UNDERGROUND SPACE IN ITALY AND CHINA: FROM THE HISTORY TO SMART-PLANNING

Southern Italy and Central China are united by the presence of historic rural settlements characterized by underground construction with both residential and service functions. Many of these contexts are facing economic, social and environmental problems, resulting in unemployment, disengagement, depopulation, marginalization or loss of cultural and biological diversity. Communities tend to be economically poor, fragile and increasingly threatened by distant development plans and patterns. Both in Europe and in China policies for rural development address three core areas of intervention: agricultural competitiveness, environmental protection and the promotion of rural amenities, and strengthening and diversifying the economic base of rural communities. Nonetheless, these challenges demand for testing and experimenting innovative pathways for regeneration, based on raising the awareness and motivation of local rural communities, so they do something different to lift themselves out of poverty while preserving their locally unique aspects of environment and culture. In that sense, the cultural heritage can be the catalyzer for the sustainable growth of the rural community. Through a series of projects, on a national and international scale, this multidisciplinary research group has addressed some of these problems, exchanging best practices in conservation, sustainable use and enhancement of the underground heritage.