Using the Analytic Hierarchical Process to Define Choices for Re-Using Rural Buildings: Application to an Abandoned Village in Sicily

Abstract

It has been recognised for some time that traditional rural buildings are a cultural and/or practical " resource " of the countryside. Inappropriate re-conversions can result in the waste of valuable economic resources and the loss of local heritage. Thus, before reconstruction is started the possible types of re-use should be accurately evaluated. This work develops a method, based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process, for identifying the best re-use of an abandoned village that was built in the first half of the last century. The method uses the guidelines of the countryside plan, and our work is a case study designed to verify whether or not it is suitable in this context. Five requisites for sustainable intervention were identified, as well as three alternative re-uses and five indicators. The hierarchical analysis was developed using two different approaches, one used three hierarchical levels, and the other used four. The results obtained for both ap-proaches agree in suggesting the same model for re-use, but the four level approaches also supplied additional informa-tion which would be useful when planning projects with major social and cultural impact.