Social, economic and industrial developments have left architectural compounds and urban areas disposed of or at risk of abandonment. Architectural and urban adaptive reuse has been sought as a solution, but a large body of literature draws attention to the consequences of economically driven regeneration in establishing social and economic restructuring, causing the marginalisation of underprivileged communities, and how such schemes could encourage the commodification of historic assets. In addition, the lack of community engagement in adaptive reuse and conservation strategies affects the outcomes of these processes, which results in new areas that do not represent the values and aspirations of contemporary communities. Therefore, appropriate strategies for architectural and urban conservation and adaptive reuse are crucial for activating the role of heritage, as a cultural product, and design, as a creative practice, in promoting sustainable growth and stimulating urban and rural regeneration and community resilience within the historic context.

With the emergence of key international initiatives such the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape HUL approach for appropriate adaptive reuse strategies, it has become apparent that heritage assets are critical catalysts that stimulate environmental, economic and community regeneration of the historic built environment; thus, the sensitive and innovative reuse of historic buildings and areas is needed, and by doing so, promoting locally accepted regeneration, community appreciation and the preservation and management of these heritage assets. This emphasises the need to juxtaposition research and practice with community engagement to synthesise impactful adaptive reuse strategies and schemes that reconnect communities to their heritage and help them understand their past and communal identity, consequently enhancing their wellbeing.

With the emergence of community-led approaches and tools for the interpretation and valuation of cultural heritage (e.g. critical heritage, cultural mapping, etc.), adaptive reuse strategies have been diversified, using design and conservation as tools to regenerate historic and heritage places while promoting their tangible and intangible heritage dimensions. Thus, this Topical Collection is in collaboration with the IEREK International Conference on the Conservation of Architectural Heritage and aims to serve as a platform to assemble such recent and innovative research findings and draw attention to different approaches relating to the field of adaptive reuse and architectural conservation. Through an open access mode, the Topical Collection intends to continuously disseminate this knowledge widely at a time when the heritage context is facing critical challenges posed by urbanisation and the need for economic development.  The discussion in this Topical Collection intends to cover diverse types of historic and modern heritage and to focus on (but is not limited to) the following thematic areas:

• Conservation, adaptive reuse and creative placemaking;
• The role of conservation and adaptive reuse in climate adaptation;
• Post-conflict heritage regeneration;
• Memorization through heritage conservation and adaptive reuse;
• Heritage conservation and adaptive reuse as a peace making strategy;
• The contribution of architectural design (and/or) communities to heritage preservation, conservation and adaptive reuse;
• The contribution of new technologies (e.g., HBIM);
• Critical heritage for inclusive adaptive reuse and conservation strategies;
• Adaptive reuse of urban/architectural military and industrial heritage;
• The role of urban conservation and adaptive reuse in equitable development;
• Rural heritage contribution to sustainable development and resilient communities;
• Coastal heritage and its adaptive reuse;
• Cultural landscape revitalization strategies;
• Cultural mapping, cartography and palimpsest as tools for heritage adaptive reuse.

Dr. Tarek Teba

Associate Professor in Architectural Heritage, Portsmouth School of Architecture, Art and Design, University of Portsmouth, UK.

Dr. Tarek Teba is an Associate Professor in Architectural Heritage in School of Architecture, University of Portsmouth and the Chair for ICOMOS UK Digital Technology National Committee. Tarek is the Course leader of MA Architecture: Building and Heritage Conservation and the co-chair of the University of Portsmouth Heritage Research Hub. Tarek’s research concerns the conservation of tangible and intangible heritage through creating the balance between contemporary values via community engagement and historic, aesthetic and cultural values. Tarek explores methodological approaches to preserve the cultural and contemporary social values embedded in heritage assets and cities. He uses community engagement and cultural mapping as an informing tool and a virtual modelling and digital heritage approaches as a vehicle to deliver adaptation and development strategies.

Prof. Elisa Pilia

Assistant Professor, Department of Civil-Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Cagliari, Italy.

