Conservation and valorisation of Modern heritage: the case of the restoration of the restoration of Ludovico Quaroni's Church in La Martella

After World War II, post-war reconstruction and the construction of new rural villages in Italy represented an opportunity to experiment with modern ideas in urban planning and architecture in a context different from Fascist ruralisation but still strongly influenced by it. Modernity is often associated with cities, where urban planning and architecture have rationalised space; in the twentieth century, rural modernisation transformed the physical and settlement geography of many regions. This research focuses on the rural village of La Martella in Matera, specifically on the Church of San Vincenzo de’ Paoli, designed by Ludovico Quaroni, a manifesto of the rural-Modern architectural language used in Southern Italy. This study aims to highlight the importance of preserving Modern architecture by proposing a methodology that enhances knowledge of architectural heritage through documentary and archival analysis, the study of construction manuals (which facilitate understanding standard building solutions), and on-site surveys. The critical analysis of this case study, with particular attention to construction techniques and materials used, becomes an essential tool for defining a correct and informed methodological approach for a restoration project (or restoration of the restoration) of this architectural heritage.