Strategies for rural settlements and marginal areas regeneration: multiscale and multidisciplinary approach for a systemic process

Depopulation and aging are two factors affecting the future of Europe, mainly in rural areas, where 30% of the total EU population lives. For this reason, lots of international policies encourage local building heritage refurbishment and cultural regeneration projects of minor historic villages, to rebalance and strengthen economic, social, and environmental connections and ties between urban, peri-urban, and rural areas. The research highlight approaches to characterize marginal areas and identify strategies for renovation, starting with a multiscale deep investigation process, a strong collaboration with local communities and stakeholders, and finding out a Vision to translate in objectives and actions. Reuse and refurbishment of historical minor villages is investigated for improving the resilience and adaptation of the building stock, preserving cultural heritage while making it more adaptive to climate change, through the activation of cross-sector sustainable synergies, in a multiscale and multidisciplinary approach, having as reference the case study of Spluga Valley regeneration (Italy). The paper describes methods to recognize the values of pre-existence through the knowledge phase and the indicators, originated from analysis and diagnosis process, to hypothesize new functions compatible with the existing and capable to link the physical renovation to the territory relaunch and the local community.