Urban LL Italy

Description

The Italian Living Lab operates in two former industrial cities, Milan and Turin, located in the Lombardy and Piedmont regions, respectively. Lombardy is one of the most urbanised and cemented regions in Europe, with soil consumption averaging 140,000 m2 per day

(5,000 ha per year) being covered by cement and roads. Piedmont, and particularly the Turin metropolitan area, is characterised by extensive post-industrial urban areas, where soil sealing, degradation and legacy contamination pose significant challenges for urban regeneration and

sustainable land management.

Challenges

Milan has seen a progressive increase in urban areas and a corresponding decrease in agricultural soil due to industrialisation, resulting in 38% of its metropolitan area being urbanised and significant issues with surface water management. In Piedmont, Turin has a long

history of urban horticulture, but soil contamination in urban gardens poses a significant challenge. Both regions face severe soil sealing and contamination issues and the need for effective green area management.

Possible Solutions

The LL aims to address these challenges through innovative soil health solutions, fostering urban agriculture, improving soil quality, and promoting sustainable urban green spaces.

“We have several challenges. One of these is the degraded soils because they were old agricultural soils that were mixed with the debris of the Second World War. […] And then we have the problem of soil sealing, like in a lot of other parts of the cities. Another challenge that we have are the ecosystem services, because of course, this park is giving something to the population, but we need to quantify it. So, quantify the services that it gives us.”

Lorenzo Rossi, The University of Milan, LL Lead Italy