THE CASE OF THE ORATORY OF SAN ROCCO IN SORAGNA (PARMA): FROM ABANDONMENT TO HEALTH FACILITY. AN INTEGRATED RESTORATION PROCESS

It’s well known that the identification of the most appropriate use for historical heritage, is a fundamental instrument of conservation, which in maintenance, even before in “restoration intervention”, find the first guarantee of success. In this paper, the participated restoration process which involved the abandoned convent of San Rocco in Soragna (Parma) is presented, with the aim of showing the application of “integrated conservation process” principles to an interesting episode of cultural heritage. Starting from historical and structural analysis of this really compromised and damaged structure, the project of reuse is presented, which, starting from a deep interaction between social and functional aspects, gathering local and social needs, has led to the creation of a territorial health structure, a small-size health facility, thus becoming a response to the municipality’s needs, making the most of the historical vocation of the building. Moreover, the adopted approach counterposes with the current tendency of multiplying interventions by proposing a diversification of uses instead: higher flexibility of spaces, and functions operating at different times of day will lead to a more effective and extended functioning of the complex, resulting in an overall better use (and, thus) preservation of the building in the long-term.