Historic urban areas of a city are valuable assets of a city. They not only generate great cultural interest but also provide high-density housing. Conservation and revitalization of such areas add to the richness and livability of the future of a city. The historic city centres are an essential part of the cultural heritage. They need to be protected as they bring universal outstanding values and the majority of tangible and intangible heritage of each country. However, researchers and professionals concerned with the conservation of historic city centres frequently emphasize the need to accept change. Changes in the physical structure are inevitable and have been continuing from ancient times, but there is a need for control over these changes in order to reach a compromise between sustainability and restoration. The presence of empty spaces in a historic setting serves as a proxy for understanding the relationship between different levels of urban interaction, from the relative autonomy of the household that used its nearby spaces idiosyncratically, to the larger impositions of authority through urban design in the form of streets and open squares.
The workshop focused on the revitalization of Travaglio square, a void within the Ferrara historic centre bearing cultural and infrastructural importance.
