Inertia in Urban Regeneration of Abandoned Military Barracks

Abstract

The dismissal and valorization of the Italian Ministry of Defense's real estate heritage and its policy implications have been partially examined within urban studies. Over the last two decades, several policy tools have been adopted in Italy for the urban regeneration of decommissioned military buildings through public-private partnerships. Design projects derive from feasibility studies, international design competitions, and the incorporation of national regulations into local urban policies and planning instruments. However, several factors have slowed down some processes, such as the pandemic and its impact on the real estate market. The result has been the persistence of situations where underutilization and abandonment of many decommissioned military areas have aggravated their state of decay. The underutilization and continuous abandonment of military barracks have led to missed opportunities for regeneration processes. This work investigates the criticalities and effects of the prolonged phenomenon of failed regeneration processes of these areas through a critical and interpretative analysis of interconnected factors: evolution of state legislation, role of local administrations and private actors, grassroots protagonism. The contribution analyzes the case of Padova, focusing on inertias, actors, as well as the results of recovery and valorization processes of former barracks.