For a designer, dealing with the theme of pre-existence is one of the most arduous and perhaps most interesting challenges. The reuse of non-functional architecture and the restoration or partial reconstruction of damaged or mutilated buildings require, in fact, that a delicate balance be reached between historical memory and renewal.
By setting itself the objective of recovering the existing, rather than demolishing and rebuilding, architecture aims at the re-functionalization of places, intervening on forgotten spaces to restore liveable spaces. The key words are reconvert, add, modify, integrate, stratify and, sometimes, replace.
The itinerary offers a remarkable variety of experiences. Some interventions have been selected not only for their undisputed design quality but also for their surprising ability to adapt to the historical context. Others have been chosen for their symbolic value, permanent testimonies of the events that have marked the history of the country.
