Several signs indicate a turnout in what regards the attractiveness of peri-urban housing. The fate of these subdivision plans seems to grow darker the more distant they are from the big centres. It is thus fundamental to analyse different ways of densifying these pavilion areas; if they reach a sufficient critical size, they can escape their mono-functional nature and possibly include the installation of further services and activities.

The crucial issue with densification is that of neighbourly relations. We will first consider the Muslim-Arab urban tradition, based upon an agreement between neighbours and the right of acquisition by prescription (‘usucapion’). Secondly, from an architectural perspective, we will point out particularly remarkable contemporary solutions.

Conference speaker

Francesco Della Casa is a cantonal architect in Geneva and holds a diploma from the École supérieure d’art visuel de Genève; he also holds a master degree from the EPFL. Editor-in-chief of TRACES magazine for 12 years, curator of Lausanne Jardins in 2004 and 2009, he has acted since 2011 as member of the editorial committee of the magazine l’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui and of the attribution committee of the Prix Wakker.

Conference