Periurban landscapes, vulnerabilities and potentials for regeneration

Outside the compact city, settlements dramatically expanded, without developing facilities and public services, disregarding social vulnerabilities and natural risks. Today, after decades of demographic decline, this has resulted in urban abandonment and decay, and the lack of livable and healthy environments. Big opportunities still are present due to the abundance of neglected, unbuilt areas. Regeneration of decaying periurban territories tries to restore landscape values and identities within inhabiting communities. The unbuilt parts of periurban areas are the first testing ground. The paper presents a double-speed strategy in a case in the south of Italy, consisting of a long-term reclaim of urban fabrics and a short-term, prefigurative, urban gardening in unbuilt spaces, with the direct involvement of communities, institutions, and university researchers.