This proposal is the second of two joint papers (see Sanzaro) that deal with the general issue of the conservation of half-abandoned historic settlements in the inner areas. The questions that drive the work are: What kind of future can we imagine for these realities? Do we have to accept their dissolution, or should we try to assess possible different perspectives? The two contributions offer a focus on these issues at the urban and architectural scale, considering two case studies of small historic cores in inner Sicily: Leonforte (EN) and Petralia Soprana (PA). These settlements are affected by depopulation and abandonment to different degrees for various reasons (see Sanzaro). The traditional dwellings in the settlements are examples of basic architecture, essential in nature. Inside the houses, farm and domestic life are often combined due to the limited space in the urban sites, which are set on a rocky promontory (Petralia Soprana) or a steep slope (Leonforte). These are evidence of typical Sicilian urban-rural dwellings, illustrating the efforts of the farmer class who usually left the countryside after work and came back to the village. This paper carries out an assessment of the effects that both abandonment and improper renovation have on buildings, considering that the perpetuation of this uncontrolled situation will lead to the loss of tangible and intangible heritage, along with an increased safety risk for the citizens who still live there. According to our analysis, abandonment could be considered “a good conservationist”. Thanks to the lack of (bad) maintenance, small buildings have preserved their original features. This condition allows us to “rediscover” the constructive and typological peculiarities of these edifices and to understand their fragility; this latter could be defined as the susceptibility of this architecture to irreversible damage when subjected to improper interventions. On the other hand, the efforts by the owners to renovate the houses kept the settlement half-alive; nonetheless, most of the interventions led to irreparable losses because they were implemented outside the logic of essentiality of vernacular architecture. It is a matter of fact that conservation implies transformations. Given that, the work analyses two abandoned houses in the two settlements highlighting the weaknesses and potential of buildings within the framework of a conservation project that envisages residential reuse. Focus is also on identifying the minimum interventions necessary for seismic improvement, an issue that cannot be overlooked in Sicily. By means of comparative analysis, general remarks on the importance of knowledge of the typical features of the settlement and the houses are outlined. That is the most valuable tool for recognizing compatible transformation. In conclusion, these settlements may be considered hidden resources for a modern way of life which provides an alternative to that of the big cities. Besides that, it is worth noting that tourism and temporary housing are not panaceas for all small historic settlements. Thus, the challenge of re-inhabiting this architecture should be pursued for more sustainable urban development under the banner of preserving not only homes but also local communities.
Un futuro per l’architettura rurale urbana in Sicilia. Osservazioni per il restauro e il riuso abitativo delle antiche case a Leonforte (EN) e Petralia Soprana (PA)
Chiara Circo
In corso di stampa
Abstract
This proposal is the second of two joint papers (see Sanzaro) that deal with the general issue of the conservation of half-abandoned historic settlements in the inner areas. The questions that drive the work are: What kind of future can we imagine for these realities? Do we have to accept their dissolution, or should we try to assess possible different perspectives? The two contributions offer a focus on these issues at the urban and architectural scale, considering two case studies of small historic cores in inner Sicily: Leonforte (EN) and Petralia Soprana (PA). These settlements are affected by depopulation and abandonment to different degrees for various reasons (see Sanzaro). The traditional dwellings in the settlements are examples of basic architecture, essential in nature. Inside the houses, farm and domestic life are often combined due to the limited space in the urban sites, which are set on a rocky promontory (Petralia Soprana) or a steep slope (Leonforte). These are evidence of typical Sicilian urban-rural dwellings, illustrating the efforts of the farmer class who usually left the countryside after work and came back to the village. This paper carries out an assessment of the effects that both abandonment and improper renovation have on buildings, considering that the perpetuation of this uncontrolled situation will lead to the loss of tangible and intangible heritage, along with an increased safety risk for the citizens who still live there. According to our analysis, abandonment could be considered “a good conservationist”. Thanks to the lack of (bad) maintenance, small buildings have preserved their original features. This condition allows us to “rediscover” the constructive and typological peculiarities of these edifices and to understand their fragility; this latter could be defined as the susceptibility of this architecture to irreversible damage when subjected to improper interventions. On the other hand, the efforts by the owners to renovate the houses kept the settlement half-alive; nonetheless, most of the interventions led to irreparable losses because they were implemented outside the logic of essentiality of vernacular architecture. It is a matter of fact that conservation implies transformations. Given that, the work analyses two abandoned houses in the two settlements highlighting the weaknesses and potential of buildings within the framework of a conservation project that envisages residential reuse. Focus is also on identifying the minimum interventions necessary for seismic improvement, an issue that cannot be overlooked in Sicily. By means of comparative analysis, general remarks on the importance of knowledge of the typical features of the settlement and the houses are outlined. That is the most valuable tool for recognizing compatible transformation. In conclusion, these settlements may be considered hidden resources for a modern way of life which provides an alternative to that of the big cities. Besides that, it is worth noting that tourism and temporary housing are not panaceas for all small historic settlements. Thus, the challenge of re-inhabiting this architecture should be pursued for more sustainable urban development under the banner of preserving not only homes but also local communities.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
