Vita Nova, the restoration days explore architecture

The event called “VITA NOVA – gli Edifici industriali e il riutilizzo a fini culturali” (NEW LIFE - Industrial Building and repurposing them for cultural use) or the Restoration Days, an initiative promoted by the Ligurian association for craft enterprises and small- and medium-sized enterprises (CNA Liguria) in the former industrial facility of Vaccari in Santo Stefano di Magra gave a broad overview of industrial cultural assets in Italy.



Three packed days in an exceptional location - the area of the former Ceramica Vaccari, an industrial facility that was decommissioned in 2006 and whose Calibration room has been superbly converted into a multi-purpose space by Archepta.



The event is a CNA Liguria initiative targeting the world of Cultural Heritage sponsored by the Italian Ministry for the Arts, Culture and Tourism (MiBACT) and it explores the current situation of decommissioned industrial facilities in Italy. There is a very interesting social factor here, because often we're talking about buildings that have left a profound mark not only on the territory - like the factory of Italian defence firm OTO Melara, the paper factory in Mele or the Muggiano shipyard - but also in the history of the location, therefore making them landmarks in the memory of the local community rather than works of any special design value.



Plenty of innovative ideas for sustainable-driven recovery were tabled, like the ones presented by Luca Mazzari, Archifax studio, who discussed the Genova Smart City Park to redevelop the Lagaccio zone in Genoa. Because in addition to protecting the old buildings, the whole urban context needs to be involved to create real sustainability. It was also interesting to hear his real examples for anyone who wants to give their home a makeover to save energy and reduce their environmental footprint according to the protocol of the Casabita regeneration project.





Then on Saturday morning we were shown the application of “Ivrea. 20th century industrial city” for UNESCO heritage-listing. Alfonso Femia, founder of 5 + 1AA shared some of the studio's work on existing architecture with the audience, including the major Le Docks project to redevelop the Marseilles waterfront.



We'll be in Genoa on 18 March for the final day dedicated to decommissioned industrial areas and repurposing them as sites of cultural interest, or at least sites of great significance to keep alive the delicate urban and social fabric where they originated and that they helped to create.

Christiane Bürklein

“VITA NOVA - gli Edifici Industriali e il riutilizzo a fini culturali”
from 25 to 27 February 2016
former Ceramiche Vaccari, Santo Stefano di Magra (SP)
sponsored by MiBACT
Final day on 18 March 2016, Palazzo Pallavicino, Genoa
Images: © Dimitri Magnanini – Studio Archepta
Link: http://www.livegreenblog.com/events/vita-nova---6th-edition-of-the-restoration-days--11402/