Elisa is Assistant Professor type A in the field of Restoration at the Department of Civil-Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Cagliari. She is a Conservator of Architectural and Environmental Heritage, a PhD in Civil Engineering and Architecture (in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh – Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies), and Specialist in Architectural and Landscape Heritage (University of Naples Federico II). She is currently a member of SIRA - Italian Society for Architectural Conservation/ Restoration, of ReUSO ETS Association and of AIPAI - Association for Industrial Archaeological Heritage.
Elisa’s research concerns the protection, conservation, enhancement and sustainable re-use projects of the historical-architectural heritage with a particular interest in heritage in the state of ruination, in rural and urban contexts both nationally and internationally; disused (and not) defense and military complexes and structures with perspectives of restoration and dual-use; conventual religious architecture and industrial archaeology studied from a typological, historical-cultural and architectural points of view; abandoned villages in Sardinia for the proposal of future scenarios through a multidisciplinary approach; HBIM, technological tools and development of innovative approaches to support the scientific research and the restoration project. The interdisciplinary methodology of investigation of the historic built environment, on the architectural, urban and territorial scales, concerns the application of indirect and direct methods of analysis (including non-destructive diagnostic techniques and tools) supported by archaeometric, mineropetrographic and mensiochronological studies referring to traditional masonry construction techniques, studies of the archaeology of elevations and urban stratigraphy for the definition of relative and absolute chronologies, with particular attention to minor historic centers.

Prof. Francesco Novelli

Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Design (DAD), Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy.

Prof. Francesco Novelli is an Associate Professor at the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD), Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy. His academic and research activities focus on the fields of architectural heritage conservation, sustainable restoration, and urban regeneration. He has extensive experience in developing strategies that integrate innovative technologies with traditional preservation methods to ensure the long-term resilience and adaptive reuse of historic environments. Prof. Novelli has participated in numerous national and international research projects, collaborating with universities, cultural institutions, and professional organizations to promote interdisciplinary approaches to architectural conservation and urban sustainability. His work bridges the gap between academic research and practical application, exploring how cultural heritage can serve as a driver for sustainable development and social innovation. At the Polytechnic University of Turin, he teaches courses in architectural restoration, building conservation, and heritage management, guiding students in combining historical knowledge with contemporary design practices. He has also contributed to several scientific publications and conferences, sharing his insights on topics such as conservation methodologies, documentation of historic buildings, and the relationship between heritage, technology, and community identity. Prof. Novelli continues to play an active role in advancing the dialogue between heritage preservation and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of cultural continuity in shaping future urban environments.

Prof. Mario Santana-Quintero

Professor, Architectural Conservation and Sustainability, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University. Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS) Faculty, Canada.

Professor Santana Quintero has contributed to conserving precious world heritage sites worldwide thanks to his innovative digital documentation methods. He is cross-appointed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Azrieli School of Architecture & Urbanism, both in the Faculty of Engineering and Design at Carleton University. Also, Carleton Immersive Media Studio Lab (CIMS) faculty member. Besides his academic work in Canada, he served as the immediate past Secretary-General of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), treasurer of ICOMOS Canada, and he is one the Honorary President of the ICOMOS Scientific Committee on Heritage Documentation (CIPA).

Prof. Emanuele Morezzi

Associate Professor of Architectural Preservation, Department of Architecture and Design, Polytechnic University of Turin, Italy.

Emanuele Morezzi is an Associate Professor of Architectural Preservation and Restoration and a member of the board of the PhD in Architectural Heritage and Landscape of the Polytechnic University of Turin. Since 2010, he has been a professor in Bachelor and M.Sc. programs in courses about the theory and history of restoration and design studios. His main areas of research concern buildings in the state of ruins. In this field, he has directed his interests towards archaeological heritage with several projects in collaboration with museums and archaeological parks and towards dissonant heritage with ongoing projects of national and international character. He is a founding member of the international research center FoRS - Focus on Ruskin Studies.

Dr. Spela Hudnik

Associate Professor at the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Architecture, Slovenia. 

Dr. Spela Hudnik is an Associate Professor at the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Architecture, bringing more than 20 years of expertise in architecture, research, and education. She co-founded MONOCHROME ARCHITECTS in 1986 and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Ljubljana. Her work primarily focuses on global spatial transformations, encompassing social and cultural contexts, heritage, border regions, postindustrial spaces, and military architecture. She collaborates with international institutions and is actively involved in EU research projects, including Marie-Curie, Creative Europe, and HEI- TRANSFROM. Dr. Hudnik, known for her innovative and multidisciplinary approach, organized the Architecture Biennale Ljubljana. Her studio's projects stretch across Europe with a focus on sustainable architecture, highlighted by her longstanding role on the scientific committee of the GA Global Award of Sustainable Architecture in Paris. She engages in international workshops and holds visiting professorships in multiple European cities.

