The role of design in discovering speculative futures materials for local revaluation

This paper will analyse the role of design in the development future of strategies to re-evaluate non-urban areas through the assessment of indigenous materials and the individuation of speculative, valuable, future strategies. Assemble Studio (UK), Rural Studio (US), Banca del Fare (IT) in collaboration with Calchera San Giorgio (IT) and Breaking the Mould (IT) are examples of design studios and projects that are working with local resources from specific forgotten places, obtaining surprising outcomes that are empowering previously ignored realities. Rediscovery, recycling, reusing and remaking are key words common to all these case studies. As a result, an original experimental methodology for new doctoral research on speculative futures materials for local revaluation is emerging, based on the observation and analysis of the design approaches within the different design studios.