The territorial framework of river courses: a new methodology in evolving perspectives

ABSTRACT

This paper focuses on the importance of watercourses, on the presence of historical, naturalistic and environmental factors and on the necessary requirements to be strongly considered in planning tools that involve spatial development processes. The theoretical approach to this topic is then experimented on the case of the Tiber River in a particularly critical area of its course, which falls within the province of Rome. In order to overcome the complex difficulties that the river encounters along its path, the creation of a River Contract is conceived, as an innovative tool for the development of the river territory as a public space. The main issue of this article is to expose a methodology developed for the definition of landscape quality aims: it is mainly aimed at strengthening the idea that the River Contract could be an implementation stage of the Landscape Plan. The River Contract can play an important role in development strategies in Inner Areas and at the same time be an effective tool for recovering identity values. Effort was concentrated on the production of a territorial survey matrix that could be exploited by Local Authorities with the spirit of including the needs of the inhabitants.

KEYWORDS:

• Watercourses
• spatial development processes
• River Contract
• public space
• landscape planning policies

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Map Library of the Planning, Design, and Technology Department, Sapienza University Rome, and in particular Giovanni Longo, who provided the starting data of the Lazio Region. Also, the Technical Office of the Municipality of Monterotondo, who permitted access to the local government plans of its territory.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Regione Molise, under Agreement with the l.a.co.s.t.a. Laboratory (Director prof. D. Cialdea) of the University of Molise for the realization of the ‘New Regional Landscape Plan of Molise', DEL. No. 406 (25-10-2019), published in BURM No. 47 (16.11.2019). Available online: http://cloud.urbi.it/urbi/progs/urp/ur2DE001.sto?StwEvent=101&DB_NAME=l1200158&IdDelibere=75417 and by the Pompei’s Grant by the PhD Course in Planning, Design, and Technology of Architecture, Sapienza University, Rome. Available online: https://phd.uniroma1.it/web/CHIARA-POMPEI_nP1487636_IT.aspx.