Inclusive and Participatory District Project: District Café and District Hub
From the study “Verso dei quartieri più sostenibili: la realtà di Molino Nuovo e Pregassona”, an initiative emerged in 2017 that saw the City organize a variety of socialization events in the districts, which continue to this day.
In a constantly transforming urban context, quality of life represents an important criterion for evaluating social sustainability within broader urban development. In recent years, Lugano has faced the significant process of municipal mergers, which, on the one hand, has changed its territorial structure while, on the other, has significantly increased its population. The City is also subject to strong annual population movements, primarily involving new arrivals.
In light of these contextual changes and thanks to a federal financial contribution, in 2016 the Municipal Government assigned an internal mandate to various city departments — Statistica (Statistics Office), Divisione Socialità (Division of Social Affairs), Ufficio quartieri (District Office) — in collaboration with the two District Commissions, to develop a participatory sustainable development project. This project, in its initial pilot phase, involved residents of two of the most populous districts: Molino Nuovo and Pregassona.
In September 2016, an evaluation questionnaire was sent to all households in the two districts (approximately 11,000 copies for a population of over 20,000 residents) to gather not only their needs but also their improvement proposals.
Social isolation and the lack of community spaces, along with traffic, were the most frequently cited issues, while the centrality of the two districts, the accessibility of services, and the functionality of public transport emerged as strengths. Residents also expressed interest in the next phases of the project and, in many cases, offered their availability to participate in meetings and discussions.
From study results to concrete projects
The Progetto Quartieri (District Project), supported by funding from the Cantonal Integration Program (PIC), has since 2017 developed various initiatives based on the survey results, with the goal of involving residents and the associative network.
District Cafés
Based on the survey findings, it became clear that there was a need for a presence in the territory, offering an easily accessible point or person of contact to foster better mutual understanding (among residents and between organizations/associations), share information related to the district (activities, events), and discuss shared concerns.
This need took shape with the opening of three "district cafés," one in Molino Nuovo, one in Pregassona, and one in Breganzona. These are designed as spaces for debate, exchange, and networking, with weekly meetings in each district and free participation. The regularity and frequency of these meetings are intended to facilitate access and participation.
The district cafés, active since October 2017 in Molino Nuovo and Pregassona, and since April 2018 in Breganzona, have seen the active participation of the Commissions of the two districts involved.
Through 2023, meetings continued in Molino Nuovo and Breganzona. Below are details on the meetings currently planned for 2024.
Press Releases
Ripartono gli incontri di Caffè-quartiere e riapre la Casetta di Quartiere
PDF (83 KB) 27 August 2024Tornano le animazioni di quartiere dedicate alle famiglie
PDF (81 KB) 28 August 2024Nell’ambito del Progetto Quartieri della Città di Lugano, verranno riproposti a partire da mercoledì 4 settembre i laboratori creativi per i bambini e i momenti di socializzazione per gli adulti a Cassarate e a Molino Nuovo.
Posters
Urban Co-Design Workshops
With the aim of promoting citizen participation in reflecting on existing spaces within the district, "laboratori di co-progettazione urbana" (urban co-design workshops) were developed in collaboration with an architecture studio specialized in participatory processes (Studio It's). The idea was to engage small groups of residents in the "imaginary" design of small urban spaces in their district.
The first workshops were held in October 2017 with a group of children from the after-school program in the Pregassona district, and the same initiative was proposed at an after-school program in Molino Nuovo in spring 2018.
Last updated: 12 September 2024
The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.
The original version is the page in Italian.