Per una libertà di pensiero. Rapporti tra Università e Committenza nel restauro del patrimonio architettonico

Caterina Giannattasio

2020-01-01

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Abstract

Within the university scientific communities, since several years there is an ongoing strong debate over the work of the university professor/architect, emphasizing the impossibility of practising the profes- sional activity and the negative effects which derive from it, both for research and teaching. Starting from these assumptions, the paper intends to underline the importance of the contribution that the University can offer to the outside territories when it is called to collaborate with all the stakeholders, as highlighted by some direct experiences commissioned by public and private bodies and conduct- ed in the last years at the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architecture Engineering of theUniversity of Cagliari. For the reasons mentioned above, these are scientific consultancies, which preclude the possibility of being involved in the design and construction phases. This limitation, however, changing the perspective, can be seen as an opportunity to regain possession of the freedom of thought and action, especially in the case of research projects, which can constitute moments of real ‘redemption’ for the professor/professional. This, indeed, for the development of her or his work, creates a sort of commission that goes beyond the ‘real’ assignment, carrying on independently knowledge and reflections able to reach ‘sublime’ design visions, far from any form of compromise, but consistent with the needs of the territory, to which one generously offers them, hoping that they can be the beginning of future architectural and planning paths.