BIM model reconstruction of architectural archives: a case study in Turin, Italy

This contribution critically reflects on research dedicated to enhancing architectural archives through BIM and disseminating them online. The case study focuses on a building designed by Felice Bardelli for the INA Casa program in postwar Turin, in an area affected by bombing during World War II. The research is based on the Betta-Bardelli archive housed at the Politecnico di Torino and consisting of technical drawings, structural calculations, and administrative documents. The project involves digitizing, georeferencing, and creating an information model (BIM) of the archival material to virtually restore the buildings and their historical urban contexts. This methodological approach transforms academic archives from mere repositories of documents into active, accessible, and interactive cultural infrastructures. Thus, the digital model becomes a tool for analyzing, conserving, and disseminating design heritage, fostering a new form of communication and interdisciplinary research.