94
L. Daglio et al.
3 Development of the Methodological Approach
The research defined two different intertwined paths for the development of the
activities to stimulate the involvement of the local population: on the one hand, the
exploration of the capacity of the existing urban texture to accommodate different
new facilities emerging from the features of the social, economic and geographic context. This testing was applied on some typical selected plots of the historic centres
with different locations and slightly different morphologies. Following the analytical
phase, new possible functions were identified in relation to the potentials relying in
the beauty of the landscape (tourism and sport facilities), in the excellence of the wine
and food products (exhibitions and food processing), in the handicraft (exhibitions
and enterprises) and in the proximity to the ‘blue zone’
2 (homes for the elderly and
health). The design entailed not only the urban and architectural renovation of the
existing buildings but also the design of the process, the definition of the different
possible stages of the transformation and reactivation, the involved stakeholders in
each phase and the possible funding to assess the concrete feasibility of the proposal.
Moreover, all the projects portray a multiscalar, multidimensional feature investigating the proposal as part of a larger network of diverse activities and places spread
on the local territory as well as linked to wider structures through ICT technologies,
in order to promote synergies and to create systems as unavoidable approach for the
reactivation of the area. Finally, also the issue of defining the appropriate approach
towards the refurbishment and renovation of the historic heritage was examined,
experimenting architectural solutions that, whilst ensuring the recognition of the
existing heritage, revisited and tested its adaptability to the changing needs of the
contemporary living through a ‘grafting’ practice.
On the other hand, public events were organised with the twofold aim of presenting the results of the design exploration through exhibitions and of discussing
the potentials, methods, feasibility and opportunity within workshops and seminars
open to the citizens. The different initiatives were organised over the years to deepen
the involvement and the exploration in conjunction with the annual ‘Cortes Apertas’
fair in September, which for over 20 years has summoned a large public of visitors
from all Sardinia and national and international tourists. Hence, the fair displaying
the local products was an opportunity also to present the results of the research and
to host the debate and raise the awareness in the inhabitants towards the models and
the scenarios for the re-appropriation of the historic centre. Three workshops were
organised and conceived with an increasing engagement of the citizens.
The first was intended as a round table
3 involving scholars from around Italy to
discuss the issue of the regeneration of historic centres. Internationally renowned
2 Barbagia and Ogliastra regions in Sardinia are included in the so-called Blue Zones: regions of
the world where people live much longer than average because of the social geographical food and
lifestyle features.
3 The seminar was held in Oliena on 10 September 2016 and was attended by A. Sanna, C. Atzeni
(University of Cagliari), E. D’Alfonso, L. Daglio, P. Mei, R. Podda (Politecnico di Milano), S.
Garattini (M. Negri Institute), G. Onni, P. Pittaluga and F. Spanedda (Università di Sassari).
L. Daglio et al.
3 Development of the Methodological Approach
The research defined two different intertwined paths for the development of the
activities to stimulate the involvement of the local population: on the one hand, the
exploration of the capacity of the existing urban texture to accommodate different
new facilities emerging from the features of the social, economic and geographic context. This testing was applied on some typical selected plots of the historic centres
with different locations and slightly different morphologies. Following the analytical
phase, new possible functions were identified in relation to the potentials relying in
the beauty of the landscape (tourism and sport facilities), in the excellence of the wine
and food products (exhibitions and food processing), in the handicraft (exhibitions
and enterprises) and in the proximity to the ‘blue zone’
2 (homes for the elderly and
health). The design entailed not only the urban and architectural renovation of the
existing buildings but also the design of the process, the definition of the different
possible stages of the transformation and reactivation, the involved stakeholders in
each phase and the possible funding to assess the concrete feasibility of the proposal.
Moreover, all the projects portray a multiscalar, multidimensional feature investigating the proposal as part of a larger network of diverse activities and places spread
on the local territory as well as linked to wider structures through ICT technologies,
in order to promote synergies and to create systems as unavoidable approach for the
reactivation of the area. Finally, also the issue of defining the appropriate approach
towards the refurbishment and renovation of the historic heritage was examined,
experimenting architectural solutions that, whilst ensuring the recognition of the
existing heritage, revisited and tested its adaptability to the changing needs of the
contemporary living through a ‘grafting’ practice.
On the other hand, public events were organised with the twofold aim of presenting the results of the design exploration through exhibitions and of discussing
the potentials, methods, feasibility and opportunity within workshops and seminars
open to the citizens. The different initiatives were organised over the years to deepen
the involvement and the exploration in conjunction with the annual ‘Cortes Apertas’
fair in September, which for over 20 years has summoned a large public of visitors
from all Sardinia and national and international tourists. Hence, the fair displaying
the local products was an opportunity also to present the results of the research and
to host the debate and raise the awareness in the inhabitants towards the models and
the scenarios for the re-appropriation of the historic centre. Three workshops were
organised and conceived with an increasing engagement of the citizens.
The first was intended as a round table
3 involving scholars from around Italy to
discuss the issue of the regeneration of historic centres. Internationally renowned
2 Barbagia and Ogliastra regions in Sardinia are included in the so-called Blue Zones: regions of
the world where people live much longer than average because of the social geographical food and
lifestyle features.
3 The seminar was held in Oliena on 10 September 2016 and was attended by A. Sanna, C. Atzeni
(University of Cagliari), E. D’Alfonso, L. Daglio, P. Mei, R. Podda (Politecnico di Milano), S.
Garattini (M. Negri Institute), G. Onni, P. Pittaluga and F. Spanedda (Università di Sassari).