The challenge for inland areas and the role of architecture

Inland areas are valuable records of the Italian heritage, objected to the post-war reckless expansion building, they have currently preserved their most authentic architectural features and an unpolluted landscape. Since these areas are distant from major urban centres, they compose a fragile territory, affected by conditions such as: depopulation, ageing population, reduction of essential services. Over the last few years we are witnessing a “paradigm shift”: some new projects are being developed in order to revitalise these areas, by introducing new uses for the soils and for the ancient buildings, in line with the needs of contemporary society. Re-thinking construction is a key action to transform an abandoned place into a new element, able to generate social aggregation, through the recovery, the promotion of heritage, the project of public space and the upgrading of essential services. Architecture is not enough to resolve the difficulties of the inland areas but it can be a lever for territory’s development, by allowing to introduce, to ransom and to connect to principal urban centres these extraordinary places.