A multi-level and multi-scale design approach supporting sustainable mobility and healthier living: AIR BREAK project in Ferrara, Italy

ABSTRACT

The city of Ferrara, also known as the Italian city of bikes, records alarming levels of air pollutants, primarily from private motorized traffic, despite its cycling rates are amongst the highest in Europe. Local authority, in its commitment to driving improvements to air quality and taking care of citizens’ wellbeing, submitted an ambitious project proposal to European Union program Urban Innovative Actions, AIR BREAK - Co-producing healthy clean commuting air spots in town, which was selected amid hundreds submissions and funded with a total budget of 5 million euros. AIR BREAK tackles urban air pollution through several actions, very different from one another, encompassing multiple scales and domains: from sensor monitoring systems to greenery and street furniture design. The project described in this paper adopted a multi-level design approach acting on both physical and cultural environments, that greatly affect citizens’ behaviour and their everyday choices. Community involvement in mapping air quality as well as public spaces intervention that support sustainable mobility and extend the range of activities that can be carried out in the outdoors are here presented and discussed, as key points for successful implementation and replication in other cities, for a healthier and more attractive public realm.

KEYWORDS:

• Air pollution
• community participation
• street furniture design
• prototypes
• behavioural change

Acknowledgements

The multifunctional charging point called PuntoNet Bike (patent holders: E. Piraccini, S. Allegra, G. Lelli, I. Fabbri and W. Nicolino) has been improved and developed into Smart Hub version by the Hera Group team members (E. Piraccini, S. Allegra, G. Mengozzi and P. Mangifesta) in collaboration with architects G. Lelli and I. Fabbri.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

AIR BREAK project has received funding from the funding programme Urban Innovation Actions (UIA) 5th Call 2020 – ERDF.

Notes on contributors

Ilaria Fabbri

Ilaria Fabbri, architect and PhD, is currently a post-doctoral researcher at University of Camerino, School of Architecture and Design based in Ascoli Piceno. She mainly deals with innovative urban services and design solutions promoting active living and healthy behaviours, but also investigates and got involved in urban regeneration processes, with a special focus on commercial trends, sport facilities and inclusion of people with disabilities. In her practice-based research, Ilaria Fabbri has developed several patented prototypes of street objects and furniture tested by communities in real-world environments. With a reference to AIR BREAK, she is SMART HUB’s appointed designer by Hera Group project partner.

Gabriele Lelli

Gabriele Lelli is an architect, Associate Professor of Architectural and Urban Design at the University of Ferrara, Department of Architecture. In 2014 he founded Next City Lab, an interdisciplinary group at the University of Ferrara, Department of Architecture, carrying out applied research on topics such as Smart City and Healthy City. Gabriele Lelli is director of the second-level master program named “MIC Master | Innovation Management and Communities | matching real and digital city”. With a reference to AIR BREAK, he is SMART HUB’s appointed designer by Hera Group project partner.