FROM PORT TO PORT

Erika Basso

"In Padova man and water have a historical relationship, a complex relationship, a long-held friendship. The water transports, produces energy, refreshes, enchants, isolates, unites." 

"The people traverse, exploit, pollute, purify, admire, contemplate, seek out."

Giulia Pogietta

"The waters of Padova are a silent presence that accompanies the everyday frenzy of its inhabitants. They flow through the city and trace a path, almost as if indicating a route, a direction. Every human trajectory can find guidance in water. Water encapsulates the history and memory of the city of Padova... Water is essential, it is life."

"In Padova, the waterways flow forgotten and ignored by people; perhaps it is because of their cramped appearance, perhaps it is the loss of the centrality they once possessed. People neglect the waters. The waters resist, but they no longer speak... or more simply, they are no longer listened to by people."

Elena Barbiero

"The river forces people to cross it using bridges. More than a city of water, Padova is a city of bridges."

"People influence the life of the river by corralling it into artificial canals and forcing it between houses. They exploit and pollute it while trying to minimize the impact by making the embankments pleasantly usable."

Matteo Vizzì

"Water is no longer the main form of transportation in Padova, and you can't even fish anymore, so it would seem that the waterways have lost their fundamental role in people's lives. But in reality, only the function has changed, not the fact that they play a fundamental role. The waterways have become a convenient, accessible way to escape the city, to enjoy a glimpse of nature where you can walk your dog, go for a jog, take a stroll, ride a bike, or simply get away from the traffic. With their leisurely, sometimes stagnant rhythm, the water allows people to pause and slow down their hurried city lives. At the same time, the waters can negatively affect people's lives, as they also contribute to making the city less livable: they cause fog in winter and high humidity in summer. This mixed role leads to people having conflicting feelings about them."

"And perhaps this is also why people play a dual and contrasting role in the life of the waterways. People are simultaneously responsible for both the maintenance and the deterioration of the waterways. It is only through human activity that Padua can be considered a city of water as the canals are man-made constructions, even pre-existing rivers such as the Brenta have been channeled and managed by humans. But while some make them hospitable places for themselves, nature, animals and plants, others pollute them. By dumping waste they harm the fauna and flora that should thrive thanks to the waters, and by constructing buildings ill-suited they damage the preservation. Perhaps this dual treatment is a reflection of the dual sentiment."

Mariaelena Terrassan

"The waters flow silently beneath the traffic and beside the bustle of people: they wash, nourish, and transport."

"People utilise the waters, and depending on their framing, they either cherish, despise, or pity them – and behave accordingly."

Perla Franco

"The waters play a fundamental role in the lives of people, yet they remain silent and often forgotten. In fact, despite modifying the territory and shaping its forms, they often remain ‘apart,’ separated from the people and their direct use. The waters of Padua cannot be touched, and remain rather a background framing element."

"People are also a fundamental element for these waters: they modify their courses and regulate their flows. People and water are in constant dialogue, creating a landscape made up of contacts, contrasts, and potential."

Alessia Corona

"In the past, the presence of water in Padova was a symbol of disease, often associated with bad smells in the city, and for this reason it was diverted and sent underground into sewers. Today, however, water is increasingly sought after as it is associated with the wellbeing of both individuals and ecosystems, leading to a re-evaluation of the canals that were buried and sealed off."

"I don't think people pay much attention to whether or not there are canals in the city or its surrounding neighborhoods. More information needs to be disseminated on the subject in order to enrich the city with meaning."

Leonardo Cappellazzo

"They provide free space, they are almost like citadels, watchtowers of the life flowing by. Today, they bring a limit to the spread of concrete and therefore provide corners, stretches, spaces, meeting points, recreation. They open up the space."

"People’s lives have a continuous influence on the quality of life in the water, and I see apparent unawareness of the repercussions of human behavior."

Haobing Xue

"Water is like an omnipresent deity in people's lives: there are those who worship and respect it, but also those who offend and destroy it."

"Humanity has given a deeper meaning to the existence of water, but its activities have diverted rivers, reduced the extent of lakes and, above all, polluted waterways."

Giulia Zancanaro

"The waters of Padova offer beauty, recreation, historical memory, and environmental well-being. They are an integral part of the urban landscape and daily life."

"People influence the waters through their care, stewardship and protection, but also through their conduct, which can both protect and damage them."

Caiyun Ma

"In Padova, water bestows a sense of tranquility and movement upon the city. It is a valuable space for walking, relaxing, and observing the landscape, strengthening the bond between people and the urban environment."

"Through their care, use, and proximity to waterways, people make these spaces an integral part of city life. Some of Padua's canals are being revalued, highlighting their cultural and environmental value."

Ze Zhang

"Water plays a vital role in people's lives. Water is the source of life. Human production and all aspects of life are inseparable from water resources. Water in nature can also be used for visual enjoyment and the creation of natural water features."

Kevin Gazzola

"Water is an integral part of everyday life in Padova. We don't necessarily notice it, but it accompanies us in all our activities: when we go shopping, when we go out to eat, when we go to the park or when we go for a walk. It facilitates social interaction and is the only element in the city that is constantly in motion, even when people and the city itself come to a standstill." 

"Through water regulation, people guarantee its presence, quantity, and use. How do we use the embankments? Do we cement them? Do we plant trees? Do we build a mill? Do we navigate them? Do we leave algae or aquatic plants in the riverbeds? Do we create a park around them? Are we the ones who assign a purpose and an entity to the waters?"

Alessandro De Cecchi

"The waters of Padua enrich the urban landscape with evocative views and different ambiences. They accompany everyday life, offering spaces to walk, stop, breathe, and rediscover a connection with the city."

"People profoundly influence the fate of the city's waters: with care, cleanliness, and respect, they can keep them alive and accessible. It is they who decide whether the canals remain an integral part of the landscape or become forgotten spaces, without recognising their function and value."

Bowei Zhang

"Today the canals no longer serve a direct transport function, but many roads and infrastructures in Padova were built directly from the water: the canals were a fundamental basis for the city's mobility. During our last site visit, we saw that the canals still play a role in draining domestic wastewater, and have a significant impact on the daily lives and agricultural activities of the people living in the surrounding area."

"As users of the canals, people perceive how water transforms the environment in which they live. At the same time, however, they must also act as protectors and managers so that the canals can continue to serve the community in the best possible way. When building around canals or using them as functional tools, it is essential to take into account their balance and the need to preserve them."

Andrea Chiericati

"Beyond simple utilitarian reasons, water constitutes an element of primary importance for Padova's identity. However, this importance is measured differently than it might be in the case of coastal cities such as nearby Venice. The waterways that cross the territory of inland Padova are neither a point of arrival nor departure, but rather a suspended and ambivalent place, connected in some way to both the mountains and the sea."

"Regarding the role played by people in the life of the waters, a particular image comes to mind, that of Europa, one of the most important satellites of the planet Jupiter: a world that is superficially frozen but hides an immense ocean beneath it, about which scientists speculate endlessly regarding the possibility of life. Nobody has ever seen this ocean, but we are fairly certain of its existence. Numerous efforts are being made to reach it some day. Water is life itself, as they said in the famous film Interstellar, and if man is constantly searching for water, then perhaps water is constantly searching for man."