Reuse strategies for the historical centre of Paternò

Paternò is a small town on the slopes of Mt. Etna. The paper concerns the reuse and enhancement of its historical “acropolis”, characterized by the presence of several valuable buildings. In the late XXth century, widespread abandonment and heavy transformations determined the degradation of this area and its marginalization from the rest of the town. Thus, the ancient acropolis is now neglected although it is in the core of the ancient city. Our design proposal aimed to reconnect that area to the town, by drawing more interest, encouraging small businesses, and promoting the restoration and reuse of the ancient buildings. The analysis of the original construction and development of the buildings served as a guide for the reconfiguration of the terraced houses, which were repurposed as a “diffused hotel”. The reuse and enhancement of a block of buildings that includes a medieval town gate allowed us to provide the area with the necessary amenities. The study was based on a careful preliminary survey, carried out through the analysis of the urban fabric, the examination of the constructional and architectural features and the identification of critical issues and existing values.