Riciclare architetture: l'umanizzazione delle tecniche e dell'atto del costruire nel MAAM. Recycling architecture: the humanization of techniques and the act of building in the MAAM

Considering the growing environmental and social challenges posed by urbanization, resource scarcity, and climate change, architectural practices must increasingly embrace circular economy principles. This paper investigates the role of recycled architecture as a catalyst for sustainable urban regeneration and social innovation, emphasizing the humanization of construction techniques through participatory processes. Reducing resource consumption, land use, and waste production requires rethinking conventional urban development models. Traditional top-down planning often fails to respond effectively to these challenges, necessitating bottom-up approaches that prioritize the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Focusing on the MAAM (Museo dell’Altro e dell’Altrove) in Rome -a former industrial site transformed into a hybrid space of housing, art, and community- the study explores how self-construction, collective design, and cultural activism foster social cohesion and spatial resilience. The MAAM exemplifies a circular architectural model where spaces evolve through continuous user-driven modifications, aligning with concepts of open-ended, relational, and ethical design. By analyzing this and other case studies, such as Casa Orsola in Barcelona and Porto Fluviale in Rome, the paper argues for the institutional recognition of informal, grassroots initiatives and the integration of architectural recycling into broader urban policies. It concludes that a shift from a "disposable architecture" paradigm to one of long-term adaptability and commoning is essential for creating equitable, sustainable, and resilient cities.