Full voids as sparks of future

The city reflects the dynamic development of the contemporary age, which is in constant and rapid transformation. This dynamism is reflected in changes in production patterns, lifestyles, customs, and laws. Over time, the combination of these factors has led, on the one hand, to processes of deindustrialisation in which abandonment defines a condition of urban crisis; on the other hand, to a reconfiguration of some public functions and to the emergence of disused or under-utilised areas, because of the difficulty of being readapted to the needs of today's society. Starting from the example of some case studies of abandoned areas, the paper focuses on the temporary re-use practices and local citizen actions that seem to be more effective than regulatory planning tools in defining innovative incremental adaptive strategies for urban regeneration, turning this feature of the city to its advantage, trying to adapt it to the new needs of society. These observations became more evident with the uncertainty and change in lifestyles caused by the Covid-19 health emergency. Accelerated changes in land-use practices concerning daily life have outlined an uncertain, complex and ever-changing picture that has led to new future declinations of the theme of abandonment. In the context of the redevelopment of empty spaces - in its many current and future forms - the set of self-organisation experiments, bottom-up and creative practices seem to play a crucial role. Given the long timescales of traditional urban transformation projects, experiments with temporary uses and light projects allow these spaces to be reactivated immediately, with the emphasis on the process dimension, networking, management and action rather than design and regulation. These types of interventions, identifying themselves as actions capable of prefiguring change, adapt incrementally to evolving needs and context with a flexible approach.