STRATEGIES FOR ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE RECOVERY

With reference to the Dublin descriptors:

1) Knowledge and understanding - of the processes, actors and different implementation and operational methods related to the recovery of architectural heritage

2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding - to the reading of case studies related to the definition, management and implementation of architectural heritage recovery processes at different scales of programming, planning and design

3) Autonomy of judgment - in critically and autonomously evaluating the methods and outcomes of architectural heritage recovery processes by adapting knowledge and skills to different contexts and intervention models.

4) Communication skills - in knowing how to communicate clearly and appropriately, also with the support of ICT tools, interpretative readings and development proposals related to recovery processes inherent to architectural heritage.

5) Learning skills - also studying autonomously and self-managed to analyze, evaluate and interpret information related to the architectural heritage recovery processes in an objective way, also generating new ideas and innovative solutions

The theoretical lessons and expert seminars, in which the themes of the processes, actors and methods of recovery and maintenance of the architectural heritage will be addressed also through the in-depth analysis of specific case studies, will alternate with a year's work consisting of two exercises that will also be evaluated as ongoing tests.

In particular, an exercise structured in two parts will allow students to simulate involvement in a process of recovery and enhancement of the architectural heritage. The first part of the exercise will consist of the critical and motivated presentation of an architectural artifact or a public space to be recovered for the purposes of use and enhancement consistent with the themes of art and culture; the second part will instead consist of the presentation of the recovery and reuse program for its enhancement of the identified case. The papers will be presented in the classroom (for attending students) or during the exam (for non-attending students).

The Architectural Recovery is a central theme in the disciplines of Architectural Technology and Environmental Design, which has outlined a theoretical, methodological and normative corpus that today constitutes a cultural baggage necessary to deal with interventions that involve the existing architectural heritage. Interventions that move between conservative, transformative or even regenerative actions. It is a process that requires the development of a design vision that, overcoming the apparent conceptual aporia between conservation and transformation, is aimed at recovering memory, maintaining and enhancing historical identity and building the cultural heritage that will be left as a legacy to future generations.

The historical transition from the concept of restoration to that of recovery is significant: while restoration starts from an attitude aimed only at cultural values, with a view to absolute conservation, in recovery the gaze is turned towards the existing and its conservation, but with greater attention to its transformative vocations and the needs of society, so as to counteract the phenomena of abandonment, obsolescence and degradation.

Recovery requires a trans-scale vision, territory/urban system/building, where the urban context imposes reflections on strategic choices and technical and design solutions. The recovery project requires referring actions not only to parameters relating to the uniqueness of the asset, but also to integrate new evolutionary scenarios to the pre-existing, through: performance control, potential integrability, compatibility for reuse, durability over time. In the design process, choices revolve around a preparatory phase of knowledge of the building, which is comparable to an information matrix resulting from the juxtaposition of historical, technical, economic, regulatory, social, political and cultural information.

A. Methods and strategies for intervention on existing assets. (2 CFU)

Paolo Gasparoli, Cinzia Talamo, Manutenzione e Recupero. Criteri, metodi e strategie per l’intervento sul costruito, Alinea, Firenze, 2006.(pp. 19-38 ; 65-71 ; 75-82 ; 103-125 ; 129-140 ; 153-178 ; 183-190 ; 211-212 ; 237-248).

B. Theories and History of Building Recovery (2 CFU)

AA.VV. Increasing the value of public building assets. TECHNE Journal of Technology for Architecture and Environment n. 3 – 2013. (pp. 122-299)

Open access on-line:

https://oaj.fupress.net/index.php/techne/issue/view/344/35

C. Monographic essay (2 CFU)

Antonio Leonardi e Claudia Cantale (a cura di), La gentilezza e la rabbia. 105 lettere di Giancarlo De Carlo sul recupero del Monastero di San Nicolò l’Arena a Catania, Editoriale Agorà, Catania, 2017. (pp. 1- 199)

Please remember that in compliance with art 171 L22.04.1941, n. 633 and its amendments, it is illegal to copy entire books or journals, only 15% of their content can be copied.

For further information on sanctions and regulations concerning photocopying please refer to the regulations on copyright (Linee Guida sulla Gestione dei Diritti d’Autore) provided by AIDRO - Associazione Italiana per i Diritti di Riproduzione delle opere dell’ingegno (the Italian Association on Copyright).