A
project to make Europe the global leader in innovation and implementation of
nature-based solutions. This is the aim of "Connecting Nature", a
five-year project financed with 12 million euros by the European Commission's
Horizon 2020 action program for innovation. It activates 31 project partners
from industry, local authorities, local communities, NGOs and research in 16
European countries, together with Brazil, China, Korea and the Caucasus
(Georgia and Armenia). Thanks to the project, 11 European cities - including
the Metropolitan City of Bologna - will invest in the large-scale
implementation of "nature-based solutions", they will measure the
impact of this approach and will share their experience at European and
international level.
The
project comes from the strong growth in interest and investments at EU level on
intelligent solutions "designed" to bring a greater presence of
natural elements in urban areas. These innovative solutions contribute to
improve city environments and they have important impact on sustainable job
creation, as well as improving citizens' health and well-being.
"Connecting
Nature", launched in 2017, will end in May 2022 and it intends to create a
community made of cities that promote peer-learning and capacity building among
the cities that are most experienced in providing nature-based large-scale
solutions. Thus, cities become multipliers of knowledge and skills. At the same
time, the project partners develop the policies and practices needed to
increase the resilience, innovation and urban governance by using nature-based
solutions.
"Connecting
nature" takes up the complex challenges of cities development and develops
and tests approaches, by using multidisciplinary methods with collaboratively
designed solutions in order to create resistant, greener and healthier cities.
An artistic-natural installation at
the debut of the project in Bologna
An
interesting project realized in Bologna and mentioned in the website of
Connecting Nature: "Pollution 2018 - RefleAction". It is an artistic
and spectacular installation realized in late September in the city centre.
About forty oaks enriched the splendid architectural profile of Piazza Santo
Stefano, on the occasion of the Mostra Cersaie (International Exhibition of
ceramic tiles and bathroom furnishings) and the Bologna Design Week, creating a
picturesque backdrop for theatrical and musical performances. The installation
was designed by architect Mario Cucinella and it recalls the performance
"Pollution, per una nuova estetica dell’inquinamento", which in 1972
led a group of 25 artists to redesign one of the most beautiful squares in
Bologna.
"Pollution 2018 - RefleAction" arose
from the collaboration between Iris Ceramica Group, Cucinella’s School of
Sustainability and Laboratorio delle Idee. It proposed a new reconciliation
between people and nature, intertwining art, architecture and design. The
working group has traced a path that, starting with the complaint that characterized
the first edition, has been developed to achieve new tools that allow a
responsible, shared and participatory use of urban space, where to rebuild the
bond between people and nature.