Two plenary sessions will consist of 15 minutes-long papers. These will be dedicated to the following topics:
A. Industrial heritage and urban transformation
All industrialised countries, regions and cities are involved in the process of recognising and evaluating industrial heritage. This informs policies on urban regeneration and territorial competitiveness. In particular, the problems concerning derelict urban areas are now the centre of interest of industrial heritage. The Scientific Committee seeks contributions aimed at analysing the impact of old or recent productive activities in different urban and territorial contexts, whether pre-existing or developed ex-novo (as in the case of company towns), with a focus on relational, organisational and immaterial aspects. The Scientific Committee also encourages contributions surveying cases of successful urban planning (i.e. able to overcome the dichotomy between culture and economy and to integrate the correct re-use of former industrial sites within a wider programme for future developments of towns and wider areas).
B. Productive areas and industrial landscapes
Many areas have given birth to productive specialisation using a specific mix of resources that are either locally available or have been produced through specific historical processes. A relationship between industry and environment has emerged from diverse paths of development. This has characterised the landscape according to different models of industrialisation and the specific types of productive processes located in such areas. What we can define as ‘artificial landscapes’ can acquire new aesthetic qualities through strategies of regeneration. These are based on the conservation of industrial artefacts and buildings that are at the origin of profound environmental changes. The Scientific Committee seeks contributions aimed at analysing the evolution of processes of production deeply rooted in specific territorial contexts. The Scientific Committee also welcomes contributions on environmental reintegration with specific reference to the transformations caused by the process of industrialisation Particular attention will be dedicated to the reclaiming of land (draining) and the ‘re-naturalisation’ of mining and industrial sites.
