Ampliare un World Heritage Site verso il passato recente. L’opera di Giancarlo De Carlo a Urbino

Abstract

This paper discusses how to widen the boundaries of an existing World Heritage Site to include the heritage of the 20th century. The work by Giancarlo De Carlo in Urbino is a perfect case study since modern architecture enriches the set of values where the statement of OUV was based. Urbino undertook a process of urban rebirth in the second half of the 20th century, according to De Carlo's master plan, which promoted a harmonic continuity between modern architecture and the preservation of the historic city. As a result, the Historic Centre of Urbino was enlisted in 1988 as an outstanding example of Renaissance capital. Although the statement of OUV did not mention De Carlo's work, the site's management plan (2012-14) suggests widening the buffer zone to include modern buildings. The authors wonder how to promote such updating of the WHS towards the recent past, something that seems not to have precedent examples in the WHL.