Minor or lesser known historic centres which characterise human settlements with their presence, need special tools for their analysis and management. The close connection with the morphological and geological characters of the land on which they stand, the proximity to agricultural or silvopastoral areas, the need to adapt to modern dwelling requirements and the fragile built fabric, the relationship with local economic activities, and the sharing of development projects between public and private entities, are but some of the aspects that must be taken into consideration when undertaking virtuous conservation, management, valorisation and promotion pathways.

When undertaking research a new cultural approach to the issues related to minor historic centres will be considered as a priority. An approach aimed at recognising the historical characters that have contributed over time to determine the peculiar layout of every centre, both as an urban structure and from the economic and social point of view. The synergy between different fields, from archaeology to the history of art, architecture, sociology and economy, together with the survey of tangible data from the land and the city, will be considered prioritary to monothematic studies, in the belief that the continuous exchange of information derived from different fields and points of view is the only way to stimulate innovative work hypothesis.

The Research Unit aims to activate the pathways for understanding the processes of historical, environmental and socio-economic creation and transformation of the objects of study, with the purpose of providing support for the subsequent phases involving the conception of design and planning proposals for assisting in the management, promotion and safeguard of the historic centres.

Themes:

• Documentation on minor historical centres aimed at the safeguard and and valorisation of the built heritage;
• Management of settlements aimed at the promotion of a sustainable and informed tourism;
• Creation of virtual models  for consultation aimed at divulgation and in support of governance;
• Information on European, national and regional public financing;
• Economic and financial analysis of investments included in the municipal Public Works Plan for identifying public financing opportunities;
• Socio-economic analysis of the territory in support of the Structural Plan and of the Urban Planning Regulations;
• Economic, financial, and urban feasibility studies regarding specific interventions;
• Commercial, touristic and promotion development planning, as well as for the valorisation of cultural assets;
• Regional marketing plans for attracting Italian and foreign investment;

• Provisions for applying to public financing for investments.

5 recent research projects

2014|2015
Documentazione, valorizzazione e gestione dei centri storici minori
Research Project
Head of project: Alessandro Merlo - Riccardo Butini
2013|2015
Game engine for cultural heritage. New opportunities in the relation between simplified models and database
Joint research project: Italy-Spain
Head of project: Alessandro Merlo - Eduardo Vedrell Vidal
2010|2013
Rilievo e documentazione del borgo murato di Pietrabuona (Pescia - Pistoia)
Scientific research project -University of Florence - Fondazione Caripit – Municipality of Pescia
Head of project: Alessandro Merlo
2008|2011
Rilievo e documentazione dei nuclei insediativi minori della Svizzera Pesciatina: Sorana (Pescia - Pistoia)
Scientific research project -University of Florence - Fondazione Caripit – Municipality of Pescia
Head of project: Alessandro Merlo
2006|2009
Rilievo e documentazione dei nuclei insediativi minori della Svizzera Pesciatina: Aramo (Pescia - Pistoia)
Scientific research project -University of Florence - Fondazione Caripit – Municipality of Pescia
Head of project: Alessandro Merlo

5 recent publications

Merlo A., Lavoratti G. (eds.) (2009), Il progetto nel contesto storicizzato: esempi a confronto, Florence: Alinea.
Merlo A. (2010), Il castello di Sorana, Pisa: ETS.
Merlo A. (2012), Il castello di Pietrabuona, Pisa: ETS.
Merlo A., Lavoratti G. (eds.) (2014), Strategie per la salvaguardia e valorizzazione degli insediamenti medievali, Florence: DIDA.
AA.VV., La Valleriana, in ‘L’Universo’, nn. 1-6, 2014.

Coordinator
Alessandro Merlo

 approved by the DIDA Department Council on 2 April, 2014

 
Composition of  the research unit
DIDA Department of Architecture

Alberto Bove
Riccardo Butini
Paola Gallo
Alessandro Merlo
Iacopo Zetti

SAGAS
Department of History, Archaeology, Geography, Art and Performing Arts

Carla Giuseppina Romby

External collaborators

Andrea Aliperta
Massimiliano Bini
Sandro Danesi
Simone De Fraja
Serena Di Grazia
Franco Filippelli
Stefania Franceschi
Giulia Galeotti
Leonardo Germani
Cinzia Jelencovich
Gaia Lavoratti
Antonino Meo
Emanuela Morelli
Uliva Velo

Collaboration agreements

Anci Toscana
Comune di Pescia (PT)
Comune di Valbrevenna (GE)
Museo della Carta Onlus
Comune di Pelago (FI)
Ente Parco dell'Antola