An Inclusive Project for Plaza Marron: survey, analysis and solutions for all

This e-book contains the results of a research and applied teaching experience developed together by the Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture of the University of Pavia and the Escuela de Arquitectura, Ingeniería y Diseño of the Universidad Europea de Madrid. Professors Alessandro Greco (Pavia) and Enrique Martinez Sierra (Madrid) organize an exhibition and this “catalogue” to synthetize the first two years of collaboration focused on conservation and valorisation of the historical architectural heritage, through the solutions for the accessibility and usability for all. The book enlightens the survey and project activities on the Plaza Marrón of Toledo, in Spain, carried out between October 2016 and February 2017; the professors lead a working group of 4 professionals (2 Italian and 2 Spanish) and 7 students of the Master Degree Course in Building-Engineering and Architecture of the University of Pavia. The survey was developed in October 2016, with innovative technologies available by the Universidad Europea de Madrid (that also hosted the Italian delegation for the survey period); this activity was focused on the morphology and geometry of Plaza Marrón and it was completed by a visit to Toledo, aimed at a knowledge of its historical downtown. It is known that a project on existing heritage has to be accompanied by an awareness of the city and the lifestyle of the people who live there every day. After this step, a design was developed towards the definition of a more accessible and inclusive urban space, which transforms an urban area of ordinary passageway in a true "square"; Plaza Marrón becomes an opportunity to meet and rest, an inclusive place thought with solutions for all. The design was developed as a group activity by the involved students, who worked first in subgroups focused on the needs of different users (people with mobility impairments, people with sensorial impairments and people with medium-light intellective difficulties) and then they synthesized the solutions into a single project. A design approach based on the indications of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the culture of sharing knowledge and innovation, to find solutions to improve the environment in which the contemporary society lives and works. The project represents both a point of arrival and a starting point. For the students (whose activity has been recognized as part of the final Thesis Workshop with a 2 ECTS) it represents a deepening of the themes of inclusive design at the urban scale, an issue of great interest especially in Italy. For the professors and the professionals it is the demonstration that it is possible to develop a joint research on the theme of conservation and enhancement of heritage, which is the starting point towards increasingly complex and structured activities, aimed at capturing national and international funds in the medium term.