Output details

Welfare Spaces: the physical heritage of welfare state policies.

The research is born from the urgent need to reconsider the relationships between welfare and city, and the way a set of actions (spontaneous and formalized) shape the ‘urban infrastructure’ as a co-living place. Institutions and the community were asked about materials’ qualities, spatial justice, and daily practices regarding the design of selected areas of the city. The research took place in different countries (Italy, UK) from 2008 to 2012 and involved diverse beneficiaries such as institutions, academics and community groups. Outcomes of the research included two main photographic campaigns, two books, international conferences, workshops and exhibitions.

The research was initially financed by the Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV), University of Venice and run in collaboration with the Municipality of Venice and NGOs (gruppo di lavoro via Piave). A rare example in Italy, the Municipality of Venice hosts an office (ETAM) which facilitates public engagement activities, securing the support needed to formalize bottom up processes and deliver sustainable outputs. The research was presented to national and international audiences (1) as a significant example of leading urban policy, describing new approaches to inform “welfare spaces” together and after welfare state policies. Following the research the Municipality of Venice commissioned the authors were commissioned by the Municipality to map the major ‘welfare spaces’ within the metropolitan area of Mestre in order to organize informative workshops (addressed to police, healthcare, and education sectors) and intended to influence urban strategy for regeneration projects. The commission is ongoing. The research in northern Italy focusing on open spaces was enriched by the complementary photographic campaign on houses (“Storie di Case”), part of a national survey on private welfare built in major Italian cities during the post-war economic boom.

(1) See portfolio

An English abstract of Spazi del Welfare book is provided in the Portfolio.