Participatory processes, social innovation and adaptive reuse for Cultural Heritage of Religious Communities

Deadlines: 21st June 2027 / 6th July 2026
Call for contributions – Call for Applications

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM & SUMMER SCHOOL
Participatory processes, social innovation and adaptive reuse for Cultural Heritage of Religious Communities
an initiative promoted by “In_bo. Ricerche e progetti per il territorio, la città e l’architettura”, Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca, Centro Studi Cherubino Ghirardacci

Workshop: August 30^th – September 6^th, 2026
Symposium: September 2nd-3rd
Location: Lucca (LU)
Info: https://www.ghirardacci.org/summerschool

Western countries are experiencing a massive decline in religious orders, leaving behind extensive real estate complexes that are often underutilised or decommissioned. The closure and disposal of these assets represent an impoverishment for local communities and pose a concrete risk of dispersing valuable tangible and intangible heritage.
At the same time, sustainable long-term enhancement strategies can preserve the original social and charismatic matrix of these complexes, transforming them into opportunities for cultural and social regeneration. Given their scale and historical role, they can become true “social lungs”, helping to address housing needs and situations of social vulnerability.
How should communities approach the regeneration of these complexes? What methods and processes can be adopted? What legal frameworks govern these properties?


The International Summer School aims to explore these questions through two complementary components:

• An educational workshop aimed at students, PhD candidates, and young researchers in the fields of Architecture, Engineering (Building and Management), Economics, Cultural Heritage, and Law. Participants will be guided in the design of adaptive reuse processes for the former Monastery of Sant’Agostino in Vicopelago.

• A symposium, providing a forum for researchers, professionals, and experts in urban planning and policy to discuss ongoing processes, success stories, and emerging models or procedures for the enhancement of former ecclesiastical assets. The goal is to establish a “taxonomy” of reuse—an atlas of cases to support nascent processes and provide a practical tool for new projects.