Guidelines for rehabilitation of vernacular architecture

The conservation of vernacular architecture is considered a strategic action for preserving rural landscape. The Italian regions have promoted in recent years-through the Programs for the Rural Development-the creation of guides for the refurbishment of rural architecture, officially integrated to municipal building regulations. Considering the Piedmont Region territory, many guides have been adopted in different areas. Those guides are different in structure; methodologies used to analyse rural buildings, materials and traditional building technologies; requirements and guidelines addressed to conservation and refurbishment. The Piedmont Region supported the adoption of each guide by funding demonstrative interventions, designed in accordance with the recommendations described in each of them. The research proposes a comparative analysis of the adopted guides and a monitoring activity of early refurbishment interventions, in order to give feedbacks concerning: the methodological approach of guides, the effectiveness of requirements and guidelines, the compatibility with the municipal regulations.