity and promote landscape equity. Furthermore, it will improve the foodscape in this area, and promote social communication and community cohesion to some extent by the participatory landscape.

REFERNCES

REFERENCES (bibliography and webliography)

Badura, T., Krkoška Lorencová, E., Ferrini, S., Vačkářová, D., 2021. Public support for urban climate adaptation policy through nature-based solutions in Prague. Landscape and Urban Planning 215, 104215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2021.104215

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Street cafeteria in southwest Corvetto Photography credit to Yunrui Ren

ANALYSIS

This chapter gives an introduction to metropolitan Milan. It focuses on the Milan context, starting from the basic information background of climate, municipal administration, and traffic.

Then the second section introduces analyses of landscape and agriculture in Milan which are related to the thesis theme, including landscape layers of the hydrological system, vegetation type, and shared gardens; the agriculture layers include farmhouses, agricultural patterns, and types, as well as landscape and market maps.

The third section is the social and demographic analyses of Milan. It contains the poverty analysis of Milan, population distribution, and data visualisation, as well as foreign residents’ data and immigration nationality patterns.

3.1. BASIC BACKGROUND OF METROPOLITAN MILAN

3.1.1. CLIMATE ANALYSIS

SUN POSITION AZIMUTH AND ELEVATION CHART POLAR

SUN POSITION AND SUN CHART OF MILAN

Sun path charts can be plotted either in Cartesian (rectangular) or Polar coordinates. Cartesian coordinates where the solar elevation is plotted on Y axis and the azimuth is plotted on the X axis. Polar coordinates are based on a circle where the solar elevation is read on the various concentric circles, from 0° to 90° degrees, the azimuth is the angle going around the circle from 0° to 360° degrees, the horizon is represented by the outermost circle, at the periphery.

Source：https://www.sunearthtools.com/ dp/tools/pos_sun.php?lang=en

SUN POSITION AZIMUTH AND ELEVATION CHART CARTESIAN

Source：https://www.sunearthtools.com/dp/tools/pos_sun.php?lang=en

CLIMATE YEAR ROUND IN MILAN, ITALY

Source：https://weatherspark.com/y/62545/Average-Weather-in-Milan-Italy-Year-Round

CLIMATE YEAR ROUND IN MILAN

In Milan, the summers are warm and humid, the winters are very cold, and it is partly cloudy year round. Based on the beach/pool score, the best time of year to visit Milan for hot-weather activities is from late June to late August.

The hot season lasts for 3.4 months, from June 1 to September 13, with the hottest month in July. The cold season lasts for 3.2 months, from November 19 to February 25, with the coldest month in January.

Source：https://weatherspark.com/y/62545/Average-Weather-in-Milan-Italy-Year-Round

3.1.2. MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION

METROPOLIS OF MILAN

Milan is the major city in northern Italy and the economic and financial capital of Italy. It is located in the most populous and developed Lombardy Plain in Italy. Since 1999, the city has been divided into 9 districts, but in 2016, it was re divided into new districts.

Source：https://www.italyheritage.com/regions/lombardia/milano/milano.htm

1999-2016 districts in Milan:

Zona 1: Centro storico

Zona 2: Stazione Centrale, Gorla, Turro, Greco e Crescenzago

Zona 3: Porta Venezia, Città Studi, Lambrate

Zona 4: Porta Vittoria, Porta Romana, Forlanini, Monlué, Rogoredo, Corvetto

Zona 5: Porta Ticinese, Lodovica, Vigentino, Chiaravalle, Gratosoglio

Zona 6: Barona, Lorenteggio, Giambellino, Porta Genova

Zona 7: Porta Vercellina, Baggio, De Angeli, Forze Armate, San Siro

Zona 8: Porta Volta, Fiera, Gallaratese, Quarto Oggiaro

Zona 9: Porta Nuova, Stazione Garibaldi, Niguarda, Bovisa, Fulvio Testi

3.1.3. TRANSPORT IN METROPOLITAN MILAN

Milan is one of the important transport hubs in Italy and southern Europe. Its central railway station is the second busiest in Italy and the eighth busiest in Europe. Malpensa, Linate and Orio al Serio airports serve the largest metropolitan area in Italy - Milan.

Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM) is a municipal transportation company in Milan; It operates 4 subway lines, 18 tram lines, 131 bus lines, 4 trolleybus lines and 1 passenger line. In general, the network covers nearly 1500 kilometers (932 miles) and 46 cities.

