Valorization of cultural heritage and land take reduction: an urban compensation model for the replacement of unsuitable buildings in an Italian UNESCO site

The enhancement of historical, artistic and cultural assets is a topic of significant interest in the interna- tional and national context within the policies able to reduce the land take. However, it often happens that the full conservation and enhancement of the cultural heritage site is hindered by recently built buildings that are inconsistent with the valuable characteristics of the surrounding urban environment. Aim of the work is to define and implement an innovative compensation-based model to enable the de- molition and reconstruction of unsuitable buildings that prevent the enhancement of historic city centers. It represents a decision support system for the Public Administration in the determination of the building rights to be transferred to the Private Entrepreneur involved, by ensuring financial convenience, environ- mental purposes and overall positive public effects. The analysis of the results obtained by applying the compensation-based model to the city of Alberobello, a UNESCO Italian heritage site, demonstrates its usefulness, efficiency and flexibility.