From the “project” to the “process” for the building rehabilitation. Intervention strategies on existing buildings at the times of the crisis

The current economic crisis urges to put under discussion even the most recent cultural references and development models, and it forces to work according to the criteria of ever-decreasing use of resources, minimization of waste and maximum effectiveness of results, also when objectives of increasing sustainability in buildings are to be pursued. Consequently, in order to meet the new challenges, the traditional intervention strategies ought to be changed, especially in public sector. By the means of an experimental activity on a school, the paper shows how it is possible to develop intervention programs aimed at sustainable rehabilitation in the short to medium term, by diversifying the range of actions and by sharing work between owners and tenants responsible for their implementation. In addition, it highlights that the participation process in the evaluation of buildings in use is a great opportunity of increasing both awareness on sustainability and global empowerment of users.