Sustainable Redevelopment of Public Spaces in City Centres: a Bioclimatic Approach

A case study is here presented in which the design perspective in the redevelopment of public spaces is overturned: instead of designing the area and then verifying the results in terms of effective liveability of the new spaces, the results of the analysis of the present comfort conditions become the tool to address the design operations. In particular, the bioclimatic analysis of the system of central squares of the small town in Sant'Ilario d'Enza (Italy) becomes the base for the design of a new liveable space among buildings of limited historical and architectural value. The ENVIMET fluido-dynamics software is used to assess the present outdoor comfort conditions in the different times of the year and to identify the critical elements to be modified. The indications for the insertion of new green spaces suggest a symbolic return to the rural past of the area, elaborated with a contemporary design, taking also into account the flexible uses nowadays required by these common spaces. Other recommendations are focused on the external facades of the buildings, thus allowing to improve both the internal energetic balance and the effects on the external urban environment. The attempt is to insert some quantitative elements in a field the redevelopment of urban public spaces which is usually rather qualitative and subjected to personal judgment, improving at the same time the aesthetics, the usability and the liveability of these spaces in a sustainable way. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.