Nuclei

Source：

https://web.archive.org/web/20110722030440/ http://www.centostazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgn extoid=a675d5e57e30a110VgnVCM10000080a 3e90aRCRD

https://web.archive.org/web/20110924041558/ http://www.grandistazioni.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgn extoid=b0b0f42b3e09a110VgnVCM1000003f16 f90aRCRD

https://www.atm.it/en/IlGruppo/ChiSiamo/ Pages/Numeri.aspx

di Identita’ LocaleLocal Framing

MILAN METROPOLIS TRAFFIC MAP

Source：https://geoportale.comune.milano.it/ATOM/SIT/DBT2012/DBT2012_STRATO_01_Service.xml

3.2. LANDSCAPE AND AGRICULTURE ANALYSIS OF MILAN

This section collects relevant landscape and agriculture layers of Milan, to more sepecifically analyse the landscape elements and urban agriculture conditions in Milan.

3.2.1. MILAN HYDROGRAPHIC SYSTEM

From the hydrographic map, map layers collect themes inherent in the description of bodies of water, coasts, and seawater. The content of this layer includes the following topics: inland and transitional waters, marine waters, glaciers and perennial snowfields, and hydrological networks. The 2012 topographic data for the city of Milan includes inland and transitional waters, and hydrological networks. This layer contains the following classes: Channel Wet Area, Water Mirror, Artificial Reservoir, Water Element, Conduction, Water Knot, Channel Wet Area Outline, Water Outline Mirror.

Source ： https://geoportale.comune.milano.it/sit/dettagli/?uuid=C_F205%3ASIT_CENTRALE_ M201280011%3A20151215

3.2.2. MILAN VEGETATION TYPE CONDITION

The vegetation part is shown on the map of vegetation types condition. It is remarkable that the agricultural crops are mainly distributed on the outskirts of Milan, especially in the southern and western areas of Milan. The green area is averagely distributed in the whole city, with the gradual shift of low density from peri-urban areas to downtown areas. It is noticeable that row trees are more located in northern and eastern areas of Milan, as the northwest part has the highest density seen on the map. Forest is rare to be seen within Milan as in western suburban areas the highest density but still not occupying a large area. Lodi- Corvetto is a typical suburban area of south Milan since it includes an area of abundant vegetation type condition, with an agricultural area in south park, fertile green infrastructure and shared gardens, uncultivated pastures, and row trees.

MILAN HYDROGRAPHIC WATER SYSTEM MAP

MILAN VEGETATION TYPE CONDITION MAP

3.2.3. URBAN SHARED GARDENS IN MILAN

Urban gardens and shared gardens make it possible to restore abandoned or degraded areas. It is therefore about innovative and ecologically sustainable ways of managing territories. However, the most important aspect of these projects facilitates mutual understanding and social gathering. Redevelop greenery makes cities more beautiful, more attractive and more liveable. Gatherings for sowing or harvesting, planting or educational activities offer some possibilities for well-maintained green spaces.

Urban gardens are landings that can be used for non-commercial purposes and temporarily granted to private citizens. They are part of a green space with complete infrastructure, facilitate the constructive use of free time and contribute to the redevelopment of abandoned or degraded urban areas.

A shared garden is a collectively managed public space. Shared gardens enliven communities, enhance communication and cooperation between residents and increase the sense of belonging of citizens. This is a great way for Lodi-Corvetto, where immigrants make up most of the population, to increase community cohesion and a sense of local belonging through shared gardens.

Looking after Milan's greenery therefore means taking an active part in the city's improvement. Milan encourages individuals or associations to take care of abandoned land or gardens. In nonprofit associations, citizens participate in gardening activities while exchanging knowledge and experience in order to rebuild degraded or abandoned areas for the benefit of the whole community. Milan now has 15 urban gardens and shared gardens, which are spread over nine minicipio. While there are three shared gardens in Minicipio 4, there are no urban gardens and shared gardens in the LodiCorvetto area. Urban gardens and shared gardens may be one of the effective means by which the Lodi-Corvetto area can make use of abandoned and degraded land, redevelop the urban greenery, improve community cohesion and increase the sense of belonging to the area.

