AT A TIME WHERE THE BALANCE BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND NATURE IS BECOMING MORE IMPORTANT, GROWING LAND CONSUMPTION AND THE HOUSING CRISIS REPRESENT CRITICAL CHALLENGES. THE PROJECT “LAND-CR.AF.T.ED” PROPOSES AN INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF RURAL AREAS AND SMALL URBAN CENTERS
The land CR.AF.T.ED project
According to data from the United Nations more than half of the world’s population lives in urbanized areas, a percentage that will increase in the coming years. This phenomenon leads to the consequent depopulation of rural areas without a parallel renaturalization of abandoned areas.
In Italy, for example, 7,677 hectares of land were consumed in 2022, an increase of 10% compared to the previous year.
The future of rural areas and small urban centers depends on innovations that combine sustainability and technology. Renzo MacelloniMayor of Peccioli (PI) e Maria Alessandra SegantiniCEO of C+S Architects (architectural firm with offices in Treviso and London), committed to this vision with the project country-CR.AF.T.ED (Community reinvents affordable food through eco-design).
We are talking about a prototype popular village which combines the idea of social housing with that of pixelated agriculture, with the aim of regenerating impoverished areas and creating cohesive and multi-ethnic communities. But what do we mean by social housing and pixelated agriculture?
Social houses: objectives and benefits
Social housing is housing designed to be accessible to all, especially low-income populations and multi-ethnic and multi-cultural communities. These homes not only provide a dignified and sustainable housing solution, but also promote social inclusion and community cohesion. The aim is to ensure that every individual can have a roof over their head and at the same time contribute to urban renewal and environmental sustainability.
In addition, the community will be able to produce and share food itself, mixing local knowledge and seeds with those from other countries.
L’pixelated agriculture instead, it is an innovative cultivation method that uses advanced technologies to optimize food production on small areas. It involves the use of sensors, data and automation systems to monitor and manage crop growth accurately and efficiently.
In concrete terms, each “pixel” represents a small growing unit, which can be carefully controlled for various parameters such as irrigation, nutrients and light. This approach makes it possible to adapt growing conditions to the specific needs of each plant, improving the yield and quality of agricultural products.
A winning mix
The integration ofAgriculture pixelated in the social housing project “land-CR.AF.T.ED” therefore represents a synergy between sustainable housing and local food production. The buildable areas are inserted directly into the popular village, transforming the courtyards and common areas into productive gardens. The residents of social housing can actively participate in cultivation, learn advanced agricultural techniques and contribute to the production of fresh and healthy food for the community. This model not only reduces food costs for low-income families, but also promotes self-sufficiency and community resilience.
The use of technologies such as sensors and automation systems makes pixelated farming particularly suitable for urban and suburban areas, where space is limited and access to traditional agricultural land can be difficult. The precision and efficiency of this method allows you to obtain bountiful harvests even in small spaces. This contributes to environmental sustainability while reducing the use of water and fertilizer.
The “vision” and targeted interventions
Commissioned by the municipal council of Peccioli, in Tuscany, “land-CR.AF.T.ED” In short, it represents a concrete response to the ecological, economic and social challenges facing contemporary cities and landscapes. The restoration of abandoned landscapes is a fundamental pillar of the project which, as mentioned, aims to restore the ecological and aesthetic value of impoverished areas.
Consequently, the process includes targeted interventions to restore biodiversity, improve air and water quality and create green areas that are accessible and usable by all.
«On a macro scale, we have recovered the theme of the tree nursery, which redesigns a landscape that regenerates naturally and at the same time becomes an economic resource for the municipality.” explains Maria Alessandra Segantini. The landscape will be redesigned by a series of circular forests with paths for maintenance and mowing, water catchment basins for irrigation and shelters for agricultural implements. But it doesn’t end here.
Sustainability in the construction sector
The project aims to decarbonize the construction sector through the use of circular systems and innovative construction techniques. This approach aims to reduce CO2 emissions and promote sustainability, thus mitigating the effects of climate change. Finally, the implementation of advanced technologies and environmentally friendly materials will ensure that buildings are energy efficient and have a low impact on the environment, contributing to the transition to a circular and sustainable economy. Now let’s move on to the project.
The social houses of Peccioli
The project of twelve new social housing in Peccioli, commissioned by the municipal council, was conceived as a community of micro farms. This innovative concept translates the system of historic Tuscan farms into a contemporary form.
The residential units, ranging in size between 80 and 130 m2, include a living room/kitchen and one, two or three bedrooms and respect the classic standards of social housing. Each residential unit is bordered by a rough earth fence that also demarcates a buildable area.
This is where the innovative concept of ‘pixel farming’ comes into play, an agricultural technique that exploits the variety of species and biodiversity to ensure high productivity.
The data collected show extraordinary results in terms of the quality of the agricultural products obtained, which can be used locally as sustainable food, both from an environmental and economic point of view.
Mayor Macelloni concludes: «All-round durability (economic, ecological and social) of the proposed vision puts us at the center of teamwork that looks to the future of our landscapes.”
With the impending confrontation with the region, the project was “land-CR.AF.T.ED” is preparing to become a prototype of sustainable development that combines buildings and nature, tradition and innovation, offering new hope for the repopulation and valorization of rural areas.