M.A.S.S.E.N.A.
Multifunctional Architectural Space for Sustainability, Environment, and New Accessibility
The Municipality of Rivoli Veronese, through the M.A.S.S.E.N.A. project, aims to transform the Massena Barracks into a cultural and social hub, blending history, sustainability, and innovation under the New European Bauhaus. Located in Terra dei Forti, it will host events, tourism, and community activities. Result of a multi-level participatory process promoted by the Province of Verona and supported by Fondazione Cariverona, the project regenerates the past to build the future.
Italy
Via Castello c/o Forte Rivoli 37010 Rivoli Veronese (VR)
Early initiative
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
023062: Rivoli Veronese (IT)
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. project is set in Valdadige, a historically strategic area known as "Terra dei Forti" due to its imposing castles and fortifications. One of the most significant events of European history that took place in the area was the Battle of Rivoli (1797), where Napoleon’s Armée d’Italie defeated the Austrians. The event inspired the name of Rue de Rivoli in Paris. The initiative aims to transform Massena Barracks, a historic site in Rivoli Veronese, into a multifunctional cultural and tourist hub, combining heritage preservation and economic innovation. Inspired by the New European Bauhaus, it promotes beauty, sustainability, and community participation through a holistic approach to rural regeneration. The project seeks to restore and repurpose a valuable historical asset, giving it back to the local community and making it an accessible and sustainable cultural and tourist attraction enhancing economic growth and quality of life. It engages residents of Rivoli Veronese and Valdadige, particularly young people, families, and the elderly, fostering social cohesion and cultural engagement. Cultural associations will benefit from spaces for educational and artistic activities, while local businesses and entrepreneurs will gain new opportunities in hospitality, event management, and gastronomy. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. is suitable to attract tourists, especially those interested in cultural and nature tourism, due to its connection to cyclable routes, including EuroVelo 7 Sun Route. The specific objectives of the initiative are: heritage preservation; environmental sustainability; social inclusion; economic innovation. Expected outcomes include: an increase in cultural and nature tourism; revitalization of a historic site; new employment opportunities; reinforcement of local identity and sense of belonging. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. represents a replicable model of cultural and territorial regeneration, promoting integrated and sustainable development for future generations.
Heritage
Sustainability
Innovation
Community
Hub
M.A.S.S.E.N.A. integrates environmental sustainability as a key pillar, in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus. Sustainability objectives are applied to the restoration of the building and its long-term conservation. Repurposing an existing structure prevents land consumption that would be required for a new construction. The project also aims to minimize environmental impact by preserving historical walls and roofing, avoiding demolitions and resource waste, using local and traditional materials, repurposing existing furniture adapted by local artisans, improving the building’s energy efficiency, and integrating built areas with surrounding green spaces through regular maintenance and tree planting. The initiative promotes sustainable mobility and tourism by connecting Massena Barracks to Valdadige's pedestrian and cycling routes, including facilities such as bike stations and electric vehicle charging points. Rivoli Veronese is connected to Garda Lake cycling routes, including EuroVelo 7 Sun Route, the approximately 7,650 km long cycling route connecting Cape North to Malta. The redevelopment of cycling paths will not only facilitate access to M.A.S.S.E.N.A. for cycle tourists but also encourage residents to use bicycles while enjoying the regenerated spaces. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. is designed to be economically sustainable and self-sufficient in the long term through the integration of economic activities related to hospitality and dining. The economic sustainability strategy is based on a model that enhances local resources and creates opportunities for local businesses, reducing reliance on public funding and ensuring a positive economic impact on the community. The initiative represents a model of rural regeneration, as a replicable example for small European municipalities: it shows that sustainable development is a viable strategy for revitalizing local heritage, strengthening territorial identity, and promoting sustainable tourism development.
