An important opportunity to equip the city: the reinvention of urban structure and the destruction of an architectural heritage

An important opportunity to equip the city: the reinvention of urban structure and the the destruction of an architectural heritage In the nineteenth century, in the secular and modern city, most of monastic architecture is in a state of disused and often characterized by big blocks, placed in strategic locations; these buildings are considered an important opportunity to equip the city with modern facilities. In the same time, where there are some strategic military influences, these large buildings characterized by medieval model and confiscated in the Napoleonic period, are suitable to be reused into barracks, military hospitals, and warehouses for the army troops. This speech examines the Alexandria’s case (placed in the northern of Italy). In this particularly case, during the nineteenth century, several monastic buildings are transformed by two important "customers". In fact, almost simultaneously, the Municipality and the State of Savoy destroy two significant religious complexes (St. Martino and St. Bernardino) and, at the same time, start begin the construction of the cattle market (Leopoldo Valizone, 1834) and the state penitentiary (Henri Labrouste 1841). The numerous troops, quartered in the city, are housed in the monasteries of St. Marco, St. Giacomo and others, starting from the Napoleonic period and throughout the first half of the century until the National unity proclamation (1861). San Francesco’s church is transformed into a military hospital and into troops warehouses. Alexandria, at the beginning of the century, is still strongly characterized by medieval urban system; during the nineteenth century, the great monastic "containers" are deeply transformed or completely demolished. In this time the urban “facies” is reshaped to give a modern and embellished images of the city: the reinvention of these wide portions of urban structure allows building a modern and efficient city.