On 25 June, the opening of the Demonstration Space at the “Matteo Ricci” Comprehensive Institute, in Municipio IX. A pilot project based on Nature-based Solutions, coordinated by ANCI Lazio and co-financed by the European Interreg Euro-MED programme.
An open-air urban laboratory for experimenting with and disseminating concrete solutions against extreme heat, for sustainable water management, and for cities to adapt to climate change. This is the URWAN Demonstration Space, which will be inaugurated on 25 June in Rome, at the “Matteo Ricci” Comprehensive Institute on Via Cina 4, within the territory of Municipality IX.
The URWAN projectUrban Regenerative Water Avant-garde Nature-based Solutionsis coordinated by ANCI Lazio, which acts as the institutional partner and territorial liaison, and is co-financed by the Interreg Euro-MED programme, within the framework of European initiatives dedicated to the climate resilience and green transition of Mediterranean cities. The IX Municipality of Rome Capital participates as an associated partner, while the demonstration space is created with the full collaboration of the “Matteo Ricci” Comprehensive Institute, which hosts the initiative and contributes to the educational and demonstration activities.
Within the URWAN space, urban regeneration, green and blue infrastructure, bio-retention systems, rainwater and greywater recovery and reuse, soil de-sealing, and multifunctional green areas coexist within a unified design. These are Nature-based Solutions: interventions that work with natural processes to lower temperatures, retain and reuse water, and restore ecological value to the urban fabric.
Conceived as an open-air laboratory, the project aims to support public administrations, technicians, and citizens in understanding and applying innovative solutions for urban climate resilience, while simultaneously offering a replicable model for urban regeneration.
At the inauguration, there will be Svetlana Celli, President of the Capitoline Assembly; Titti Di Salvo, President of Municipio IX of Rome Capital; and Riccardo Varone, Vice-President of ANCI Lazio. The importance of developing replicable urban regeneration models will be highlighted during the event, capable of concretely responding to the challenges posed by climate change, with particular attention to rising temperatures and water resource management in urban areas.
The initiative also has strong educational value: placing the space within a comprehensive institute means entrusting students and teachers with an’Outdoor classroom where to closely observe the workings of greenery and the water cycle, transforming everyday experiences into opportunities for environmental education. It is from here – from the involvement of new generations and the community living in the neighbourhood – that URWAN aims to foster a widespread culture of sustainability.
