Dal silenzio del chiostro al rumore dell’abbandono. Proposte per il recupero non sordido delle antiche insulae conventuali di Salerno

The practice of reusing abandoned religious buildings is particularly felt both by the civil and ecclesial communities which over the centuries has recognized themselves in these artefacts, in their form, style, and material and immaterial values. In the complexity of the theme, it is necessary to encourage people to work with particular caution to avoid improper uses and to consider the historical, artistic, and architectural peculiarities. Since 2018, the Holy See has encouraged the production of recommendations particularly oriented towards new functional choices capable of preserving the artefact’s material and spiritual value, not causing damage to the works. The research focuses on the conventual insula of the historic centre of the city of Saler-no, rich in abandoned religious buildings, defined for their size and the particular spatial and architectural connotations “Edifici Mondo”. These buildings were subject to international competition in 1997 which unfortunately had no results. This contribution provides a methodological approach in the search for a new compatible function, according to the new programmatic lines and the principles of architectural conservation and recovery discipline.