RE-ACTIVATE THE INTERNAL AREAS: CLASSIFICATION, RESTORATION, PARTICIPATION PLANNING AND GUIDELINES AS TOOLS FOR THE REGENERATION OF THE VERNACULAR HERITAGE

Abstract. The report aims to present the experience of a project called “Resilient Valleys”, which covers the area of the high valleys Trompia and Sabbia, near Brescia, Italy. This is a peripheral territory, which is suffering depopulation and losing the ability to attract people and resources, both economic and environmental. With this project, we have tried to overcome the crisis linked to the impoverishment and fragmentation of the social fabric, by activating virtuous processes of development and participation. The “Resilient Valleys” project, carried out as part of the Cariplo Foundation’s “AttivAree” programme, aimed to give new life to the territories by enhancing their cultural, historical and environmental potential. One of the paths had the purpose to produce a change in the way we approach restoration, enhancement and conservation of the building heritage, of which this area is rich. This activity has been carried out through successive phases: first, mapping of architectural resources considered as identity heritage; second, new courses for people actively involved in the building field; third, printing “Guidelines for intervention" for vernacular buildings. A further activity concerned the reactivation of a rural complex in the territory of Rebecco (Italy). The project consisted in the architectural restoration of three abandoned and partially collapsed buildings. While testing the indications of the Guidelines mentioned above, the rural complex has also been revised from an agricultural-ecological-cultural point of view. The project is characterized by a strong cross over between identity culture and social cohesion of the territory.