Prof. Oliver Kinnane

School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin, Ireland. 

Oliver Kinnane is Head of the School of Architecture, Planning, and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin. Oliver has a keen interest in conserving our built heritage. His research bridges conservation and science. Currently he leads a team of researchers (Walker, Hofheinz, and Engel-Purcell) focused on the testing of traditional building fabrics and the detailed analysis of the hygrothermal properties of the materials they were constructed with (FabTrads project). A follow on project (TradFabs) goes beyond the characterization of walls by individual materials and tests and analyses optimum retrofit options for traditional and historic structures considering their complex hygrothermal performance.

Prof. Bianca Gioia Marino

Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy. 

Bianca Gioia Marino, architect, a specialist in Monument Restoration and PhD in Conservation of Architectural Heritage, is Full Professor of Architectural Restoration at the Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture (DiST), University of Naples Federico II. She is an expert member and coordinator of ICOFORT and member of the Teaching Board of the Doctorate in Architecture at DiARC. You are a teacher at the School of Specialization in Architectural and Landscape Heritage of Naples. You are the author of over one hundred essays, you are the scientific director of a PRIN project; scientific director of the FREQUENZE2 conservation|restoration|architecture series, as well as member of scientific and editorial committees of class A magazines.

Prof. Andrés Martínez-Medina

 Professor at Graphic Expression, Composition and Project, University of Alicante, Spain.

Andrés Martínez Medina, Ph.D. in architecture from the UPV since 1995, is a professor at the University of Alicante in the field of intervention in architectural heritage. He is an expert in the history and heritage of 120th century architecture in the Spanish Mediterranean, with special attention to military heritage. He has published books, chapters, articles and communications at specialized international conferences. Of his production, the books stand out: 'Arquitectura del sol – sunland architecture' (2002), 'Drawings and architecture of Miguel López González, 1932-1968' (2008), 'Architectures for the defense of the Mediterranean coast, 1936-1939' (2016) and 'Cuaderno de Nueva Tabarca...' (2021).

Prof. Sara Di Resta

  Università Iuav di Venezia, Department of Architecture and Arts.

Sara Di Resta is an Associate Professor of Architectural Preservation at Università Iuav di Venezia. Architect, Ph.D. in ‘Conservation of Architectural Heritage’, her research activities are focused on the conservation of 20th-century heritage and on the architectural language in conservation design. She is responsible for Education and Internalization of SSIBAP - the Specialization School on Architectural and Environmental Heritage in Venice. In 2017 she won a Gold Medal at the VI Domus International Prize for Architectural Conservation. She is an executive board member of Docomomo Italia and former executive board member of SIRA - the Italian Society of Architectural Conservation.

Prof. Valentina Pintus

  University of Cagliari, Department of Civil, Environmental Engineering and Architecture, Italy

Valentina is an Assistant professor in Restoration (Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Cagliari). She is a Conservator of Architectural and Environmental Heritage and holds a Ph.D. (2017) in Technologies for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (University of Cagliari). Valentina is also the author of publications on the protection, conservation, and enhancement of the historical-architectural heritage, with particular attention to fortified heritage and historical production landscape; other interests include the reuse of former ancient prisons, both nationally and internationally, the urban conservation methodologies and gender studies applied to the heritage preservation field. She is a lecturer at the School of Specialisation in Architectural and Landscape Heritage (University of Cagliari), co-director of the book series “Continuità”, published by UNICApress, and consultant for heritage conservation.

Dr. Marie-Thérèse van Thoor

  Associate Professor in Heritage & Architecture, Department of Architectural Engineering & Technology, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands.

Marie-Thérèse van Thoor (PhD) is trained as an architectural historian and works as an associate professor at the section of Heritage & Architecture of TUDelft. Her publications, research, education, and Ph.D. supervision expose theory and practice both in architectural history and heritage studies. The focus of her work lies in Dutch pre-war architecture, in particular the work of G.T. Rietveld, post-war public buildings, UNESCO World Heritage and cultural values (assessment). She was co-editor and co-author of publications about the restoration and transformation of the Sanatorium Zonnestraal and the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, and editor-in-chief of the academic journal Bulletin KNOB.

