Getting to know Borgo Mazzini Smart Cohousing

The idea of Borgo Mazzini Smart Cohousing emerged in 2013 from a reflection in front of some relevant phenomena taking place locally, nationally, and, in many cases, also at an international level: the increase in the over-65 population, bringing with it changes and challenges of a social, cultural and economic nature that call for rethinking imaginaries and practices related to ageing, but also to health and illness, consequently demanding a reassessment of the models underlying the structuring of social and health services and their provision; the economic crisis, which has affected both commerce and industry, as well as citizens, reducing their purchasing power and, in the most serious cases, the fulfilling of basic needs; the crisis of the traditional housing market and the depopulation of city centres. In particular, this reflection has lingered on some elements strictly connected to these events and highly relevant for ISRAA as a care provider serving older people: seniors social isolation and loneliness, the sustainment of autonomy and good health maintenance even in old age, the search for safety and care, and the desire, widespread among many over 65, not to have to worry about the bureaucracies related to utilities and home maintenance.

So, what were the imagined responses? First of all, bringing older people back to live in the city centre, closer to services and major socialisation areas in order to counteract isolation and loneliness. Then, to develop senior-friendly living spaces, allowing residents to stay together while maintaining private spaces. Finally, create a context that takes care of its inhabitants, both from the point of view of health and physical safety and in relieving bureaucratic and administrative tasks. These are the cornerstones around which the Borgo Mazzini Smart Cohousing project took shape.

 

Starting in May 2014 a long process of co-design-inspired public consultation with the citizens was initiated in order to gather new opinions, suggestions, and points of view on four key issues for the implementation of a cohousing initiative:

• sociality, inclusion, solidarity, being a community, and community-making
• good ageing, supporting autonomy and self-determination
• economic sustainability and funding lines
• living places, living and social spaces, greenery, safety, and accessibility

Following this phase and after presentation and authorisation by public authorities, a renovation and requalification plan was launched for a series of historic buildings owned by ISRAA located in the Borgo Mazzini area, in Treviso historic centre. The goal was to create welcoming and accessible apartments in line with the main directions of universal design, equipped with basic demotics solutions and environmentally friendly, also identifying common areas dedicated to residents encountering.

Since 2018, residents have begun to enter, according to a public ranking list and new resident entries are still ongoing, along with building restoration and cohousing expansion. In addition to residents, Borgo Mazzini has gradually become populated with activities having the purpose of continuing the reflection on the themes of community and community building, also in the perspective of progressively extending it to the neighbourhood and the nearby Casa Albergo nursing home. Unfortunately, the spread of Covid-19 had a severe impact on the initiatives, suspending or drastically reducing them. Now that things are gradually returning to normal, activities are starting up again with many new ideas and approaches aiming to make older residents the principal agents of change.

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