Title

Author(s)

Attilio Ferraro, Pierfrancesco Fiore, Emanuela D’Andria

Affiliation

University of Salerno

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/NWTS7944

Keywords

Inland Areas Regeneration, Small Towns, Prisma Protocol

PP

373-380

How to Cite

Ferraro, Attilio, Pierfrancesco Fiore, Emanuela D’Andria. “Adaptive reuse models for the regeneration of small towns in inner areas: a systematic review following the PRISMA protocol.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 373–380. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

This paper outlines the first phase of a systematic research project aimed at investigating adaptive reuse models for disused built heritage in small towns located in marginalised areas. The primary objective is to analyse strategies implemented between 2000 and 2025 in order to understand urban and territorial regeneration processes in contexts characterised by socio-economic marginalisation and demographic decline. Starting with a research question formulated according to the PICO framework, the investigation focuses on identifying theoretical-operational models of adaptive reuse. These include design approaches, intervention methods, and strategic frameworks, as well as their application contexts and intended functional purposes, such as cultural, residential, social, productive, tourist or mixed use. The adopted methodology is based on the PRISMA protocol for the systematic review of scientific literature, usinga selection process with rigorously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The bibliographic search was conducted exclusively within the Scopus database, which was chosen for the breadth and reliability of its indexed scientific sources and for its advanced search filtering capabilities. This investigation identified a significant number of theoretical and operational models of adaptive reuse, applied in small towns located in inner areas, and analysed their distribution in relation to geographical, functional, and strategic contexts. The results provide an overview of adaptive reuse models applied in small towns, highlighting operational trends, evolutionary trajectories, knowledge gaps and potentialities. Furthermore, the analysis allows for a preliminary functional classification of the models, providing the basis for the next research phase (Phase B). The aim of this phase is to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of the identified approaches in a comparative manner, paying, particular attention to their social, environmental, and economic impacts on the reference territories.

Edited by
Andrea Crudeli
Francesca Molle
Emanuele Carrai

Publisher
STH Press, Firenze

ISBN Paperback – 9791281661141
ISBN Ebook – 9791281661158
DOI – https://doi.org/10.65686/SISY7263

Year
2026

Proceedings of
International Conference on Adaptive Reuse
hosted by The University of Pisa, Italy
15-19 September 2025, at the Gispoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.