Dr. Kanika Bansal

  Professor & Dean Academics, Chitkara School of Planning & Architecture, Chitkara University, India.

Dr. Kanika Bansal is presently working as a Professor & Dean of Academics with the Chitkara School of Planning & Architecture (CSPA), Chitkara University, Punjab, India. She completed her Doctoral studies at GNDU, Amritsar in “Built Heritage Conservation in the Colonial Hill Towns of India”. With more than two decades of professional and academic experience, Dr. Bansal excels in academic leadership, teaching, research, consulting, training, and mentorship through her innovative initiatives for student and faculty development. She has been bestowed with several awards for her contribution in the field of academics and research such as the Academic Achiever Award, Women Researcher Award, and Emerging Leader Award, to name a few. She has to her credit three design patents granted, many research publications in reputed national & international Journals and conferences, and has been invited as a resource person in various national and international forums.

Prof. Caterina Giannattasio

  Department of Civil-Environmental Engineering and Architecture - DICAAR | University of Cagliari, Italy

Architect, PhD in History and Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Full Professor of Restoration. Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Director of the School of Specialization in Architectural and Landscape Heritage, and Director of the “Cagliari Accessibility Lab” Interdepartmental Center. Visiting professors in Italian and European universities. The more recent researchs topics concern the relationship between Ancient and New, the reuse of abandoned buildings, specifically of Heterotopic spaces (prisons, asylums, hospitals), the contribution of women in the field of conservation, as well as conservation and restoration questions, at the urban and architectural scale.

Dr. Sultan Almutery

  Assistant Professor - collage of cultural heritage and museum, The Royal Institute of Traditional Art, Saudi Arabia.

Sultan Almutery, an architect and academic since 2007, specializes in architectural and urban conservation. Holding a PhD in Urban Studies from Université Jean Moulin Lyon III, he has contributed to heritage projects and academic curricula, emphasizing the integration of traditional and modern design. At first at King Saud University and currently in the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts.

Dr. Ahmed Alaidarous

  Dean of Cultural Heritage and Museums College, collage of Cultural Heritage and Museum, The Royal Institute of Traditional Art, Saudi Arabia.

An architectural academic with scientific and practical experience in the management and preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Experience in developing educational and training programs, especially those related to traditional arts and cultural heritage. Specializing in the fields of cultural heritage documentation and architectural conservation of cultural heritage sites.

Prof. Du Qian

  Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Design, China.

Dr. Qian Du is a lecturer at the Department of Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. She currently serves as the course director of the M.Arch. (International) program and the vice director of the International Research Centre for Architectural Heritage Conservation (IRCAHC) at SJTU. Dr. Du's research interests include the theory of architectural conservation, conservation technology, history of building technology, and conservation for traditional rural settlements, with a particular focus on the comparison of conserving and revitalizing architectural heritage in cross-cultural contexts. She actively participates in architectural heritage conservation practices in China and traditional village revitalization efforts.

Prof. Marina Docci

  Department of History, Design and Restoration of Architecture, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Marina Docci is Associate Professor of Architectural Restoration at Sapienza University of Rome. She teaches in Architecture master's degree course and is member of the Doctoral Board in History, Representation and Restoration of Architecture. Currently, she is a member of the Board of Directors and vice-president of AIPAI- Italian Association for Industrial Archaeological Heritage (2022-2025), member of SIRA-Italian Society for the Restoration of Architecture. She carries out her research in the field of conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage, focusing on the analysis and evaluation of the transformation processes both of the city and its architecture, particularly on the knowledge and recovery of disused industrial heritage. She is the author of numerous publications and a member of the editorial board of the scientific journals «Patrimonio Industriale» and «Bollettino del Centro di Studi per la Storia dell’Architettura».

Prof. Renata Prescia

  Professor of Monument Restoration at the Department of Architecture, University of Palermo (UNIPA), Italy.

