Royal Villa and Park of Monza: a knowledge based strategy for a preventive conservation approach and for a systemic vision of the site management

A two-year research initiative was carried out in the framework of a wider project relating to the Monza and Brianza cultural district. This pilot project was chosen for its complexity, as it is composed of buildings, an historic park and royal villa, and for its relevance to the Italian cultural heritage. The complex is a landmark and consists of a diverse typology of objects: historic buildings with rich interior decorations and furniture; vernacular buildings; artifacts and garden follies. A first priority is to strengthen relationships with the region as it is the fulcrum of a broader territorial system and is intended to be the engine for culturally driven local development. Within the park there are about 30 buildings, each presenting different problems and states of conservation. The Consortium of the Royal Villa and Park of Monza, the public body in charge of managing the site, asked for support and scientific research regarding long-term conservation: planning of monitoring, prevention, maintenance and major intervention. One of the management issues in addition to this operational approach was the need to develop a model that integrates conservation with use. The first phase of work was completed in April 2016; it represents the basis for future implementation and upgrading, and is a tool for those in charge of the buildings’ conservation and financial administration. The principal aim was to define an effective model to manage the conservation and valorisation of the Royal Park of Monza. The twofold objective was dissemination and application of the Preventive and Planned Conservation strategy, and development of a preliminary study for drawing up a masterplan. The methodology acknowledges that a deep and detailed knowledge of cultural heritage is an essential precondition for both conservation and valorisation. Thus the first step has been to define the output and then design different file cards according to the type of data to be recorded. Next it was possible to insert the information into a synoptic table and reprocess it via drawings, graphs and pie charts in order to produce a list of priorities and typology of conservation activities, a general picture of functions, condition assessment, uses and the basis for a general conservation plan. As the cultural capital consists of both the villa and the park, therefore both built cultural heritage and landscape, this was considered an opportunity to involve all the stakeholders, public and private. In order to make best use of an effective, innovative site management model, it is important to define roles and participatory processes when integrating conservation and valorisation activities.