Using or reusing?: parameter analysis of infrastructure refurbishment projects as touristic products

Abstract

The refurbishment of old abandoned infrastructures seems to be a useful driver for the development of some forgotten or problematic areas in both urbanized and rural contexts. The appearance of new social practices, the perceptual enhancement and economic development are some of the benefits that this practice can bring to the sites affected by these operations. However, employing tourism as the new function is an engine that usually involves economic growth but also new dynamics, like the increase in the influx of people and traffic or the ‘forced’ relationship between locals and tourists. Working in a rural context, in a metropolis or even in a small urban centre needs the confrontation of architects, designers and policymakers and brings different needs and challenges. The aim of this paper is the research of a series of parameters to evaluate, uniformly and globally, every renovation of obsolete industrial heritage. From these variables, objective valuation of any project’s consequences could be completed. On this purpose, the study starts from a case studies selection based on different physical, economic and e-motional features. Once these characteristics are detected, they are discussed and transformed into a methodological table by subdivisions into these three main categories.