Renata Prescia is a Full Professor of Monument Restoration in the Architecture degree course, of which she is Coordinator, in the Department of Architecture, University of Palermo (UNIPA), where she is also a member of the teaching staff of the Doctorate in Architecture, Arts, and Planning. He is a member of the Ministerial Commission on Restoration Teaching. His research is mainly focused on the connections between history, design, and restoration characterizing interventions on pre-existing buildings and historic cities with particular reference to their accessibility and valorization. He coordinated the INTERREG Italy-Malta “I-Access” project on these topics (2018-21). She is the author of various contributions presented at international conferences and/or published in books and magazines.

Dr. Philip Crowe

  Assistant Professor in Climate Responsive Design at University College Dublin, School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy, and School of Civil Engineering, Ireland.

Dr Philip Crowe is University College Dublin (UCD) Assistant Professor for Climate Responsive Design in the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy (APEP) and the School of Civil Engineering. He is co-Director of UCD Centre for Irish Towns; Programme Director of the MSc in Architecture, Urbanism and Climate Action; and Director of Research in UCD APEP. Philip is working on a range of EU and nationally funded research projects relating to town revitalization, vacancy and adaptive reuse, compact urban growth, urban resilience, heritage reactivation, and citizen participation in processes of change. He was Director of Sustainable Design at M.CO (Dublin) 2003-2012.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Aktüre

  Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH) Department of Architecture, Turkey.

Dr. Zeynep Aktüre is a restoration architect teaching architectural and urban design and history, conservation in archaeological sites, and management of heritage sites at Izmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH). Her current research and publications are on the UNESCO World Heritage Programme; conservation history, modern uses and digital visualizations of cultural heritage sites and monuments; politics of cultural heritage, and museum studies. She is a member of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO’s Tangible Heritage Committee (Vice President), ICOMOS ISC on Places of Religion and Ritual, ICOMOS Turkey National Committee, Mediterranean Studies Association, and Society of Architectural Historians (SAH), among others.

Prof. Nevin Gharibüre

  Professor of Architecture and Heritage Preservation. Acting Dean & Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs at Alexandria University.

Nevin Gharib, a Professor of Architecture and Heritage Preservation, serves as the Acting Dean & Vice Dean for Education and Student Affairs at the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University. She holds a BSc (1994) and an MSc (1999) from Alexandria University, followed by a PhD (2003) in a program of Data Collection at The University of Rome I La Sapienza, Italy (awarded by Alexandria University). Her research papers are published in international journals, including the “International Journal for Housing Science”. Since 2017, she has led the “City Transformation Lab” at Alexandria University. Nevin actively participated in international cooperation projects, such as Erasmus+KA2 IMPAQT, KassAlex with Kassel University (Germany), and the MIDDLE EASTERN HERITAGE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH HUB with Portsmouth University (UK). She is the Principal Investigator for two other funded projects from the EU & DAAD. Additionally, Nevin contributes to the Scientific Committee for Examination of Scientific Production for the Positions of Professors and Assistant Professors in Architecture and Urban Planning at the Supreme Council of Universities under the Ministry of Higher Education in Egypt. Her involvement extends to organizing national and international workshops across various cities from 2013 to 2024.

Prof. Pietro Matracchi

  Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Italy.

Pietro Matracchi, architect, associate professor of Architectural Restoration at the Department of Architecture of the University of Florence. His scientific achievements are characterised by studies on the analysis of the architectural artifacts. He developed an architectural diagnostics that aims to increase the knowledge both of the construction techniques and of the construction phases related to the building site operational aspects, focusing also the conservation problems of the materials and structures. In the field of architectural diagnostics of monumental buildings, he provides consultancy services for both public and private institutions.

Prof. Edoardo Currà

 Associate professor of architectural engineering at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy.

Edoardo Currà is associate professor of architectural engineering at Sapienza University in Rome. He is president of AIPAI-TICCIH Italia, the Italian association for archaeological and industrial heritage. He coordinates studies and programmes related to the knowledge of modern architecture, the relationships between technology, construction and industrial culture.

Dr. Fernando Cobos

 Vice-President of the International Committee of ICOMOS-ICOFORT.

