Adaptive Reuse and Musealization Strategies for the Rocca di Sala in Pietrasanta

In the summer of 2024, the Rocca di Sala, a medieval fortress overlooking the Mediterranean in Pietrasanta, Tuscany, hosted the fifth edition of Reuse the Ruin, an international design workshop organized with the Municipality of Pietrasanta and led by a collective of Italian academics. The initiative brought together architecture students from around the world, working under the guidance of university professors and renowned practitioners in adaptive reuse, including Maurizio de Vita (Università di Firenze), Markus Scherer, Charles Enrich (UIC Barcelona), Xavier Ros Majó (Harquitectes), Andrea Zamboni (Zamboni Associati), Assemble, and Studio Wok (Scuola Politecnica di Design), with the scientific direction of Andrea Crudeli (Università di Pisa). The workshop focused on strategies for reimagining the Rocca as a contemporary art museum. Blending theory and practice, participants began with a digital point cloud survey of the site and developed nine design proposals addressing key themes: musealization of Mediterranean fortifications; dialogue between contemporary and medieval architecture; restoration of Palazzo Guinigi; spatial integration with Pietrasanta’s historic center; inclusive accessibility; and the role of art in social cohesion. The academic structure was grounded in lectures on the history and theory of reuse, guiding the design work. A hands-on, learning by doing methodology included site visits, studio sessions, critiques with professionals such as AMAA and Koozarch, and a final exhibition at Manifattura Tabacchi in Firenze. The outcomes were submitted to local authorities to inform a future feasibility study. Beyond its educational goals, the workshop fostered cultural engagement and community participation, revitalizing a key heritage site. This paper presents the full workshop process, from digital survey to design proposals, aiming to define methodological criteria for the musealization of Mediterranean fortresses and contribute to the broader discourse on adaptive reuse in contemporary architecture.