Title

Author(s)

Giulia De Lucia

Affiliation

Politecnico di Torino

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/VGIR1671

Keywords

Urban Religious Heritage; Turin’s Historic Urban Landscape; ChiesTo Project

PP

266-273

How to Cite

De Lucia, Giulia. “Adaptive Reuse of Urban Religious Heritage A Historical Perspective from the Centre of Turin.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 266–273. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

The adaptive reuse of underused or abandoned historical buildings is an emerging topic in both academic research and architectural practice, particularly in relation to religious heritage, the cultural significance of which is often threatened by inappropriate reuse strategies. Given the high concentration of churches in the European—and especially Italian— historic urban landscape, effective reuse and mixed-use strategies for urban religious heritage can play a crucial role in social and cultural dynamics by integrating historical and cultural values with the transforming needs of contemporary urban communities. Research in this field, however, tends to focus on case studies of singular adaptive reuse projects, which limits a systemic understanding of the issues and the interplay between reuse strategies and broader urban dynamics. This paper, therefore, offers a systemic reflection on the practices of reuse of religious heritage on an urban scale, examining their potential social, cultural and economic impacts on the urban context. The historic urban landscape of Turin (Italy)— capital city from 1563 to 1864—serves as the case study, owing to its urban religious system characterized by a high density of churches (over thirty) and by increasing phenomena of underuse. These conditions have led to the implementation of various mixed-use strategies, with differing degrees of effectiveness in terms of the conservation and enhancement of the architectural, religious and cultural values of the buildings. A critical analysis of this phenomenon from a systemic perspective, carried out within the scope of the ChiesTo research project at the Politecnico di Torino and grounded in the interpretation of historical and documentary sources on architectural interventions undertaken on churches over the past quarter century, makes it possible to reflect on the effectiveness and adaptability of the reuse and mixed-use interventions implemented. This reflection, which opens up a range of questions, also offers insights for the systemic planning of strategies for the reuse of religious heritage, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability, social inclusion and the resilience of urban communities undergoing transformation.

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.