Intenzioni conflitti opportunità

This paper reflects on the project for fortified architecture as an opportunity to inspire new insights for conservation and enhancement of the built heritage as a whole. The aim is to contribute to the discussion on the architectural design for existing buildings, by providing new perspectives through narration of direct experiences in the didactic project and worksite fields. The reference to the inFORT conference talks highlights the main questions, from which the ‘project for fortified heritage’ can be discussed while also considering the pivotal role of the architect. Based on a series of fortification projects carried out in Italy over the last twenty years, the authors explore the variety of approaches and results that can be found and identify the key issues of the ‘contemporary thinking’ on the topic. Finally, recurring tensions, which are often present in projects involving architectural heritage, serve to point out the unique characteristics of defence structures, within the panorama of the founding principle of methodological unity in restoration.