e-(co)-ntext [where/what]

The Sadam Sugar Beet factory (just outside Castiglion Fiorentino, Province of Arezzo) [click here for Google Map of site] closed its doors two years ago in accordance with European Union (link) directives shifting sugar production to the New European Union nations in central Europe. The EU has designated the Castiglion Fiorentino site for a major bio-generation plant in accordance with recent European legislation establishing substitute energy sources for reducing greenhouse gases.

The plant closing meant the loss of about 100 permanent positions and about 300 part time positions (coinciding with Fall sugar beet harvest season). The brown-field site, occupying 300 hectares and encompassing office, factory and storage structures, water reservoirs, water treatment ponds, truck depots and dock and transfer areas remains a politically sensitive issue for the community despite promises for a comprehensive remediation program for the site. There is increasing public controversy over the introduction of new pollution sources generated by the bio-generation process. Currently the local municipality is exploring different possibilities for combining a smaller scaled bio-regeneration plant (10 MegaWatts) with diversified uses, including light industry and residential housing.

Each team is to present a synthesis of their individual studies following team brainstorming sessions, with the team’s version of the most up to date and critical proposal for a self-contained off-grid, autonomous socially and economically balanced micro urban environment, in other words, a

“utopian-ideal-eco-city.”