Dr Architect and Civil Engineer of Spain, author of dozens of Master Plans and heritage restoration works in Spain and abroad, including the castles of La Mota, Ponferrada and Cornatel in Castilla y León, the Renaissance walls of Ibiza, the Royal Hospital in Santiago de Compostela or the walls of Almazán, Soria and Talavera, for which he has received numerous national and international awards. He is the author of 12 books and more than a hundred published studies on the history of fortification and urban planning and on research methodology and heritage restoration. He is a Master and PhD lecturer at several Spanish universities, a consultant for UNESCO, and is currently Vice-President of the International Committee of ICOMOS-ICOFORT.

Prof. Andrea Ugolini

  Department of Architecture at Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy.

Andrea Ugolini is an associate professor of architectural restoration. His research and teaching focus on the conservation and management of cultural heritage, with a particular emphasis on masonry ruins and archaeological sites. Since 2007, he has pursued a professional career in these areas. As an expert, Ugolini has taken part in excavation projects in Italy and abroad, and he has recently contributed to the preparation of the master plan and several conservation projects for the Etruscan site of Populonia. He is responsible for agreements with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage for the development of plans for preventive and planned conservation of archaeological sites.

Prof. Valeria Pracchi

  Department of Architecture, Construction Engineering and Built Environment at Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

Valeria Pracchi, Ph.D., Full Professor in Architectural Restoration, is currently deputy director of the Post Graduate Degree - School of Architectural and Landscape Heritage in Politecnico of Milan. She is a member of the scientific society SIRA (Italian Society for the Restoration of Architecture) since its foundation. She participated in several national and international research projects; she organized or participated as a speaker in more than 60 scientific conferences in Italy and abroad and authored over one hundred and twenty essays, and 4 monographs and edited 4 books. In the last years, her research mainly focus on the energy efficiency in historic buildings.

Dr. CHO Doo-Won

  President of ICOMOS-ICOFORT.

Dr. CHO Doo-Won is a World Heritage expert esp. in field of Fortifications and Military Heritage and has lectured on conservation principles, conservation and management focused on World Heritage at several universities in Korea since 2015. He successfully led a project on World Heritage Nomination of Namhansanseong (2010-2014) of ROK. He is currently serving as a Vice President of ICOMOS KOREA (2024-2026), a board member of ICOMOS International (2024-2026) and President of ICOMOS-ICOFORT (2023-2025) and took the position of General Secretary, Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator (2019-2022) and Vice-President (2015-2019) of ICOMOS-ICOFORT. He participated in the formulation of ‘ICOMOS Guidelines on Fortifications and Military Heritage (2021)’ prepared by ICOFORT and of ‘the Korean Conservation Principles on Cultural Heritage through value-based approaches’ as one of task force members designed by Korea Heritage Service & ICOMOS Korea (2021-2022).

Prof. Nino Sulfaro

  Associate Professor of Architectural Conservation SSD CEAR-11/B at the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, dArTe – Department of Architecture, Italy.

He is the author of several essays and studies relating to the theory and practice of architectural preservation. In particular, in recent years the research activities have been aimed, on the one hand, at investigating the role of the reuse of architecture in the conservation project, investigating its methodological and theoretical aspects, also in relation to the intersections of this theme with other disciplines; the encounter and contamination of the discipline of restoration with the social sciences, however, has also characterized and stimulated research on the so-called "difficult heritages", deepening how this concept is translated in the context of the intervention on the pre-existing architecture. The most recent research activities are addressed to the study of the depopulation processes of small towns in Italian southern inner areas and strategies for the conservation and enhancement of abandoned heritage, with particular reference to the Calabria region (Italy). He is a member of the Scientific Committee of the open access journal “ArcHistoR - Architecture History Restoration”, and of “Intrecci – International Journal of Architectural Conservation and Restoration”. He is also editor and member of the Scientific Secretary of the Journal “Storia urbana” (Franco Angeli Editore).

Prof. Paolo Vitti

  Associate Professor of the Practice at the University of Notre Dame, Italy.

