At the end of the 1980s, a small group of friends became aware of the abandoned 13th century village ruins of Torri Superiore. After searching for public funding to start the restoration of the village with no success, the group pooled together funds from their own networks, created an association, rallied more Italian ecological activists and got to work. Initially, the kitchen and two bedrooms were rehabilitated in order to start renting them and to generate funds to invest in further repairs and restoration works. From the beginning, laborers, such as masons, were hired from the neighboring village to support the reconstruction works. It was important to the team to follow ecological principles and materials wherever possible.
Torri Superiore
A Self-Sufficient Ecovillage/ ITALY
@revitalization
Torri Superiore
A Self-Sufficient Ecovillage/ ITALY
@revitalization
Sustainability In Practice
Torri Superiore and the ecovillage are one: the ecovillage includes all the resident and non-resident members, and guests of the accommodation are invited to follow its principles. From the outset, the idea of restoring the village was based on ecological principles and social sustainability. Participation in the networks of the GEN (Global Ecovillage Network) and RIVE (Italian Network of Ecological Villages) and the international Permaculture movement has stimulated the group to focus and achieve its objectives in an increasingly ecological way.
Social
The resident community meets once a week and uses consensus decision making. The Cultural Association is also moving towards using this method in its meetings. The Ture Nirvane cooperative (female majority) employs some residents and applies mutual practices to internal and third parties. In 2016 he founded, together with other local companies, the "Terre di Confine Business Network" which develops working activities based on social solidarity and environmental sustainability.
Restoration
In the restoration works, local stone, natural lime (for plaster and wall paints) and natural insulating materials (cork, coconut fibers) were used. All windows are made of sustainable wood, treated with enamels and ecological wall paints. Much of the hot water is produced with solar panels, and low temperature heating systems have been installed both in the accommodation facility and in some private houses (where in any case they do not exceed 18 ° C). Much of the electricity of the cultural center is self-produced with photovoltaic panels. A compost toilet is available (operating outside), and a small phytodepuration system has been created for a private housing unit.
Supply
The vegetable gardens and orchards are inspired by the principles of permaculture, and provide vegetables and fresh fruit to common kitchens. Many vegetables and most of the eggs are purchased by the SPES social cooperative based in Varase (4 km from towers), which grows organically and integrates disadvantaged and asylum-seekers into their work. We produce many foods at home: olive oil, bread, fresh pasta, honey, jam, local herbal teas.
The food style is based on fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice, legumes, cheeses, little meat or fish. The food purchased is largely organic, or locally sourced, or at least national. Frozen, precooked, genetically modified foods, ready bases are not used, and in winter the wood-burning oven for bread and pizzas is in operation.
Recycling
All food waste is used to feed animals or is composted. We do the separate collection of all our waste, and we reuse and recycle everything possible.
Transport
We have a total of 5 cars for 20 residents, and we encourage the use of public transport also for guests (local train and bus). We also have two donkeys that we use for transportation to and from the countryside.
We still have many projects to grow the ecovillage: with the end of the restoration of the cultural center and private homes, we have increased the quantity of thermal solar panels and installed the photovoltaic system. We want to increase as much as possible the quantity of self-produced food with permacultural and sustainable methods, and to minimize the quantity of waste by closing more and more its cycles.
@revitalization
Torri Superiore and the ecovillage are one: the ecovillage includes all the resident and non-resident members, and guests of the accommodation are invited to follow its principles. From the outset, the idea of restoring the village was based on ecological principles and social sustainability. Participation in the networks of the GEN (Global Ecovillage Network) and RIVE (Italian Network of Ecological Villages) and the international Permaculture movement has stimulated the group to focus and achieve its objectives in an increasingly ecological way.
Social
The resident community meets once a week and uses consensus decision making. The Cultural Association is also moving towards using this method in its meetings. The Ture Nirvane cooperative (female majority) employs some residents and applies mutual practices to internal and third parties. In 2016 he founded, together with other local companies, the "Terre di Confine Business Network" which develops working activities based on social solidarity and environmental sustainability.
Restoration
In the restoration works, local stone, natural lime (for plaster and wall paints) and natural insulating materials (cork, coconut fibers) were used. All windows are made of sustainable wood, treated with enamels and ecological wall paints. Much of the hot water is produced with solar panels, and low temperature heating systems have been installed both in the accommodation facility and in some private houses (where in any case they do not exceed 18 ° C). Much of the electricity of the cultural center is self-produced with photovoltaic panels. A compost toilet is available (operating outside), and a small phytodepuration system has been created for a private housing unit.
Supply
The vegetable gardens and orchards are inspired by the principles of permaculture, and provide vegetables and fresh fruit to common kitchens. Many vegetables and most of the eggs are purchased by the SPES social cooperative based in Varase (4 km from towers), which grows organically and integrates disadvantaged and asylum-seekers into their work. We produce many foods at home: olive oil, bread, fresh pasta, honey, jam, local herbal teas.
The food style is based on fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta and rice, legumes, cheeses, little meat or fish. The food purchased is largely organic, or locally sourced, or at least national. Frozen, precooked, genetically modified foods, ready bases are not used, and in winter the wood-burning oven for bread and pizzas is in operation.
Recycling
All food waste is used to feed animals or is composted. We do the separate collection of all our waste, and we reuse and recycle everything possible.
