FUTURE IS PARTICIPATION Regeneration of the built environment and social inclusion

The study on participatory processes as useful tools for the rege-neration of the built environment is at the basis of this cognitive investigation concerning methodologies and strategies of the "participatory project". The theme of participation is a very current topic also in view of the inclusive forms of decision making, that have been introdu-ced for years by ministerial and European standards. The perspective of the design experience is the regeneration of a "cultural sector" in the historical city, as a place of culture and as an interactive space for the enhancement and development of the local reality. The participatory approach has focused on new ways of enhancing the space: starting from the reading of the existing urban structure, from the direct knowledge of the needs expressed by the user, from the planning of new poles of cultural and social interest placed between the sea and the historical city. the effectiveness of the participative tools is attested by many experiences supporting the belief that, in order to counteract the degradation of buildings and urban areas, "the implementa-tion of technical processes aimed at regulating and controlling the physical integrity of the city is not sufficient", but rather it is necessary to intervene with tools that actively and responsibly interact with the social actors interested in the success of the project.