USEAct Thematic Network I Urban sustainable environmental actions

USEAct CASE STUDIES Catalogue

THE PLAN OF 100 STATION: improvement of transport infrastructures

and opportunity of regeneration with modern architecture and public

spaces

USEACT CASE STUDY

City Council of Naples (Italy)

USEACT “Theme”

1. Planning tools and planning governance for Urban Growth

Management (UGM) and reusing urban areas

USEACT Subtheme

1.5 Transportation and planning for Urban growth

Management

Summary abstract

An interesting aspect of the policy of Naples is the link between urban interventions, land use

management and plans for the management of the transportation network. The re-organization of the

infrastructural system is improving train and metro connection has been managed since 1997 (Local

Transport Plan), to better connect the suburbs to the city centre and to positively influence the urban

environment, especially close to the newly restored metro-stations (Piano 100 stazioni, 2003). The

reduction of car traffic, with the definition of a restricted traffic large area corresponding to the areas of

the historical city centre and a part of the waterfront, is complementary to increase the transport

network and is one of the key actions in view of the redevelopment of a wide area of the city centre.

Setting and Key

questions/Challenges

Integration of transport planning policy as key question for Urban Growth

Management. In Naples, the process of preparation of the transport and

mobility planning instruments is carried out along with that of town planning.

This has brought together strategies and goals which are not always found in

the planning documents of different sectors. In particular, among the main

goals for urban development are: the reduction of traffic congestion; the

contextual improvement of urban quality through redevelopment; spaces for

different kind of activities which are directly linked to the public transport

network. One strategy is the desire for town and transport planning solutions

aimed at raising the levels of accessibility to the various areas of territory

through an integrated transport network which pivots around railways. This

runs in common with the policies defined by the regional government

instruments which are made available by the Naples Council Administration.

These include the 1997 Council transport Project, the Primary Infrastructure

Net Plan and the General Masterplan which was developed during the period

1004-2004.

The renovation and extension of the underground network and its station has

been of particular importance. For Naples, a city renowned for its traffic

congestion, the opportunity to increase the role of fast underground public

transport is essential. Before the Hundred Station Project, the Naples

underground network numbered a total of 57 stations, while the network

development project foresees 114 stations, of which a large number will be

finished by 2015. The lines involved in the project will function as crossover

links for the main stops in the historic city centre. Line 1 will also connect to the

Capodichino Airport and Line 6 to the centre of the area facing the sea in the

direction of Posillipo. Montesanto station has also been involved, which is the

arrival point for the centre of Naples for the “Circumflegrea” regional rail

network and the cable railway.

As has already been mentioned, the aims of the “100 stations project” linked to

the development of the underground rail network are many. However, the aim

of using the stations as opportunities of redevelopment and valorisation of

urban areas which are presently run down is certainly one of the most

important. To this end, the planning of the stations has been assigned to a

series of internationally prestigious architects (Gae Aulenti, Mario Botta,

Massimiliano Fuksas, Janis Kounellis, Dominique Perrault, Richard Rogers,

Álvaro Siza to cite but a few). This has been to focus on new and high quality

work which is internationally recognisable in the problematic but extraordinary

context of Naples.

The “stations” projects are not limited to the buildings and the interiors of the

stations, even if there are the works of contemporary art in the existing and

new stations (the “Art Station”). The projects have often extended to an

extensive urban redevelopment of the surrounding areas. It is thus the key tool

of a “urban point renew” strategy and at the same time a tourist and cultural

valorisation of many neglected sites. In some cases, the projects are located in

non-historic areas of the city. This has allowed not only a physical, but also a

cultural redevelopment (potentially of tourist interest) in recently built (and

often problematic) areas. This was to maximise the effects not only in terms of

transport but also in urban, and thus, economic and social.

An example of this valorisation/Reuse policy is linked to the archaeological

heritage found during digging, some of which is of upmost importance. These

artefacts were “included” in the stations project (the “Archaeology Station”,

located mostly in the area close to the central area).

