Innovazione e ridisegno degli spazi urbani. Dai “vuoti” ai poli di sviluppo. L’area Est di Napoli,

The primary purpose of this study is to analyse some of the territorial aspects of the “Great Void of Napoli Est” and assess the progress of projects elaborated to enhance its improvement, including the renovation of disused sites. The development of “urban voids” is a consequence of the radical changes that have occurred in the 70’s to the economies of developed countries, which have led to the downsizing of production activities and the abandonment of many industrial spaces and buildings, traditionally located in proximity of urban areas. Starting from those years, in fact, the logistic strategy adopted by many companies changed. The combined effect of increased speed and decreased cost of modern transport systems together with the cheap cost of land and labour in some developing countries stimulated the decision to delocalise elsewhere the production activities. This decision has been further facilitate, in recent years, by the technological innovation that made available smaller and smaller machinery, making easier and cheaper new installations. The relocation trend was also further encouraged by the rising cost of urban land, consequence of the process of “neo-centrism” that has convinced many companies to dispose of their land estates. Together with industrial structures, even tertiary activities ended up losing gradually their effectiveness, especially because of the geographic redistribution of certain services. This has increased the number of those “urban voids” often consisting of timeworn buildings with no aesthetic qualities or from disused plants filled with polluting materials that have been a major cause of the lack of appeal of those urban areas, causing the decline of land and buildings value. The position of these spaces on the outskirts of large cities has also led to the degradation of the ecosystem and the raising of the level of risk to the health of the population. Howe 110 - InnovazIone, competItIvItà e svIluppo neI terrItorI dell’unIone europea InnovazIone e rIdI segno deglI spazI urbanI: daI “vuotI” aI polI dI svIluppo. l’area est dI napolI. - dI stefanIa palmentIerI ver, we should not underestimate that the “urban voids” can represent a unique opportunity to redesign the urban area in view of its improvement, especially in areas where the presence of these “urban voids” could result in a factual urbanistic paralysis. Consequently, there is the need for a strategy that, through sustainable projects, could permit their regeneration and functional revitalization. The possible options should range between a “cultural destination” of abandoned buildings and the conversion of “voids” areas into “eco-friendly” resources thanks to, for example, the creation of parks or zones to be assigned to innovative activities.