Using the Analytic Hierarchical Process to Define Choices for Re-Using Rural Buildings: Application to an Abandoned Village in Sicily

It has been recognised for some time that traditional rural buildings are a cultural and/or practical “resource” of the countryside. Inappropriate re-conversions can result in the waste of valuable economic resources and the loss of local heritage. Thus, before reconstruction is started the possible types of re-use should be accurately evaluated. This work develops a method, based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process, for identifying the best re-use of an abandoned village that was built in the first half of the last century. The method uses the guidelines of the countryside plan, and our work is a case study designed to verify whether or not it is suitable in this context. Five requisites for sustainable intervention were identified, as well as three alternative re-uses and five indicators. The hierarchical analysis was developed using two different approaches, one using three hierarchical levels, the other four. The results obtained for both approaches agree in suggesting the same model for re-use, but the four level approaches also supplied additional information which would be useful when planning projects with major social and cultural impact.