Instruments for the preservation and promotion of the 20th-century built heritage: the case study of Legnano (MI)

Our country is characterized by a wide historical and architectural built heritage dating back to the 20th century, which strongly distinguishes the urban fabric of our cities. This is, however, very often not adequately acknowledged, resulting in demolitions or indiscriminate interventions causing radical changes, though there have been countless battles to spread awareness of the need for its preservation and protection. This is the case with Legnano (MI), for example, which in the last two centuries has undergone some structural economic changes, which have influenced its architecture and urban planning, thus engendering profound modifications in the architectural aspect of this agricultural village, often through the demolition of a part of its built heritage. This sudden expansion, started from the end of the 19th century, has left us with a relatively "young", diffuse and heterogeneous built heritage, with its peculiarities and contradictions, which is unknown to most of the actors of transformations and requires protection. This paper, which focuses on this case study, aims to examine the tools carried out in Italy and in other European countries for the protection of 20th-century architecture, which have involved and sensitized the population on cultural values. It also intends to suggest some actions that can be achieved by the Legnano public administration, by analyzing some virtuous processes spontaneously created by individuals or Local Associations. These are in tune with a need of "memory" that is essential, in order to make regulations, guidelines or best practices to be endorsed by the actors of the transformations, since they are based on the detailed knowledge of the local situation and on the awareness of the value of the existing heritage.