Understanding Best Practices of Cultural Heritage Adaptive Reuse in the Perspective of the Circular Economy: In-Depth Assessment of Case Studies

The CLIC adaptive reuse of cultural heritage argued that cultural heritage adaptive reuse can represent a viable strategy for the implementation of circular cities and regions, contributing to the reuse of natural and cultural resources, the re-generation of values of heritage sites and buildings, and in many cases also to social and community bonds regeneration thanks to new social uses of heritage sites. In the first phase of the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage, the theoretical circular model of cultural heritage adaptive reuse was developed applying inter-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches involving adaptive reuse of cultural heritage and practitioners from diverse fields in a common reflection. The circular model was discussed, and further explored through the analysis of cultural heritage adaptive reuse practices, applying statistical analysis tools to identify the “best practices” in the perspective of circularity. The experiences analysed were not meant initially to reach specific circularity goals, and therefore they do not represent yet “ideal” solutions for circular adaptive reuse of cultural heritage. However, relevant lessons can be learnt from these practices, that can be applied in the design and implementation of future circular solutions for abandoned and underused cultural heritage.