The Local Center for the Arts and Culture La Vetreria: Example of Cultural Urban Regeneration in Pirri, Independent Municipality of Cagliari in Sardinia

Abstract

The publication of the encyclical Laudato si’, the second written by Pope Francis, is an exhortation addressed not only to Catholic Christians, but to the whole of humankind, so that everyone cooperates for the “care of the creation”. This paper refers to the fourth chapter of the letter, which suggests an “integral ecology” that respects the interconnection among the environmental, human, cultural, social and economic aspects. Indeed, the Local Center for the Arts and Culture La Vetreria realized in the independent Municipality of Pirri in Cagliari, examined in this study, constitutes an example of urban regeneration that springs from the restoration of abandoned industrial buildings and passes through the qualification of the urban space to finally reach the multiscalar regeneration of the area including physical, economic, social and cultural aspects. The works, following the examples of urban regeneration identified in the academic literature as cultural regeneration, integrate spaces specifically designed for cultural activities with areas for recreational and leisure activities. This mix of urban functions is supposed to exert great attraction over the population, so that the area connects itself to the urban routine becoming a daily destination, independent of occasional events. The research question is about the success of this project. It has been questioned whether it has been able to generate genuine urban regeneration. Visual analysis, supported by longitudinal and cross-sectional quantitative analysis of economic and demographic data, highlights the results and critical aspects of the project. It shows that economic and social conditions of the area did not actually improve. Despite the successful beautification of the area, the project has not been able either to attract other investments or to trigger socioeconomic upward mobility among the local residents. Thus, it has to be concluded that it failed to achieve its original aim.