Use and function reallocation of living space in the Design for All approach. The contribution of ecosystem services at the urban scale

Nowadays, city texture comes out to be involved in deep and no ending morpho-functional evolution processes related to new anthropic needs, mixed contexts and real, potential and/or random users that ask for new efficient design solutions. As a consequence, non-optimal space planning causes a substantial reduction of urban living quality of life, inclusion and mobility problems, relational complexity, low space resources access and use connected with eco-system services network break. Design for all represents an interesting plan tool able to match people connections’ needs to urban environmental quality improvement aims. This clue is supported by the experience of the first case study, that considers universal design’s planning positive effects for resident people in the Italian city of Trieste, specially related to efficient and effective urban public space perception and services’ use for aged and disabled people. This operative approach can be used to check out and assess the ecosystem services network part role, as a relevant element of widespread and sustainable urban system quality of life enhancing. At the same way, the varying, and above all the mixed structure of the city of Trieste becomes the necessary elements for re-think and plan the urban texture with new functions using open space tool, as highlighted in the second case study described in the paper.