Title

Author(s)

Francesca Daprà

Andrea Dechamps

Maria Pilar Vettori

Affiliation

Politecnico di Milano

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/ENIP8985

Keywords

Dismissed Heritage, Industrial Architecture, Reuse Processes

PP

282-289

How to Cite

Dechamps, Andrea, Francesca Daprà, Maria Pilar Vettori. “Dwelling in Memory Adaptive Reuse and Technological Design Strategies for the Bestetti Hangar in Arcore.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 282–289. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

In Italy, numerous early 20th-century public buildings lie abandoned, often undervalued despite their historical and social significance. Among these, structures from the industrial and productive sectors embody a collective heritage that calls for innovative strategies of adaptive reuse. This paper presents a research project developed at the Politecnico di Milano, focusing on the disused Bestetti Hangar in Arcore (MB), built in the early 1900s and abandoned since the 1970s. The project forms part of a wider urban regeneration initiative centred on the former Falck steelworks area in Arcore. It proposes a comprehensive methodological and procedural framework aimed at supporting public administrations in reimagining and reintegrating such buildings into contemporary urban life. The approach combines historical-architectural analysis, spatial and regulatory assessment, design alternatives, and technical-economic feasibility studies, culminating in a meta-project vision for the hangar. The reuse strategy highlights the building’s potential as a civic and educational hub, in line with sustainability objectives, land preservation, and energy efficiency. The process involved many stakeholders, including public authorities, research institutions, private companies, and third-sector organizations. This collaboration ensured technical and managerial feasibility and helped secure regional funding. This case study exemplifies how adaptive reuse can activate social and cultural value by transforming obsolete industrial heritage into spaces for learning, collective memory, and community engagement. It contributes to the broader discourse on reuse as an ethical and architectural practice, fostering a new culture of transformation grounded in historical continuity and civic responsibility.

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.