New Challenges for Historic Gardens’ Restoration: A Holistic Approach for the Royal Park of Moncalieri Castle (Turin Metropolitan Area, Italy)

Paola Gullino,Walter Gaino,Enrico Pomatto,Marco Devecchi,Federica Larcher

doi:10.3390/su122310067

Paola Gullino, Walter Gaino + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310067

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Journal: Sustainability	Publication Date: Dec 2, 2020
Citations: 10	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Turin, Cereal Research Centre

Abstract

The paper illustrates a holistic approach for restoring historic gardens in urbanized contexts, from the historic analysis, to the knowledge of the present values, to the proposal of guidelines for restoration and future sustainable management. The Royal Park of Moncalieri Castle (Turin metropolitan area, north-west Italy) was used as a case study. The evaluation of the current structure, analysis of the botanical component and the recognition of historical permanences were performed. Following the criteria of specific interest (forestry, botanical and compositional) and historical importance, invasive species and specific critical issue, selected trees were described and mapped. Identifying the historical compositional elements, including a system of preferential paths and botanical species to be safeguarded should be considered the first step for future management planning process. Our results could be of interest both for methodological purposes and for the restoration of historical gardens’ planning and management. During the restoration process, different critical issues exist. In this context, combining historical and compositional values with today’s needs and problems is a scientific challenge that involve all the community. Historic parks and gardens must be considered as patches of the urban green infrastructure, able to provide a wide set of ecosystem services. Promoting the return of historic parks to the public fruition is of primary importance for the citizen well-being.

Highlights

We have reported in the model, as an example, the botanical sheet relating to Tilia cordata Miller (Figure 3)
In the context of Royal Residences, this historical evolution is represented by the Royal Park of Moncalieri Castle because of the coexisting three different green spaces, the rose garden the formal garden and the landscape park
Analysing and comparing the current vegetation with the exotic botanical species, overall trees, we showed that in the Royal Park of Moncalieri Castle, only few of the exotic plants (Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Platanus hybrida Brot.) introduced in that period in Piedmont still exist

Summary

Introduction

The Florence Charter (ICOMOS/IFLA1981) classified historic gardens as “living monuments” with a particular public interest from a cultural point of view, independently from the historic style, the design, the surface and the property (public or private) [1]. For these sites, this document outlines the dynamic qualities of the biotic and abiotic components that contribute to change their original structures and design over time. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) classified (1990) historic gardens as cultural heritage that required specific rules, protection measures and scientific studies. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

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Discussion

Conclusion