The Industrial Heritage from the Italian Second Postwar Period: Cataloging Reinforced Concrete Construction Techniques Used in Modular-Bay Structures

The investigation focuses on some Italian industrial constructions by architects and engineers who were particularly active in experimenting with new reinforced concrete prefabrication and prestressing construction techniques (1950–1975). Based on these premises, a documental recognition was performed on the national territory, selecting 30 case studies that could be identified as modular-bay industrial structures. The article focuses on the methodology used for the mapping, cataloging, and technical redrawing of these architectures in the Italian industrial heritage. Starting from a preliminary differentiation based on two span classes, the case studies were subdivided by crossing the structural typologies with the concrete construction techniques employed. Through the “reconstructive redrawing” of the bays of each work, based on archival documents, it was possible to perform an “anatomical deciphering,” which accurately reported the main characteristics of construction systems and devices for zenithal lighting and natural ventilation. This graphical elaboration also allowed setting a frame of comparison between the case studies, resulting in the publication Atlante delle campate industriali in cemento armato, 1950–1975 (Atlas of reinforced concrete industrial bays, 1950–1975). This atlas aims to produce more effective knowledge dissemination on a too often stigmatized built heritage and encourage reflection on the future of these buildings.