A Multi-criteria analysis tool for rethinking cultural heritage in evolving cities – naturalistic approach

Collective memory and individual identity in society are increasingly losing their importance in contemporary cities. Both material and immaterial heritage has to become a strategic element by which a citizen can recognize himself in the spaces of his everyday life. In 2018, the municipality and universities of Barcelona provided a moment of international consideration - using the instrument of a hackaton. This reflection was focused on the infrastructural heritage represented by the “Rondas” – originally developed as a connective element while today being seen as separating structure. The question was how this ring road might evolve during the next twenty years, forming new patterns between citizens and transportation. The transdisciplinary approach by a team of the Sapienza PDTA department has produced a multi-criterial analysis tool, based on economic, functional and social indicators use, which reconsider the infrastructure as connective element. Using “Ronda” as a model case looking at one of two alternatives, the naturalist approach proposes a neighbourhood future vision by inserting naturalistic-technological, urban-planning and territory-identity solutions. The aim of the paper is to demonstrate how the developed methodology can be reproduced in other heritage evaluation scenarios, adapting variations of indicators in the analysis, focusing especially on how green infrastructure and technology can be inserted effectively while keeping alive the values of the cultural and aestetic heritage of a city.