IL RIUSO DEL PATRIMONIO CULTURALE RELIGIOSO: CRITERI E STRUMENTI DI VALUTAZIONE

Abstract

THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF RELIGIOUS CULTURAL HERITAGE. CRITERIA AND EVALUATION TOOLS
Abstract
About the 20% of the cultural heritage inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list is
religious heritage and it represents the most critical cultural heritage with respect to
protection, aimed at enhancing authenticity, integrity and spiritual value. The localization
of this heritage, often attractive for its centrality in the territorial context, orients towards
touristic and real estate valorisation, but are these new uses consistent with the “intrinsic
value” that has characterized them throughout their centuries of history? Which new use
values do not conflict with their identity? And with the identity of local communities? This
article aims to analyse the relationship between “intrinsic value” of religious cultural
heritage and new functional uses, identifying a set of criteria for ex-post evaluation of
cultural heritage reuse projects in the perspective of the circular economy as “regenerative”
of economic, social, environmental and cultural values.
Keywords: cultural and religious heritage, circular economy, evaluation, adaptive reuse