Reference：https://www.comune.milano.it/aree-tematiche/verde/verde-pubblico/orti-e-giardini

MAP OF SHARED GARDENS AND SHARED VEGETABLE GARDENS IN MILAN

Source：https://www.comune.milano.it/servizi/giardini-condivisi

FARMHOUSES OF AGRITOURISM IN MILAN MAPPING

3.2.4. FARMHOUSES OF AGRITOURISM IN MILAN

There are many types of agritourism spots in Milan. On the website of the Lombardy region, there are farm houses mainly based on meat and egg products, as well as farm houses with vegetables and fruits as agricultural products.

Source： https://www.geoportale.regione. lombardia.it/download-pacchetti?p_ p_id=dwnpackageportlet_ WAR_gptdownloadportlet&p_p_ lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_ mode=view&_dwnpackageportlet_ WAR_gptdownloadportlet_ metadataid=%7B8F8B248C-96A44939-9C1F-2C2BB6DA647E%7D

3.2.5. AGRICULTURAL PATTERN AND CROP TYPE OF MILAN

MILAN AGRICULTURAL PATTERN

There are large pattern in south area of Milan, and the other directions of the border scatter the debris area. The patterns of agriculture area and crop type map demonstrate further more details of Millan arable land, which shows that Lodi-Corvetto is located in an agriculture contxt.

MILAN AGRICULTURAL PATTERN MAP

Source：https://www.geoportale.regione.lombardia.it/

TYPES OF ARABLE LAND IN MILAN

Milan is bordered to the north by the Alps and to the south by the Po River, in the center of the Po plain, one of the richest regions in the world, with fertile land and well-developed water systems.

Milan's farmland is mainly located in the western and southern suburbs. There are eight types of agricultural land, including: family gardens, woody crops, bush in abandoned agricultural area, lowdensity hardwoods forest, vegetable crops, rise, plain arable. The most important types are rise and plain arable land, with grassland and shrubs distributed between cultivated areas. There are also some important vegetable crops.

With the expansion of the city and the encroachment of a large amount of agricultural land, the government, in order to protect the agricultural territory, has created an urban belt park in the south of Milan, with agriculture as a pillar of the territorial and environmental protection system. The main feature of the South Milan Agricultural Park is the preservation of the agricultural territory as evidence of a fertile and productive agricultural plain, from maize to different planting addresses, rice, meadows, autumn and winter cereals, etc.

family gardens woody crops

bush in abandoned agriculture area plain arable land permanent grassland rise

low-density hardwood forests vegetable crops

MILAN FOOD MAP

Source: http://www.foodpolicymilano.org/ wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Milan_ food_system_EN1.pdf

MILAN MARKET MAP

Source: http://www.foodpolicymilano.org/ wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Milan_ food_system_EN1.pdf

3.2.6. MILAN FOOD CONDITION AND MUNICIPAL MARKETS

POTENTIAL FOOD DESERTS AND FOOD MIRAGES

It is possible to identify potential food mirages, areas where grocery stores are plentiful and that are well served by public transport but present barriers to access owing to the low purchasing power of their inhabitants: in particular the areas to the north of Loreto (Municipio 2), and the areas of Mecenate and Lodi-Corvetto (Municipio 4), Stadera (Municipio 5), San Cristoforo (Municipio 6), Gallaratese, Quarto Oggiaro, Villapizzone and Ghisolfa (Municipio 8), all of them zones characterized by a high concentration of people aged 75 or over.

There is a very substantial presence of residents of foreign origin in the city of Milan, with 266,862 people, making up 19.3% of the resident population. Many residents of foreign origin have different dietary habits, for both economic and cultural reasons. It should also be acknowledged that their presence in Milan has certainly contributed to expanding the range of ethnic produce and restaurants.

MUNICIPAL INDOOR AND OPEN-AIR WEEKLY MARKETS

The municipality is working on a market upgrade program with the goal of not only transforming them into a more modern retail structure, but also a local facility that encourages social gathering and cohesion. On the subject of household food production, municipal districts regularly set aside some land for use as vegetable gardens, with priority given to the elderly—in some cases, the elderly have a fixed quota of 60 and 60 years of age. low-income groups. Through the Hybrid Labs - Reboot project, the city is experimenting with new models of inclusion, skills acquisition and social engagement for gnats (ages 18 to 25, a particularly vulnerable population).

With the MiGeneration Lab-Restart project, the municipality is experimenting with new models of inclusion, acquisition of skills and social participation for NEETs, people aged between 18 and 25 years in conditions of particular vulnerability. The programs mentioned above offer a range of lab-type courses in very diverse and differentiated fields, some of which can be part of an internship or co-op at the end of the training program.