Vele di Scampia, Brutalist housing complex in Scampia, Naples, Italy
Vele di Scampia is a group of seven triangular residential towers in the northern part of Naples, each rising between twelve and fourteen stories and linked by open corridors. The concrete structures were designed for vertical living and were meant to house thousands of residents, though most stand empty today.
The complex was built between 1962 and 1975 following plans by architect Francesco Di Salvo as part of a public housing program for Naples' growing population. In 2020 the Italian government started a demolition plan to remove most of the buildings and relocate remaining residents.
The name Vele means sails and refers to the triangular shape of the blocks, which now stand mostly empty with only a few remaining residents. The television series Gomorrah filmed many scenes here and brought international attention to this corner of Naples and its social reality.
The Scampia neighborhood lies about 10 km (6 miles) north of central Naples and is accessible by metro line 1. The complex itself can be viewed from the outside, though entering the buildings is not advised and may be unsafe.
The original design allowed residents to reach their apartments without touching ground level, as elevators and walkways led directly to upper floors. This system was meant to separate pedestrians from car traffic and create a city in the sky.
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