Paolo Vitti is a practicing architect and historian of architecture: He is an expert in ancient and modern architecture, restoration of cultural heritage sites, sustainable architecture, construction history, and museum design. Prof. Vitti is particularly interested in the use of traditional building techniques and their relationship with sustainable architecture. His professional experience includes the documentation, study, and conservation of several sites in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Cyprus, Palestine, and Morocco. He has worked in such monuments as the Colosseum, the Domus Tiberiana on the Palatine Hill, the archeological sites of Paestum and Sybaris, and Maqam en Nabi Musa in Jericho. His restoration of the Armenian Church and Monastery in Nicosia (Cyprus) has received the "European Heritage Award/Europa Nostra Award" in 2015. His book "Building Roman Greece. Innovation in Vaulted Construction in the Peloponnese" received Grand Prix "European Union Cultural Heritage Award / Europa Nostra" 2014 and "The Erma di Bretschneider Award in Archeology for the Research" 2014. He is a Board Member of Europa Nostra, the pan European Association for Cultural Heritage, and part of the expert group for several activities, including the action addressed to mitigate and adapt to climate change. From 2002 to 2015 tutor at the Course of Restoration of Monuments at the Sapienza University of Rome. From 2010 to 2016 adjunct professor at the University of Rochester “Italian Studies in Tuscany” program in Arezzo. Visiting Associate Professor of Ancient Architecture at the University of Rome Tre from 2014 to 2020. In 2015, instructor of Cultural Heritage Management for the Specialization in Archeology at the University of Padua. and in 2018 Visiting professor at the Specialization in Archeology of the University of Salerno. In 2017/22 he held several courses on Architectural Conservation in Morocco.

Ing. Gerco Meijer

  Heritage consultant and technician at Hylkema Erfgoed B.V. Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Ever since 1996 Gerrit Meijer has been involved to heritage. Private houses, Industrial complexes, churches, and forts. Previously through his own company bunkerQ and now through Hylkema Erfgoed in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He has been a designer, thinker and advisor. Art projects like ‘chestnut’ and ‘shelter for a shelter’, architectural projects on Fort ’t Hemeltje and Fort Vechten, economic survey ‘raming instandhouding Nieuwe Hollandse Waterlinie’, database design ‘Heritage Development Model’ and large scale landscape masterplans like ‘defense park Hoek van Holland’. He is a board member of ICOMOS Netherlands and European coordinator for ICOFORT, the ICOMOS ISC on military heritage.

Prof. Carla Bartolozzi

  Full Professor of Restoration at the Department of Architecture and Design, Polytechnic of Turin, Italy.

Coordinator of the College of Architecture; Scientific Manager of the Non-destructive Diagnostics Laboratory. Member of the Board of CHG (Construction History Group) Polito. Among the research carried out as Scientific Director, we highlight: Instead of Restoration: culture and practice of maintenance as a preventive or accompanying tool (2013-15); Technologies applied to the valorization and conservation of cultural heritage: Italy-Algeria bilateral project (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2016); Save the traditional Village: with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (China, since 2016); European Erasmus+ project: ERAMCA (Environmental risk assessment and mitigation on Cultural Heritage assets in Central Asia), responsible for the Restoration area since 2020. You have designed and directed numerous restoration interventions in Italy.

Dr Ruxandra-Iulia Stoica

  The University of Edinburgh, UK.

Lecturer in Architectural Conservation, Director PhD in Architecture by Research and Depute Director, Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies, Stoica is a registered architect and urbanist specializing in the historic environment. Her research, teaching, and consultancy work focuses on the evolving field of theory and methodology of conservation approaches for built heritage as a dynamic system of both physical (man-made & natural) and social elements. Expert Member of ICOMOS ISC TheoPhilos, member of Forum UNESCO – University and Heritage and Una Europa SSC Cultural Heritage.

prof. arch. Renata Picone

  Full Professor of Restoration - President of the Italian Society for the Restoration of Architecture (SIRA) Department of Architecture (DiArc), University of Naples Federico II, Italy.

Renata Picone is a Full Professor of Architecture Conservation at the University of Naples Federico II, Department of Architecture. She is President of the SIRA - Società Italiana per il Restauro dell’Architettura (Scientific Society of Italian Professors of Architecture Conservation) for the three-year period 2023-2026. She has been Director of the School of Specialization of Architectural Heritage and Landscape of the University of Naples Federico II for the six-year period from 2017 to 2023 She is Architect, and Ph.D. in Conservation of Architectural Heritage at La Sapienza University of Rome. She is among the board of professors of the Ph.D. course in “Archeologia e culture del Mediterraneo antico. Ricerca storica, conservazione e fruizione" (Archeology and Cultures of the Ancient Mediterreanea. Historic Research, Conservation and Fruition), and among the board of professors of the National Ph.D. course in Heritage Science, Architectural Heritage Curriculum, and among the board of professors of the Ph.D. in Architecture, Architectural Heritage and Landscape. History and Restoration” of the University of Naples Federico II.

prof. Nicola Macchioni

  Research Director at National Research Council of Italy, Institute of BioEconomy (CNR – IBE). Head of the Laboratory of Wood Anatomical Characterisation.

