“Not only are we building public housing, which is very important given that there are few of them in Rome, but we are returning a public good to the neighborhood and the city.” Inspection by the mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, on the afternoon of Friday 7 June, to the large urban regeneration construction site of the occupied building in via del Porto Fluviale.
A former barracks, then a warehouse for the Air Force which, after years of abandonment, was occupied by families in housing emergency for almost twenty years. Today it appears completely empty. With families who, once the social and economic requirements had been verified, spontaneously left the structure to allow the construction site to open and return as assignees.
Former occupied barracks, the Capitol approves the regeneration: it will cost 11 million euros
Together with the mayor, the president of the VIII municipality of Rome, Amedeo Ciaccheri, with the Capitoline councilors who followed the project: Ornella Segnalini (Public Works), Maurizio Veloccia (Urban Planning) and Tobia Zevi (Heritage). “A virtuous example that can be replicated in all cities”, underlines Veloccia. “A recovery that is part of the great transformation underway throughout the quadrant, across the entire Industrial Bridge which will be ready on 31 December”, recalls Segnalini.
The recovery works
The project envisages the construction of ERP residences on the first and second floors of the building, on the ground floor spaces serving the neighborhood consistent with the principles of circular economy and neighborhood for the community, on the terrace a photovoltaic garden which will allow the activation of an energy community, in the large courtyard a public square open to the neighborhood in which the following services will be activated: 0 km market, anti-violence desk, civic uses, educational activities, preserving the activities already present.
The fresco by the artist Blu
On all the facades of the building there is a large mural that the artist Blu created in 2014 in support of the right to housing and the occupation of the building. In consideration of the inclusive participatory process that was carried out with the community, having achieved the objective of an effective assignment of ERP housing to the occupying community, the artist Blu was in favor of the elimination of the murals. In agreement with the Special Superintendency, the removal on the facades along Via del Porto Fluviale and Via delle Conce was established, their maintenance on the blind walls overlooking Via Ostiense, following the necessary in situ checks on the state of conservation of the plasters and on the general impact with the restored building. As requested by the Special Superintendency, the Public Works Department included a research study in the project to document the murals, the task was entrusted to the University of Roma Tre which also participated in the drafting of the feasibility project of the Rec House Fluvial Port .
