Urban problems and patterns of change: The analysis of a downgraded industrial area in Turin

As it is well known, in Western countries cities are experiencing negative effects due to decentralization and deindustrialization, that have brought economic crisis and urban decline. In order to contrast such decline, urban regeneration is getting more and more important in the current political agenda. In fact, urban regeneration means not only building-restoration operations, but also programs aiming at eliminating social decline, increasing the quality of life of the inhabitants, supporting the valorization of cultural resources, protecting the environmental system, bringing economic development, and so on. Urban regeneration looks at urban areas as complex and dynamic systems, in which different processes (physical, social, environmental and economic) drive the transition and the generation of important changes. This paper aims to reflect on urban problems and regeneration operations, focusing in particular on the role of evaluation tools for supporting decision-making in this context. Starting from the analysis of a real case study related to a critical area in the city of Turin, the article will propose different evaluation tools able to produce a complete picture of the problem and to define possible long-term visions for the requalification of the site.