Strategies for the conservation and reuse of 20th century neighbourhoods: limits and potentials

In which way the neighborhoods of modernism built in the first half of the 20th century – where were explored many themes covering issues of urban-planning, architecture and building techniques themselves − withstood the passage of time? Decline; the need to adapt structures to the standards of comfort and housing expected by a new generation of inhabitants; on-going demolition; the small alterations continually being made to the structures – all these raise the question of how to protect this architectural heritage. Precise in-depth knowledge of these structures should highlight their physical characteristics, the materials and building techniques that went into their construction, and – above all – the context within which they were designed and produced. This, together with careful evaluation of the nature and degree of their decay, is the necessary basis for making decisions with regard to their future. Part publicly part privately owned, these structures are of varying characteristics, but they form a heritage that was designed and planned within a unified framework and context, hence there has for some time been recognition that specific steps should be taken to protect them. Instead, the aim is to consider how inevitable and necessary transformations might be “governed” on the basis shared criteria, with full recognition of the need to safeguard both the architectural characteristics of individual housing units and the overall appearance of the area as a whole. Very interesting could be to focus on the design/project and process to intervene on single buildings, with all their technical contents, goals and criteria.