Heritage of convenience: protection of the 20th century in Pescara - myth and reality

Abstract

Pescara was born from the merger of two small existing towns, in 1926. The new town thus feels like a place with no past, no history; something that is far from the truth. This notion has endorsed the ongoing demolition and replacement, even in recent times. An initial survey of the architectural heritage carried out by L. Bartolini Salimbeni, in 1994, highlighted considerable architectural heritage, that should have been defended by a variant of the urban master plan approved in 2007. However, recent demolitions of buildings of a certain importance (the Porta Nuova Station, the former Centrale del Latte, a textile mill from the early twentieth century) proceed amid protests from citizens and associations. The Town Hall tried to remedy the situation, entrusting revision of the current urban master plan to a group of experts, who extended the work of Bartolini Salimbeni. However, the Administrative Court rejected these and other attempts of protection, disputing the application of restrictive rules on the part of the Town Hall: only the Superintendence, the local office of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, in fact, may apply such restrictions. The essay highlights the need to improve alternative means of protection instead of traditional ways. However, it also points out that, in Italy, the economic and financial aspects of “heritage” still prevail. New dangers threaten other important buildings, such as the Adriatic Stadium, designed by Luigi Piccinato (1952-56). The issue not only concerns the preservation of monuments, but also the quality of life of the inhabitants. The risk is that our towns will be reduced to mere merchandise.

Keywords: Pescara, Conservation, Nineteenth century, Demolitions, Heritage