territorial cohesion - FULL | the Future Urban Legacy Lab

RE-CODING VILLAGES / Turning vacancy into community

Lucio Beltrami — Tue, 26 May 2026 13:58:39 +0000

RE-CODING VILLAGES is the satellite event of the NEB Festival between Molise and Abruzzo, combining institutional debate and public participation to rewrite the rules governing the repopulation of left behind territories and mountain areas. The programme is spread over two days packed with discussions (Decoding the Rules) and serious games (Re-coding the Village):

Registration form: https://polito-it.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QFV_2OVmTi6kAzP-tZCexw

Download the full programme (Italian)

Friday 12 June | Castel del Giudice
The day begins with an exploration of tools for the local area: the first panel will examine the legacy of the PNRR and future planning strategies for small towns, whilst the second will focus on ‘invisible infrastructure’, new economies and the essential services that make life in these towns possible.
In the afternoon, theory gives way to action with a Serious Game session, and concluding with a moment of celebration and sharing at the Community Warming Party.

09:30 Registration
09:45 Official greetings

10:00 Panel Next Gen EU Legacy
11:45 Panel The (In)visible Infrastructure

13:15 Light lunch

14:30 Serious game
18:30 Community Warming Party

Saturday 13 June | Gagliano Aterno
The forum moves to Abruzzo to tackle one of the most complex challenges: the right to live in inland areas. The “New Housing Models” panel will bring together institutions, academics and third-sector organisations to explore cooperative and innovative housing models.

10:00 Registration
10:15 Official greetings

10:30 Panel New Housing Models

12:30 Light lunch

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Alpine Crescent

Lucio Beltrami — Fri, 09 May 2025 14:14:21 +0000

The research project Mezzaluna Alpina (Alpine Crescent) explores the social, economic and territorial transformations of the Cuneo Alpine arc, starting from the complex interactions between urban and mountain areas. By integrating quantitative analyses of existing data and qualitative field surveys, the project aims to understand the daily practices of life, work and mobility, as well as the perceptions and aspirations of the inhabitants of the metro-mountain territory. The report Mezzaluna Alpina – Dinamiche e prospettive dei territori metromontani (Alpine Crescent – Dynamics and prospects of mountain-urban areas) is the result of a structured process of listening to and analysing territorial needs, aimed at supporting the definition of strategic scenarios for the sustainable development and enhancement of the resources of the Alpine Crescent.

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Val Simeto Etna

Lucio Beltrami — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 10:13:51 +0000

The project provides scientific and methodological support for shaping the Territorial Strategy of the Val Simeto-Etna Inner Area, helping to define priority actions for funding in the 2021-2027 programming cycle. It involves the municipalities of Adrano, Biancavilla, Centuripe, and Santa Maria di Licodia, aiming to tackle demographic decline and foster new ways of living and working in areas facing territorial marginalization.

Through spatial analysis, advanced mapping, and participatory processes, FULL contributes to building a cohesive strategic vision, focused on enhancing essential services, boosting local economies, and leveraging environmental sustainability as a driver of long-term development.

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Alpine Crescent

Lucio Beltrami — Sat, 12 Oct 2024 15:02:00 +0000

The Cuneo area is characterized by a rich orographic structure, defined by the unique relationship between its mountainous system and the plain, where the main urban centers are located. Its crescent-shaped morphology is reflected in a comb-like valley system that stretches along the western and southern edges, where the Alps curve and mark a discontinuity between Piedmont and Liguria. The cities of Saluzzo, Cuneo, and Mondovì, together with the valley floor areas, maintain a strong functional, cultural, and symbolic connection with the surrounding valleys, shaping a distinct metromountain identity.

In this context, the ‘Alpine Crescent’ emerges as a living laboratory for observing emerging practices and envisioning scenarios for a ‘new mountain’. With this aim, the Politecnico di Torino launched a collaboration with the Municipality of Cuneo to analyze ongoing dynamics, outline development perspectives, and identify challenges and opportunities—promoting an integrated vision based on strategic and negotiated processes.

The ‘Alpine Crescent’ research project investigates the social, economic, and territorial transformations of the Cuneo alpine arc, focusing on the complex interactions between urban and mountain areas. Through quantitative data analysis and qualitative fieldwork, the project explores everyday practices of living, working, and mobility, as well as local perceptions and aspirations. The report “Mezzaluna alpina – Dynamics and Prospects of Metromountain Territories” presents the outcomes of this comprehensive listening and analysis process, supporting the development of strategic scenarios for sustainable growth and the enhancement of local resources.

The results, developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Cuneo and specifically with the Department for Metromountain Areas, include mapping residents’ mobility patterns, identifying emerging perceptions of the mountain, and highlighting key figures to deepen strategic issues—contributing to the construction of new visions for the contemporary mountain.

Scarica qui il report della ricerca.

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Territorial strategies in cohesion policy: governance, participation and institutional capacity

Lucio Beltrami — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 10:45:00 +0000

On Monday 15 April 2024, the event entitled ‘The territorial strategies of the cohesion policy: governance, participation and institutional capacity’ will be held at the Politecnico di Milano. It will be organised by CRAFT – Centre of Competence for Anti-Fragile Territories of the DAStU – Politecnico di Milano, and will see the participation of FULL – Future Urban Legacy Lab (interdepartmental centre of the Politecnico di Torino) in the round table entitled ‘Counteracting territorial gaps by mobilising local actors’.

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ESPON SMST

Lucio Beltrami — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:09:00 +0000

The core mission of EU cohesion policy is to reduce regional disparities and promote long-term regional development. To achieve this goal, investments in public services, infrastructure, skills and multi-level governance have continued to foster convergence in recent years; however, as the investment effort is often concentrated in large urban areas, small and medium-sized towns risk being left behind.
To this end, the ESPON project “Small and medium-sized towns and cities: policies strengthening their role in achieving active, inclusive, and functional territories” focuses on their prosperity and aspires to provide policy-makers at all levels, from European to local level.
The FULL research centre of the Politecnico di Torino dealt with an analysis of the Italian case at a national scale and an analysis at a local level, focusing on the role of small and medium-sized cities in rural and Piedmont contexts. The work produced policy recommendations on how to strengthen small and medium-sized cities so that they can become key contributors to the achievement of a more balanced territorial development as well as economic, social and territorial cohesion.

Read the working papers here

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