La conoscenza finalizzata alla tutela e valorizzazione del patrimonio costruito del Novecento. Una proposta per l’Arena Puccini di Bologna / Knowledge aimed at the protection and valorisation of the 20th century built heritage. A proposal for the Puccini Arena in Bologna

The built heritage of our cities contains physical evidence documenting their recent and past history. However, these traces are difficult to distinguish by the majority of the population, especially regarding 20thcentury buildings. Therefore, several high historical value areas in the suburbs are often in a state of abandonment and decay or have slowly transformed and lost their original use. On the other hand, an excess of preservation has avoided major regeneration interventions and paradoxically led to the loss of original functions and disuse. As a result, nowadays, numerous areas can be classified as undervalued urban resources. The history of the built heritage plays a fundamental role in the rehabilitation of these areas in order to recognise and enhance the site’s cultural values and understand the building’s structural features necessary for the intervention proposals. The historical investigation is also essential to retrace the relationship between a place and its users, which is an aspect to be taken into account to restore the building’s function. This paper focuses on preserving and valorising one of these areas, the “Arena Puccini” in Bologna, an openair theatre and cinematograph from the 1930s inside the “Dopolavoro Ferroviario” park. The park and the Arena are analysed with a polythematic approach, starting from a profound knowledge of their construction and current state. The main purpose is to provide a global intervention on a multi-disciplinary level to highlight its history and, at the same time, to propose a strategy to ensure a new life.