GOING BEYOND THE BRONX. PARTICIPATORY MAPPING AS A TOOL TO UNFOLD INEQUALITIES IN HOUSING RIGHTS IN EAST NAPLES

The ongoing regeneration of Taverna del Ferro housing estate in East Naples, known as an area of urban and social marginalisation, represents a pivotal phase of transformation, driven by funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The City of Naples is striving to develop innovative regulatory approaches, particularly by creating new forms of social agreements that ensure the active participation of community members in the ongoing transformations. This paper presents the results of a mapping activity carried out with the “Taverna del Ferro” Fight Committee and inhabitants by researchers involved in the regeneration project. In anticipation of the opening of the construction site, the primary objective of the survey was to capture an overview of the formal and informal uses of the ground-floor spaces in the Taverna del Ferro residential buildings and the surrounding garages. The mapping was complemented by interviews with key local witnesses from the community and associations. The case study prompts reflection on the role of participatory mapping and interviews as tools for actively involving inhabitants in the housing estate regeneration according to their requests and experience in the neighborhood. This approach serves as a lens for analysing the relationships between local stakeholders, unfolding inequalities and power relationships, thus addressing potential conflicts during the housing transformation process.