Governing Urban Metabolism Spring Workshop at UNINA
From April 7 to 11, Anna Attademo and Marina Rigillo from the Department of Architecture, DiARC at Università Federico II of Naples (UNINA) hosted the second edition of the “Governing Urban Metabolism” Spring Workshop.
The event brought together students from the Bachelor Degree programme in Sustainable Development and Territorial Networks at UNINA, and participants from Aurora partner universities, including the Universität Innsbruck, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the University of Iceland, and Palacký University Olomouc.
Facilitators and participants of the Governing Urban Metabolism spring workshop at Università Federico II of Naples
Held in-person at the Department of Architecture (DiARC) at UNINA, the workshop was preceded by two online preparatory sessions. The overarching aim was to equip students with the skills needed to turn waste management challenges into opportunities for urban regeneration. The programme focused on designing circular supply chains that enhance and preserve the value of spatial and material resources, aligning with strategies outlined by the European Union.
Addressing Urban Challenges Through Sustainable Solutions
Throughout the week, students co-designed and tested circular solutions for the neighborhood of San Giovanni a Teduccio, a densely populated district on the eastern edge of Naples. During a dedicated field trip, they explored the area and engaged with local stakeholders and community initiatives such as the NEST Theatre and San Carlo Officine.


In-person classroom sessions and field trips during the Governing Urban Metabolism spring workshop
The recently inaugurated Transitional Lab Research Centre (DiARC, UNINA) served as the main venue for the five-day workshop. The final session took place at Palazzo Gravina in the form of a public jury, where local stakeholders and representatives from ASIA Spa, the Neapolitan waste management company, evaluated the students’ work, presented as both digital and printed fanzines.
The workshop concluded with a closing aperitif in the stunning cloister of Palazzo Gravina, offered by the Lazzarelle Cooperative, providing a warm farewell to the international participants by their Neapolitan peers and researchers.