REVITALIZING AND PRESERVING STRATEGIES IN LIGHT OF CLIMATE CHANGE: THE CASE OF TRADITIONAL CLOISTERS IN THE ITALIAN URBAN FABRIC

The growing challenges that cities face in mitigating and adapting their outdoor spaces to the effects of climate change simultaneously present new opportunities for historic cities and their residents. Among the numerous buildings that constitute the cultural heritage of our historic cities, urban cloisters provide opportunities for reflection and serve as effective examples of interventions that can revitalize and restore open, protected spaces, such as the perimeter courtyards of the cloisters. This research analyses a selection of 30 cloisters located in the centres of various cities across Italy that have undergone redevelopment and repurposing interventions that transcend their original functions. The study employs geometric-typological and functional comparative analyses to identify recurring characteristics that define the thermal and functional resilience of these transitional spaces. Preliminary results indicate that the unique geometric features of these spaces, such as height-to-width (H/W) ratios and surface treatments, are significantly relevant to their potential for thermal resilience considering current conditions and the anticipated rise in temperatures due to climate change.