Procedures and actions

New Architecture and renewal of public spaces, as strategies for Urban

Regeneration. In Naples experience a lot of attention is paid to the realization

of projects characterized by high quality standards both from the technical

point of view (the underground of Naples is one of the most recent and is being

carried out to the highest design standards) that urban-architectural.

From the earliest planning stages are involved as well as transport experts,

including planners and architects of international renown with the dual aim of

maximizing the benefits in terms of urban planning and construction of the

infrastructure as an opportunity to take advantage of deep architectural and

urban regeneration of the streets, public spaces, access routes to the

infrastructure.

The redevelopment or construction of each station becomes an opportunity for

the creation of a true work of art as well as an opportunity to intervene on the

quality of the infrastructure.

One of the main areas of involvement to strengthen the underground system

was the historic city centre which is the main area of the urban structure and

the platform for the merging of the lines. In this area there are 26 of the 144

stations: 13 have already been completed, 2 will be completed by 2015, 4 are

in the planning stages and 4 more are foreseen. The interventions also involve

other areas of the city: not only the historical and monumental city (ex.

Toledo/Montecalvario, via Duomo, Piazza Municipio), but also peripheral areas

degraded (ex. Centro Direzionale, Piscinola, Scampia).

Lessons learned and

utility

The Hundred Station Project: art, architecture and town planning to renew

the districts. In a underground/subway development plan, the station

infrastructure is a fundamental pivot. With the Hundred Station Project Naples

Council has confronted the challenge of strengthening the whole rail transport

network of the whole Naples metropolitan area: railway, cable railway,

Circumflegrea Regional rail network, Circumvesuviana rail network and finally

the underground network. The opportunity has been taken to link to this

engineering project of the “stations” also the redevelopment of exterior public

spaces and the areas around the station. More generally it has also included

the introduction to the city of architectural and artistic works of high quality, to

the benefit of both the citizen and the tourist. In this way sensitising the citizen

to use urban space in a respectful way. This has made Naples a globally

appreciated “model” for different cities all over the world.

Awards:

• Campania Region was awarded in London for the "Most Innovative

Approach to Station Development" prize, given to the undergroung

network of naples and Campania Region, in the frame work of "Metros

2009"

• LEAF Awards 2013 (announced the 20th September in London) for the best

Public Building of the Year Transport – Infrastructure. The Emirates Glass

LEAF Awards honour the architects designing the buildings and solutions

that are setting the benchmark for the international architectural

community.

One of the critical aspects is certainly the difficulty incurred during the project

execution, due to unforeseen events (archaeological finds, in particular) that

have predicted a longer time for the realization. The city has undergone a

modification of urban mobility, due to the work in progress, which has had to

adapt to new sites, in key areas of the city.

In some cases, the introduction of large areas of restricted traffic zones has

solved this problem by reducing road traffic, but the transaction has been

many controversies by the citizens, resulting in a succession of protests against

the Limited traffic zones.

Bibliographic and

further sources

a) Bibliographic sources :

City Council of Naples, Infrastructure Department

web-sites:

www.comune.napoli.it; www.metro.na.it

http://www.archilovers.com/p87578/Toledo-metro-station-Napoli

b) Contacts/interviews

Gaetano Mollura

Role in the USEAct Project: Project coordinator/Lead Partner

gaetano.mollura@comune.napoli.it

tel. /mob. : +39 081 7958932 - +39 3395677396

Enclosed Pictures

Garibaldi

Miano

Cilea

Nicolardi

Campi flegrei

Stadera

Cinthia

Giochi del

Aeroporto

Tribunale

Sirena

1994 45 stations

2011 61 stations

The Council transports project and the 100 stations project

Garibald

Piscinol

Vanvitell

Montesant

Campi

Ponticell

Pianur

Bagnol

Poggioreal

The transports system in 2002