Two people were killed and 13 injured after a passageway collapsed in the Le Vele di Scampia complex in Naples. Following the collapse, several hundred residents were evacuated, and adjacent areas were sealed off by firefighters.
Constructed in the 1960s and 1970s, the Le Vele di Scampia housing project was envisioned as a model of people-centered urban development for Naples. The original design featured seven high-rise buildings interconnected with communal spaces, including passageways like the one that collapsed, and accessible public services, with good public transport links to the city center.
However, cost-cutting measures and budget misappropriation by private contractors marked the construction process from the beginning. Architects involved in the project recall that social spaces were eliminated, green areas were never developed, and no public transport links were established, in the pursuit of saving money. Consequently, the final result was a far cry from the envisioned project.
Le Vele di Scampia has since suffered from decades of underfunding and mismanagement, remaining isolated from the rest of Naples. Four of the original seven buildings have been demolished by 2020, and two more are slated for demolition, with guarantees to provide alternative lodgings given to the Comitato Vele di Scampia, a collective that represents the tenants of the housing project. The goal behind these demolitions, according to the authorities, is to develop new, more adequate housing solutions for the residents.
The Vela Celeste (Blue Vela), where the passageway collapsed during the night of July 22-23, is the only building intended to remain standing, renovated as a testament to the original vision and a hub for educational and cultural institutions. However, the recent tragedy underscores the need for additional funds to renovate the structure and improve housing plans in Italy. “Last night’s tragedy highlights the lack of adequate social housing measures in 2024, while billions continue to be allocated to developers,” stated Potere al Popolo in response to the event.