Background: Degree in Forest Sciences, and PhD in Wood Sciences. Current position: Research Director at National Research Council of Italy , Institute of BioEconomy (CNR – IBE). Head of the Laboratory of Wood Anatomical Characterisation. Research interests: Researches on anatomical wood characterisation, with a particular attention to wood in cultural heritage. Special focus on historic timber structures; on waterlogged archaeological wood; and wooden statues. Teaching activity: Teacher of “Wood anatomy and wood identification” at the University of Florence. National and international collaborations with several universities, visiting professor at ESB (F), Bournemouth Univ. (UK) and Yangzhou Univ. (CN).

Eng. Monica Stochino

Architect of the Ministry of Culture, Italy

Architect of the Ministry of Culture, since 2021 she is the Head of the local office for cultural heritage and landscape protection (Soprintendente Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per la Città metropolitana di Cagliari e le provincie di Oristano e Sud Sardegna. She has also temporarily covered the role of Regional Secretary of the same Ministry. She directs and coordinates a wide institutional activity that ranges from study and research to the administrative protection of cultural heritage and landscape, up to direct intervention in heritage conservation.

Prof. Daniela Pittaluga

Dipartimento Architettura e Design (Università degli studi di Genova), Italy

Professore Associato di Restauro (CEAR-11/B). Si occupa principalmente di archeologia dell’architettura per le costruzioni storiche e contemporanee e di interventi di conservazione del patrimonio materiale e immateriale delle aree mediterranee. Membro di Comitato Internazionale Pemanente RIPAM (Rencontre Internationale sur le Patrimoine Méditerranéen) dal 2013, Sira (Società Italiana per Il Restauro dell’Architettura) dal 2013 e ISCUM (Istituro Storia della Cultura Materiale) dal 1989, ha pubblicato diversi libri con Franco Angeli (Milano), EGIG (Genova), EPC (Roma) e oltre 300 articoli su riviste italiane e straniere. Dal 2011 dirige le attività nell’Area di Archeologia Industriale Tiziano Mannoni. Svolge la sua attività di ricerca e di didattica presso il DAD (Dipartimento di Architettura e Design) dell’Università di Genova. Associate Professor of Restoration (CEAR-1/1 B). She is mainly concerned with archaeology of architecture for historical and contemporary buildings and with the restoration and conservation of the tangible and intangible heritage of Mediterranean areas. Member of the International Pemanent Committee RIPAM (Rencontre Internationale sur le Patrimoine Méditerranéen) since 2013,Member Sira (Italian Society for the Restoration of Architecture) since 2013 and Member ISCUM (Institute for the History of Material Culture) since 1989, she has published several books with Franco Angeli (Milan), EGIG (Genoa), EPC (Rome) and over 300 articles in Italian and foreign journals. Scientific director of the “Tiziano Mannoni” Industrial Archeology Area. She carries out his research and teaching activities at DAD (University of Genoa).

Dr. Kevin Santus

Department of Architecture and Urban Studies, Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

Kevin Santus is a Ph.D. Architect, currently a Research Fellow and Adjunct Professor in Architectural Design at the Department of Architecture and Urban Studies at Politecnico di Milano. His academic work focuses on the intersection of architecture, ecology, and urban transformations, with particular attention to climate vulnerabilities. His publications and participation in international seminars focus on the impacts of the climate crisis on morphological and typological elements of design, as well as the related methodological and theoretical implications. Recently, his work has delved into the work of architects in rural areas, focusing on their relationship with local materials and reuse strategies. In addition to his academic activity, he co-founded the collective Fragile Fortuna, served as a research consultant at the Brookfield Sustainability Institute in Toronto (2022-2023), and contributes as a writer for DOMUSweb.