Da vanto a problema (e ritorno). Le fabbriche dismesse nella città di Pinerolo, tra percezione e narrazione

The city of Pinerolo owes its urban conformation to the series of factories along the banks of the Rio Moirano, a canal built from the 13th century onwards. These factories are still visible in the urban landscape, but they have been deprived of their significance by indiscriminate redevelopment or demolition, supported by urban planning instruments with a poor attitude towards conservation, the lack of constraints, the desire of private owners to maximise profits and, above all, the general perception of industrial remains as worthless relics. All this occurs despite the fact that institutions involved in the protection of heritage have been working for years not only to learn more about the history of this production network, but above all to raise awareness among citizens and administrations. This essay would like to suggest possible enhancement strategies in order to generate a new narrative of Pinerolo’s water-factory system and, consequently and potentially, a new perception of the former industrial buildings.