<strong>La</strong> <strong>définition</strong> d’une <strong>stratégie</strong> d’intervention. <strong>La</strong> definición de una estrategia de intervención Defining a strategy for intervention 1 Tommasso Alibrandi et Piergiorgio Ferri (1981) 2 Législation italienne : Décret législatif du 29 octobre 1999 (N°490) texte unique des dispositions législatives en matière des biens culturels et environnementaux. ; Art 49 3 Loi d31 décembre 1913 sur la protection des monuments historiques modifiée et complétée par la loi du 25 février 1943 4 Loi 04-98 du 15 juin 1998 sur la protection du patrimoine culturel, article 17. 138
<strong>La</strong> <strong>définition</strong> d’une <strong>stratégie</strong> d’intervention. <strong>La</strong> definición de una estrategia de intervención Defining a strategy for intervention A living heritage approach to the management of traditional architecture Francesca De Filippi Architect, Specialization in ; postgraduation in ; Phd in Conservation and Restoration. Director of the , Architecture and at the Politecnico di Torino. Current activity – research, teaching and projects – mainly connected to traditional architecture issues. Dirección postal: Centro di Ricerca e Documentazione in Tecnología, Architettura e Città nei Pvs; Dipartimento Casa-città – Politecnico di Torino, Viale Mattioli 39 - 10125 Torino (Italia) Dirección de correo electrónico: francesca.defilippi@polito.it Teléfono: +39 011 5646429 +39 011 090 8673 Traditional architecture is an essential component of cultural heritage in the Mediterranean Basin, repository of a tradition of integration of different cultures: urban centres are composed for a little part by monuments, mainly by “common architecture” that, if considered not by single structures but as a whole, constitutes a vibrant urban form, expression of peculiar cultures and ways of life. To preserve vernacular built heritage means to protect a sense of identity, although in a post global era defining “identity” becomes increasingly complex; certainly to take care of the physical form and fabric of buildings, structures and spaces, always considering the ways in which they are used and understood, and the intangible associations which attach to them. Traditional architecture and “living” environments Traditional architecture is often related to urban decay, socio-economic degradation and poor living conditions, housing disadvantaged population and it presents endangered situations from the point of view of structures and services, but also for social security and economic conditions, with evident consequences on quality of life. Therefore, if the objectives of preservation and valorisation are achieved, healthiness, psychological well-being of inhabitants. Experience has shown that these are the assumptions for social and economic development. Preserving vernacular built heritage means to deal with “living” environments, not merely built-up sites: sustainability is about managing the balance between its preservation and use, so that as much as possible of its significance is passed on to future generations. At the same time it’s necessary to promote awareness of it as a cultural, social and economic resource identifying contemporary applications of traditional materials and techniques and setting up new technological and management systems. This will limit the tendency to abandon old settlements to build new on western planning models and new materials, breaking down with traditional uses and not adaptable to the climate. A “living heritage” approach implies to search for traditional forms of site management, to increase people’s participation in heritage decisionmaking; to use conservation as an instrument of poverty alleviation and social inclusion; considering past policies at state-owned sites; to favour approaches based on dynamic processes of change. The ability of governing the process needs a recognized and legitimated local political and technique organization to animate, to plan, to accompany, to appraise, to communicate the future territorial dynamics: it means the growth of local technical competences to help local autonomy versus central authority and transparent processes of development in the relationship among institutions and rulergoverned. In many western countries top-down approaches have almost been expressed in the form of a commitment by governments (usually a single management authority) in taking care of the heritage protection and conservation, often translated in control procedures or in funding mechanism to manage it. Too many refurbishment initiatives have given little satisfactory results. We’re referring to the two major tendencies at the base of those results: the strongly historicist perspective, that has produced a repetition of materials and techniques of the past, with consequent “museumification” of cityscape; and the anti-historic trend proposing a falsely exotic character as neo-Moorish architecture, which is widespread in some sites around Mediterranean Sea. Qualified recovery interventions have been carried out (such as those financed by the UNESCO and/or foreign donors) – but they suffer from an express decay which often begins as soon as the experts leave the country. Already in 1987, in the the Brutland Report, the United Nation Commission of Environment and Development encouraged bottom up management approaches for cultural heritage resources. In Agenda 21 action plan, during Rio World Congress on Sustainable Development, emerged that sustainability for human, cultural and social resources was best achieved when people were affected by the decision. The World Heritage System, first oriented to protect heritage mostly by legal and regulatory measures, now - while it’s still recommending its members to adopt adequate top-down legal systems - it’s promoting bottom up approaches, encouraging community participation in the management and protection of heritage. Community participation and sustainability Community participation is necessary for obtaining appropriate solutions. The agreement between project solutions and user’s requirements may avoid wastes in resources with not asked performances. That is particularly important in situations with strong budget constraint. Building on existing local capabilities -paying special attention to strategies that engage families, communities and local authorities in problem analysis and search for solutions- is essential in terms of sustainability. The community knows the area and their problems better than practitioners as outsiders will ever know. Getting their input and having them help decide the nature of a project will develop a sense of ‘ownership’ and increase the project’s chances for success. 139
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