Dwelling in Memory. Adaptive Reuse and Technological Design Strategies for the Bestetti Hangar in Arcore

In Italy, numerous early 20th-century public buildings lie abandoned, often undervalued despite their historical and social significance. Among these, structures from the industrial and productive sectors embody a collective heritage that calls for innovative strategies of adaptive reuse. This paper presents a research project developed at the Politecnico di Milano, focusing on the disused Bestetti Hangar in Arcore (MB), built in the early 1900s and abandoned since the 1970s. The project forms part of a wider urban regeneration initiative centred on the former Falck steelworks area in Arcore. It proposes a comprehensive methodological and procedural framework aimed at supporting public administrations in reimagining and reintegrating such buildings into contemporary urban life. The approach combines historical-architectural analysis, spatial and regulatory assessment, design alternatives, and technical-economic feasibility studies, culminating in a meta-project vision for the hangar. The reuse strategy highlights the building’s potential as a civic and educational hub, in line with sustainability objectives, land preservation, and energy efficiency. The process involved many stakeholders, including public authorities, research institutions, private companies, and third-sector organisations. This collaboration ensured technical and managerial feasibility and helped secure regional funding. This case study exemplifies how adaptive reuse can activate social and cultural value by transforming obsolete industrial heritage into spaces for learning, collective memory, and community engagement. It contributes to the broader discourse on reuse as an ethical and architectural practice, fostering a new culture of transformation grounded in historical continuity and civic responsibility.