ITINERARTE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON RESILIENT HERITAGE

VENEZIA | a resilient city on water

2022 | Pretoria, South Africa

13 may 2022 | FREE WEBINAR

in partnership with

why Venice?

On the occasion of the celebration of the 1600th anniversary of the mythical foundation of Venice, Itinerarte RLT – Centro Studi, in partnership with the Italian Cultural Institute of Pretoria, is promoting a day dedicated to the themes of safeguarding the ecosystem and the demographic and urban heritage of Venice.

The city is an extraordinary reference indicator for the analysis of global climate changes that impact the delicate urban environment of a city built on water; of the effects generated by rising tides which have repercussions on the conservation of the architectural and artistic heritage, on the survival of human functions and dynamics.

Venice represents the frontier of the planetary climate collapse, and it is also a starting point for reconsidering and modulating actions aimed at sustainability and resilience.

The intention to make Venice the ‘world capital of sustainability’ must be read in relation to the current situation: depopulation, the impoverishment of residential policies, the congestion generated by over-tourism, all problems not adequately addressed which, in the post-pandemic era, continue to undermine the fragile continuity of this city.

Decades of scientific analysis and studies have led to a clear identification of the problems relating to this transition without, however, effectively inducing the search for definitive solutions: this has in any case entailed cutting-edge choices, both in terms of environmental protection technologies and as regards the development of initiatives aimed at safeguarding and conserving the artistic and cultural heritage.

However, there is no long-term political vision capable of determining the ‘success’ of this city which is historically a ‘Central place’, delivering it to the future not only as ‘urbs’ – as an urban, architectural, infrastructural and, more generally, heritage – but also because it is ‘civitas’ as a community of citizens and actors that determine the vitality of the centre. In this sense, reflection today also moves towards the design of good regeneration practices that want to lead to the overcoming concept of the city-museum, celebrating its historical identity and contemporary civic determination.

the Project

A RESILIENT CITY ON WATER, Venice’s 1600th Anniversary, is a project of meetings and seminars online and in the presence of Itinerarte RLT – Centro Studi by Domenico Salamino, with the participation of Claudia Polese (Wits University, School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering), Luigi Robuschi (Wits University, School of Literature, Language and Media), Laura Fregolent (IUAV – University of Architecture of Venice), Elena Zambardi (MOSE – Consorzio Venezia Nuova).

A partnership

Itinerarte RLT – Study Center and Italian Institute of Culture – Embassy of Italy in Pretoria

in collaboration with

Programme

13 may 2022 | free webinar

The webinar will take place online (ZOOM platform) on the 13th of May 2022 at 09:00 am GMT+1 & SAST

vent Moderator: Dr Federica Gullino
Q&A and Interactive Sessions Moderators: Prof. Claudia Polese & Ms Taahirah Mangera

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09:00-09:15

Formal Opening
HE Paolo Cuculi, Ambassador of Italy to South Africa, Dr Domenico Salamino, Head of Itinerarte RLT and Project Curator, Prof. Robert Reid, Head of the School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering

09:15-09:45

The 1600 Years of Venice: Origins and Myth of the “Serenissima”
Prof. Luigi Robuschi (Wits)
09:45-09:55 Q&A Session

09:55-10:40

Resilient Venice
Prof. Laura Fregolent (IUAV)
10:40-10:50 Q&A Session

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10:50-11:05

Comfort Break

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11:05-12:05

The MOSE SYSTEM: an Integrated Plan of Interventions for the Protection of Venice and its Lagoon
Dr Elena Zambardi (Consorzio Venezia Nuova) and Prof. Laura Fregolent (IUAV)
12:05-12:15 Q&A Session