The year 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, an event that profoundly changed the history of the French region from all points of view, including the urban perspective. After the Second World War, the political movement of “Reconstruction” rebuilt entire neighborhoods and towns, changing forever the image of the Norman historical landscape. The reconstructed heritage is vast, widespread, but still poorly known and appreciated, especially for its more ordinary and less monumental character. However, it has recently started to be increasingly considered, especially in response to today's challenges such as reuse, energy efficiency and climate change. It is an urban heritage with an everyday dimension, in which citizens can be directly involved. The Normandy region has in the last few years created a recognition label, “Patrimoine de la Reconstruction en Normandie”, which aims to promote and enhance those municipalities that have turned its post-war heritage into a strength, an attractive component also in terms of hospitality and tourism. In addition, between November and February 2024, the urban association Territoires Pionniers and other partners (including academia) launched an architectural residence, “Reconstruction 2044” that aims to «reveal the richness and uniqueness of the reconstruction heritage and explore its potential for ecological and social transformation». Through the work of an architect and an illustrator on the field in three reconstructed cities, the goal is to help inhabitants to discover the identity of their built heritage and understand how to preserve it in the future. With the results of the two mentioned initiatives, the aim of the contribution is to understand the regenerative scenarios of the reconstructed Norman landscape and to explore the involvement of the inhabitants, to lead to a greater awareness, a better enhancement and a transition of this ordinary modern heritage towards a more prosperous future.
Lipparini, F. (2024). The landscape of the Reconstruction in Normandy: an architectural residence and a regional label for the identity and enhancement of an ordinary modern heritage.
The landscape of the Reconstruction in Normandy: an architectural residence and a regional label for the identity and enhancement of an ordinary modern heritage
Francesco Lipparini
2024
Abstract
The year 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings, an event that profoundly changed the history of the French region from all points of view, including the urban perspective. After the Second World War, the political movement of “Reconstruction” rebuilt entire neighborhoods and towns, changing forever the image of the Norman historical landscape. The reconstructed heritage is vast, widespread, but still poorly known and appreciated, especially for its more ordinary and less monumental character. However, it has recently started to be increasingly considered, especially in response to today's challenges such as reuse, energy efficiency and climate change. It is an urban heritage with an everyday dimension, in which citizens can be directly involved. The Normandy region has in the last few years created a recognition label, “Patrimoine de la Reconstruction en Normandie”, which aims to promote and enhance those municipalities that have turned its post-war heritage into a strength, an attractive component also in terms of hospitality and tourism. In addition, between November and February 2024, the urban association Territoires Pionniers and other partners (including academia) launched an architectural residence, “Reconstruction 2044” that aims to «reveal the richness and uniqueness of the reconstruction heritage and explore its potential for ecological and social transformation». Through the work of an architect and an illustrator on the field in three reconstructed cities, the goal is to help inhabitants to discover the identity of their built heritage and understand how to preserve it in the future. With the results of the two mentioned initiatives, the aim of the contribution is to understand the regenerative scenarios of the reconstructed Norman landscape and to explore the involvement of the inhabitants, to lead to a greater awareness, a better enhancement and a transition of this ordinary modern heritage towards a more prosperous future.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
