Bunkers after bunkers: cross-conservation and enhancement experiences between Italy and Portugal

The essay explores the after-life of military structures questioning what could be the contemporary meaning of dissonant heritage sites. It describes two military landscapes, delves into the state of conservation of the surviving network of bunkers, investigates their legal protection regime as well as local communities’ perceptions of these legacies, and finally it illustrates ongoing regeneration practices and possible management models that may result. By means of similarities and differences between the Italian and Portuguese context, the goal is to share value-oriented strategies in the approach to a difficult heritage as well as quality-based solutions for the conscious integration between heritage conservation and sustainable urban development.