Gasholders, introduced in Europe between 1880 and 1900, represented a significant technical-infrastructural and socio-cultural advancement with gas lighting, replacing the previous conventional lighting system based on oil or candles. The spread of gas in Europe was facilitated by coal deposits, with Great Britain and Germany leading the way in extraction. The first gasometer in Italy was inaugurated in Turin in 1838, followed by other cities such as Florence, Venice and Naples. With the advent of electricity, the use of gas for lighting became obsolete, gradually leading to the disuse and abandonment of gasometers. The decommissioning affected many similar installations throughout Europe and so far only a few of them have been regenerated.
The hypothesis of this thesis is that today, in the Era of the necessary green transition we need to cope with climate change, these building types and their areas can once again play a central and progressive role in the urban and social regeneration of the 21st century. In this context, they need to be seen as opportunities for innovation and not as speculative bargains. This is why they must be rethought in line with the world's best urban practices and with the values and principles of the New European Bauhaus, a European Commission initiative promoting a cultural, environmental and economic movement capable of combining design, sustainability, inclusiveness and accessibility. The NEB aims to transform the places we live in, following three fundamental values: beautiful, sustainable and together.
In this scenario, the thesis explores the case study of the gasholders of St. Francesco della Vigna in the Castello's sestiere in Venice. Following its decommissioning, the gasholders area has been the subject of various projects, discussions and protests in recent years. Residents and members of the Gasometers Area Committee protested against building speculation projects that could have led to the demolition of the gasometers or their transformation into luxury residential complexes, which would not have benefited the local community. These protests emphasised the need to preserve the industrial heritage and to ensure that any redevelopment of the area would be inclusive and sustainable. The committee and other citizens' groups worked to involve local and national institutions, demanding action to ensure the protection of the site and its valorisation as part of Venice's cultural heritage. This has included demands for the official recognition of the gasometers as cultural heritage and the implementation of sustainable regeneration plans. Currently, the area is in the hands of MTK Developments, which has proposed a hotel project. This includes two glass and concrete buildings inserted into the existing metal structures, the construction of a gymnasium, and the reclamation of the area. The project has raised concerns among residents and local committees, who fear that the hotel will increase tourist pressure on the area. The Venice City Council is still evaluating the change of use requests, while some preliminary demolition and safety works have already been started.
The thesis, also considering the commitment and attention of the local community, seeks to highlight how these disused technological constructions, through targeted and synergic design choices, can once again become ‘engines’ of urban renewal and social innovation. The regeneration project for the St Francesco della Vigna gasholders area in Venice adopts several interrelated design choices that contribute to a sustainable redevelopment project: reducing CO2 emissions through the use of low-impact materials, improving energy efficiency with advanced insulation and using renewable solar and wind energy. The low-tech approach manifests itself in passive design for lighting and natural ventilation, as well as the adoption of traditional building techniques that require less energy.
Housing types include modular and affordable units for social housing, as well as shared living spaces that promote community and efficient use of resources. Integration of nature is ensured by the presence of green spaces between buildings, as well as green roofs and walls that contribute to insulation and biodiversity. Spaces for work and community life include co-working areas with modern infrastructure and common spaces for cultural and social events. The integration of these design choices creates a synergy that enhances the overall benefits of the regeneration project. The first gasometer thus becomes a monolithic masonry construction through the use of a specific technology called 22.26, a structural system characterised by an external brick shell with a total thickness of 56 cm, which ensures constant thermal comfort between 22 and 26 degrees throughout the year, without the need for insulation or heating/cooling systems.
The different housing units within this large monolithic building are designed to favour a mixed use of the various floors: from the co-working and co-studying space on the ground floor, to the Social Housing flats and finally new forms of co-living on the top floor. A roof-garden is planned at the top of the building, conceived to promote urban agriculture and increase greenery not only in the public environment at ground level. The second Gasometer is designed as a vertical park creating an urban terrace on the lagoon, an aviary and a rainwater harvesting device. The entire structure of the Gasometer and the terrace are covered with a variety of native plants adapted to the local climate. The vertical garden increases the green area of the neighbourhood by absorbing CO2, reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and helping to cool the surroundings through the process of evapotranspiration. In addition, the plants filter polluting particles from the air, improving its quality. The entire structure becomes an aviary and also serves as a habitat for insects, birds and other small animals, supporting local biodiversity. In addition to the environmental benefits, the gasometer becomes a community garden, an educational and community space where events and workshops on sustainability and urban gardening are organised. The project is characterised by an integrated approach that fuses environmental sustainability, beauty and social inclusiveness, the founding values of NEB, mentioned above. Following these principles, this project could prefigure a possible regeneration of the industrial heritage in which quality of life, care for the environment and social inclusion are central and inseparable objectives, a vision that could lead to the realisation of a new piece of the city that could contribute to the promotion of residency and social inclusion through accessible spaces and the involvement of the local community in the decision-making process.
The specific case study of Venice in this case, despite its specificity, intends to suggest a design method to create a lasting legacy of more liveable, sustainable and inclusive cities, preparing them for future challenges and improving the quality of life of their inhabitants.