Residential densification of logistics hubs

The planning approach to wholesale districts has traditionally been based on the creation of autonomous places connected to the city by an impressive infrastructure system. The separation of residential functional area from the district generate a huge demand for local transport. In general this is justified by the interference that may be caused by the residential areas on the functionality and logistics of the district. In some cases, however, the attribution to road transport of linkage results in a loss of system effectiveness: for workers, forced to add a few hours daily to their work schedule for commuting; for the operation of the district that, due to the strong local traffic, loses some qualities of accessibility. The technical knowledge available today and the evolution of urban theory and legislation opens up various opportunities for the concept of the new industrial districts with the concrete possibility to integrate efficiently the residential functions . The challenge, however , remains for the existing district in which the subsequent integration of the residential function requires an innovative approach to urban design , multi-level , multi-dimensional and multi-scalar . This is the issue addressed in a study conducted at the Department of Architecture of the Naples University Federico II aimed to explore new opportunities for residential densification of the largest logistics hub in southern Italy. Ultimately the work comes to the definition of some models, potentially applicable in such cases, that are able to achieve the objective without interfering with the operation of the district and with the buildings existing therein. A further advantage achieved is a substantial reduction of the ecological impact of the district due to the reduction of traffic and the synergies resulting from the coexistence of the two functions