Recupero e riuso di architetture tecniche nella definizione dei caratteri del paesaggio contemporaneo. Serbatoi pensili nella piana aversana

The paper deals with a critical analysis of both design and building technology of seven pioneering water towers built during the 1950s near Aversa, a town in Campania region. Historical reasons for their realization are explained, and the territorial context is described. An in-depth analysis of both structural and technological adopted solutions was carried out, pointing out the most innovative and efficient ones. The historical and cultural value of the analysed constructions, and their wise integration with the landscape and environmental context, suggested evaluating some possible restoration and re-use hypothesis. Preserving both formal and technological values of these water towers would be significant, because they superbly represent the distinguishing design and construction skills of Neapolitan engineering, which succeeded in merging technical and architectural features. Closing remarks concerning the necessity of a cost-benefit analysis relative to the suggested interventions, to be executed taking into account the uncountable value of the analysed constructions, are provided.