Tra spiriti, essenze e spazi distillati. Lettura e conoscenza tecnica dell'ex distilleria di Barletta

In a context of increasing urbanization and land consumption, the reconversion of degraded areas represents a sustainable strategy to contain urban expansion and reconfigure “urban voids”. Through a multidisciplinary approach - analyzing the evolution of industrial distillation, production processes, and the architectural and typological features of spirit factories in Europe, as well as the debate between demolition, conservation, and transformation, and the national and regional (Apulian) recovery strategies - this research highlights how disused industrial heritage can regenerate the urban fabric and foster new scenarios for the contemporary city. The paper examines a distinctive case within the distillation industry of southern Italy: the rehabilitation and reuse of the former distillery of Barletta, once the most significant production facility in the southern agri-food sector. Declared of cultural interest in 1990 for its historical and architectural value, the site is now abandoned and in disuse. The methodology combines historical-archival investigation with geometric survey and detailed constructive-material analysis, forming a knowledge framework aimed at identity-based restoration. The case study investigates a marginal type of industrial heritage: the spirit factory.