Carbon Provisions - small scale interventions for urban change

Research Project
2023  

Writings from Protopia: The transformation of European cities in recent years, driven by EU incentives for urban climate welfare policies, has been nothing short of remarkable. A cursory glance at the evolving Dutch landscape reveals a gamut of eco-centric interventions: air filters, water filters, bee refuges, carbon sinks, food oases, and myriad other structures that cater not just to the environment, but also to urban communities and individual wellbeing.

Historically, while European architects grappled with diminishing provisions, many were inadvertently primed for the shift when carbon trading emerged. With only minor adjustments to their narratives, architectural designs centered on creating public spaces could be recast as carbon sinks—contributing both to public welfare and environmental health.

This intersection of economic incentives and sustainable design is evident in the garden trees spontaneously constructed in various Italian cities. Initially emerging as protests against the urban "garden desert," these installations, championed by visionary architects, symbolically repurpose vacant parking lots as carbon sinks. Such interventions underscore the immense potential of marrying sustainability with urban design to forge a brighter, greener future.