Transport
We have a total of 5 cars for 20 residents, and we encourage the use of public transport also for guests (local train and bus). We also have two donkeys that we use for transportation to and from the countryside.
We still have many projects to grow the ecovillage: with the end of the restoration of the cultural center and private homes, we have increased the quantity of thermal solar panels and installed the photovoltaic system. We want to increase as much as possible the quantity of self-produced food with permacultural and sustainable methods, and to minimize the quantity of waste by closing more and more its cycles.
@revitalization
NO.128
Museum Park of The the Polytechnic Museum / Wowhaus
MOSCOW, RUSSIA
• Architects: Wowhaus
• Area: 14000.0 m²
• Design phase: 2015 – 2016
• Construction phase: 2017 – 2019
• Design Team: Mikhail Kozlov (senior project architect), Maria Khokhlova, Anastasia Rychkova, Anton Sevastyanov, Igor Yakovlev, Marina Yarmarkina, Denis Manshilin, Alyona Zaitseva, Margarita Leonova
• Clients: OAO MNIITEP, Polytechnic Museum Development Fund
• Landscape: Nature form studio
• Lightning: Ultimatum Group
Objective:
Following the concept by Junya Ishigami the territory around the Polytechnic Museum was to be transformed into a Museum Park – a thoroughly designed public space, whose structure takes into account the needs of the Museum and its visitors, as well as intensive transport and pedestrian flows, and the requirements of the city authorities concerning streets and town squares
Solution:
A park-amphitheatre in front of the Museum - an open-air foyer that will become an extension of the spaces inside the building and will act as a prologue, while the inner space is under construction. It will be able to host events while uniting the new pedestrian zone in the building’s lower ground level with the outdoor area alongside Lubyanka Square, attracting pedestrians and providing them with a convenient and pleasant route into the Museum complex.
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Text description provided by the architects. In the contemporary city, the museum long since ceased to be simply a place for storing exhibits, school trips and the “cultural leisure” of adults on their days off. It should be a full-fledged participant in urban life, able to compete on equal terms with parks, cinemas and restaurants. Museum Park is a pedestrian zone and public space that helps draw city dwellers into the Polytechnic Museum.
Following the concept by Jun’ya Ishigami the territory around the Polytechnic Museum was to be transformed into a Museum Park – a thoroughly designed public space, whose structure takes into account the needs of the Museum and its visitors, as well as intensive transport and pedestrian flows, and the requirements of the city authorities concerning streets and town squares.
A park-amphitheatre in front of the Museum - an open-air foyer that will become an extension of the spaces inside the building and will act as a prologue, while the inner space is under construction. It will be able to host events while uniting the new pedestrian zone in the building’s lower ground level with the outdoor area alongside Lubyanka Square, attracting pedestrians and providing them with a convenient and pleasant route into the Museum complex.
#Russia , #museum, #landscape , #extention , #lighting , #open_air , #park , #amphitheatre , #pedestrian , #public_space
@revitalization
Museum Park of The the Polytechnic Museum / Wowhaus
MOSCOW, RUSSIA
• Architects: Wowhaus
• Area: 14000.0 m²
• Design phase: 2015 – 2016
• Construction phase: 2017 – 2019
• Design Team: Mikhail Kozlov (senior project architect), Maria Khokhlova, Anastasia Rychkova, Anton Sevastyanov, Igor Yakovlev, Marina Yarmarkina, Denis Manshilin, Alyona Zaitseva, Margarita Leonova
• Clients: OAO MNIITEP, Polytechnic Museum Development Fund
• Landscape: Nature form studio
• Lightning: Ultimatum Group
Objective:
Following the concept by Junya Ishigami the territory around the Polytechnic Museum was to be transformed into a Museum Park – a thoroughly designed public space, whose structure takes into account the needs of the Museum and its visitors, as well as intensive transport and pedestrian flows, and the requirements of the city authorities concerning streets and town squares
Solution:
A park-amphitheatre in front of the Museum - an open-air foyer that will become an extension of the spaces inside the building and will act as a prologue, while the inner space is under construction. It will be able to host events while uniting the new pedestrian zone in the building’s lower ground level with the outdoor area alongside Lubyanka Square, attracting pedestrians and providing them with a convenient and pleasant route into the Museum complex.
--------------
Text description provided by the architects. In the contemporary city, the museum long since ceased to be simply a place for storing exhibits, school trips and the “cultural leisure” of adults on their days off. It should be a full-fledged participant in urban life, able to compete on equal terms with parks, cinemas and restaurants. Museum Park is a pedestrian zone and public space that helps draw city dwellers into the Polytechnic Museum.
Following the concept by Jun’ya Ishigami the territory around the Polytechnic Museum was to be transformed into a Museum Park – a thoroughly designed public space, whose structure takes into account the needs of the Museum and its visitors, as well as intensive transport and pedestrian flows, and the requirements of the city authorities concerning streets and town squares.
A park-amphitheatre in front of the Museum - an open-air foyer that will become an extension of the spaces inside the building and will act as a prologue, while the inner space is under construction. It will be able to host events while uniting the new pedestrian zone in the building’s lower ground level with the outdoor area alongside Lubyanka Square, attracting pedestrians and providing them with a convenient and pleasant route into the Museum complex.
#Russia , #museum, #landscape , #extention , #lighting , #open_air , #park , #amphitheatre , #pedestrian , #public_space
@revitalization