An Interpretive Ruination Model of the Built Heritage in Inner Areas: The Case Study of the Neighbourhood Granfonte in Leonforte

In Italy, the current geography of abandonment is defined by the classification of the National Strategy of Inner Areas (NSIA). The support measures envisaged by the NSIA could contribute to reducing the marginality of inner areas and promote the protection, conservation, and enhancement of historic centres. In this perspective, actions on historical buildings should be selected based on a cognitive process aimed at specifying the phenomena that have led to the progressive abandonment of historical centres and a process aimed at identifying the values and dis-values. This research proposes a ruination model aimed at highlighting the risks that the built heritage of the inner areas are exposed to. This model was implemented for the case of the historic neighbourhood of Granfonte in Leonforte. The model was developed based on a qualitative–quantitative approach aimed at detecting the preservation state and built heritage use; analysing the building fabric development; identifying the ruination drivers; building a building units database; defining a ruination pattern of the building units based on a multivariate regression model; and analysing the predicted ruination scenario. The model can support decision-making processes aimed at the selection of actions to protect and preserve heritage built in marginal areas.