Patrimonializzare l'abbandono. L'ex Olivetti di Marcianise tra memoria industriale, crisi del moderno e pratiche di tutela

The case of the former Olivetti industrial complex in Marcianise, designed between 1969 and 1970 by Marco Zanuso and Eduardo Vittoria, serves as a valuable observatory for reflecting on the complexity of the cultural recognition of an emblematic work, now reduced to an abandoned ruin. The settlement, born within Olivetti's strategy of industrializing the South of Italy and built with advanced prefabrication techniques, represents an exemplary attempt to combine aesthetics, function, and social vision, rooted in the culture of enlightened enterprise. The paper aims to analyze the critical path that led to the recent declaration of cultural interest, highlighting the tensions between historical values, neglect, and design potential. The text also addresses the open questions regarding intervention practices on buildings without a designated use, raising inquiries about how (and if) it is possible to restore meaning to places that have lost their function and their reference community.