A.C.Q.U.A.: Advisible Conscious Quality Use from Assisi

Abstract The paper describes the project “A.C.Q.U.A./Advisible Conscious Quality Use from Assisi,” which focuses on the recovery and regeneration of ancient wash houses in the framework of energy and environmental sustainability and innovation. It also aims to be a way of understanding Cultural Heritage in the broadest sense of Heritage Communities by envisaging the active participation of all the actors involved Universities, Institutions, Bodies, Companies and mainly young people and citizens. The interdisciplinary process put in place between ecodesign, heritage, renewable sources, climatology, experimented in two small municipalities of the inland areas, Ruviano in Campania and Assisi in Umbria, can be declined on a different scale in all places where the pre-existence of public “Washhouses” and the water resource acquires economic, ecological, cultural significance. In a particular way, a change of habits is proposed around a usually domestic and repeated action, namely washing clothes. It is well known that the main household appliances used in our homes are washing machines and refrigerators, which involve a considerable expenditure of energy resources (water, light) as well as time. With A.C.Q.U.A. we envision the migration of this specific function outdoors, next to the places anciently used for this ritual, through the construction of “Washhouses” technologically innovative constructions that use renewable sources favored by special weather conditions. The “Washhouses” trigger a virtuous process towards the environment and people, since they enhance the natural and cultural resources of the places, facilitate the decrease of domestic consumption of water and light, and activate a happy community of people who spend a moment of the day out-doors, sharing, as they once did, the pleasure of this activity.