Applied Research for “Piani Città” Programs of Ancona and Ascoli Piceno Municipalities

Abstract

Disused public heritage represents an extraordinary opportunity for urban regeneration in the so-called “medium-sized cities.” In these contexts, the availability of national or European funding opportunities constitutes a unique chance to rethink buildings or even substantial parts of the urban fabric.
In this perspective, the “Piano Città” promoted by the Italian State Property Agency (Agenzia del Demanio) stands as a virtuous model of public action, capable of activating institutional and private synergies, while developing strategic visions that trigger sustainable and durable urban regeneration processes.
Within this framework, the collaboration between the Marche Regional Directorate of the State Property Agency and Marche Region Polytechnic University has led to the development of strategic design research for the “Piani Città” of Ancona and Ascoli Piceno municipalities. The work has identified strategies for the adaptive reuse of degraded buildings and areas, aligning them with real and pressing needs, in order to define programmatic and regenerative actions for the built heritage in contexts of great historical and landscape value.
This paper discusses two case studies: in Ascoli Piceno, the recovery of a system of historic buildings to house the Prefecture, the Superintendence, and a student residence; in Ancona, a macro-strategy to improve accessibility to the Parco del Cardeto and the adaptive reuse of the former Caserma Stamura as the new seat of the State Archives.