Recycled aggregates in urban redevelopment processes: The "Magone" of Colle Aperto

This thesis deals with the theme of sustainable urban regeneration through the recovery of abandoned buildings, with particular attention to the reuse of demolition materials. The case study is the “Magone” in Colle Aperto, Mantua: an unfinished commercial building that has been abandoned for over thirty years. The project proposes a strategy of selective demolition and on-site reuse of recycled concrete (from demolition) in combination with wood, a renewable material, in order to improve its structural and environmental performance. Experimental laboratory tests have validated the compressive strength of mixtures containing up to 60 percent recycled aggregates. The intervention envisages the construction of new buildings with different uses, valorising existing resources and reducing the use of virgin materials. The results confirm the possibility of using recycled concrete for structural reinforcement, cladding and fire protection, promoting a replicable model for the sustainable management of disused building stock and the reduction of the environmental impact of construction.