Renovation of the former school complex “Antonio Pacinotti”, Pontedera (Pisa)

In a historical-critical period dominated by the continual search for new values (ethical, political, aesthetic, etc.) it is necessary to consider housing as a compelling need. In fact, the study of collective housing can be considered as an investigation field on which to set new scientific research stages, by analyzing all the features related to cities and society. In order to trace the essence of human living, this study investigates the two basic entities of oikos and habitatio, related to the formation of anthropic space. A housing project, built within a historical context, often involves other dynamics and problems, because the building type is able to reflect both social needs and, on a smaller scale, the complex relationship between man and society. The project in a consolidated urban fabric, as the one of Pontedera, (in the province of Pisa, Italy) entails a comparison within the structured environment, by analyzing the architectural, cultural, historical elements in order to understand the basic laws defined for the formation of the whole urban town. For this purpose, it is necessary to “interpret” the urban organism, tracking the historical stages of urban development and proposing future possibilities for the current situation.