M.A.S.S.E.N.A. places great emphasis on aesthetics and the quality of human experience, aligning with the principles of the New European Bauhaus. The initiative goes beyond the mere preservation of the historic building, transforming it into a welcoming, harmonious, and inspiring space capable of evoking positive emotions and fostering a deep sense of belonging. The conservative restoration of the exterior structure will ensure its harmony with the surrounding landscape of Terra dei Forti, of which the Massena Barracks is an integral part. Architectural restoration will respect the building’s original identity, enhancing its structure with local materials and authentic finishes highlighting the beauty of stone and wood. Green areas and outdoor spaces will also be regenerated, designed as gathering places with natural-material furnishings promoting harmony with nature, as well as visitors’ well-being and social interaction. Balancing tradition and innovation by restoring and reusing antique and disused furniture will be a key aspect of the initiative. The initiative aims to create a lively and dynamic place offering visitors an immersive experience through multifunctional spaces fostering interaction between culture, nature, and community. Narrative pathways and interactive installations will communicate local history, while a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere will be achieved through a combination of traditional architectural elements and contemporary design solutions. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. serves as a model of excellence, demonstrating how interior design and spatial quality can transform a historic site into a unique sensory and cultural experience. Not only does the initiative return a piece of heritage to the community, but it revitalizes it, making it accessible and inspiring for visitors. It highlights how the aesthetic and functional regeneration of a historic site can drive cultural and social development, setting a replicable model for other small European towns.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative places social inclusion at its core, ensuring physical, economic, and cultural accessibility for all citizens and visitors. The initiative includes the elimination of architectural barriers and spaces designed according to the design for all principle. As M.A.S.S.E.N.A. is designed as a multifunctional space for diverse cultural events, it will become a shared meeting point for different social groups, promoting social cohesion. The affordable hospitality facilities on the upper floors will allow tourists, young people, and families to access budget-friendly accommodations, promoting sustainable tourism and economic accessibility. The coexistence of hospitality and community gathering spaces in the same building fosters interactions and exchanges between people from diverse backgrounds. Moreover, the initiative was conceived as part of an inclusive participatory process: the Municipality of Rivoli, on the 12th of October 2022 and on the 25th of October 2023, held two public events, open to citizenship, to discuss the urban plan which included the project of redevelopment of Massena Barracks. Furthermore, the initiative is part of the Strategia INTERRES–Oltre l’entroterra 2024-2026, a territorial development plan for Valdadige, funded by Fondazione Cariverona and promoted by the Province of Verona. Developed through a participatory process involving public institutions, civil society associations, and local businesses, the initiative reflects a shared vision for growth. Inclusivity will remain central in the project's implementation, ensuring the involvement of public and private stakeholders in the management and enhancement of the site. A transparent and inclusive governance model will guide the operational phases, ensuring broad participation and long-term sustainability. The flexibility of spaces, active community involvement, and focus on accessibility make M.A.S.S.E.N.A. a replicable model for other small European municipalities.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative actively involves civil society and local community. First, the Forte di Rivoli complex is currently managed by the local volunteer organization "Amici del Forte di Rivoli" that organizes guided tours of the site. The organization is dedicated to enhancing the Forte di Rivoli complex, raising awareness among both residents and visitors from the nearby Garda Lake about the site's historical importance at the local and European levels. Moreover, The Municipality of Rivoli, on the 12th of October 2022 and on the 25th of October 2023, held two public events, open to citizenship, to present and discuss the urban plan which included the project of redevelopment of Massena Barracks.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative was defined through a participatory process, financed by Fondazione Cariverona and promoted by the Province of Verona. This process involved a partnership of 26 entities, equally divided between public and private stakeholders, including local authorities, associations, and businesses from the Valdadige area. As a result of this collaboration, the partnership approved the Strategia INTERRES– Oltre l’entroterra 2024-2026, a territorial development plan in which the regeneration of Massena Barracks stands out as one of its most significant projects. The initiative is therefore the outcome of a broad consultation table, which brought together public institutions, civil society organizations, and local businesses and entrepreneurs to collectively shape the future of the area.
For the management and enhancement of M.A.S.S.E.N.A., the Municipality of Rivoli aims to establish a collaborative and transparent governance system, ensuring the active participation of multiple public and private stakeholders, each with clearly defined roles. The involvement of local citizens in the organization and management of M.A.S.S.E.N.A. is designed to return a site of great historical significance to the community and foster a stronger sense of belonging.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative was defined through a participatory process, financed by Fondazione Cariverona and promoted by the Province of Verona. This process involved a partnership of 26 entities, equally divided between public and private stakeholders, including local authorities, associations, and businesses from the Valdadige area. As a result of this collaboration, the partnership approved the Strategia INTERRES– Oltre l’entroterra 2024-2026, a territorial development plan in which the regeneration of Massena Barracks stands out as one of its most significant projects. The initiative is therefore the outcome of a broad consultation table, which brought together public institutions, civil society organizations, and local businesses and entrepreneurs to collectively shape the future of the area.
For the management and enhancement of M.A.S.S.E.N.A., the Municipality of Rivoli aims to establish a collaborative and transparent governance system, ensuring the active participation of multiple public and private stakeholders, each with clearly defined roles. The involvement of local citizens in the organization and management of M.A.S.S.E.N.A. is designed to return a site of great historical significance to the community and foster a stronger sense of belonging.
The Municipality of Rivoli, on the 12th of October 2022 and on the 25th of October 2023, held two public events, open to citizenship, to present and discuss “Piano degli interventi”, the urban plan which included the project of redevelopment of Caserma Massena. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative was defined through a participatory process, financed by Fondazione Cariverona and promoted by the Province of Verona, involving a partnership of 26 public and private local stakeholders. In addition to the Municipality of Rivoli, the planning phase engaged the Municipalities of Affi, Brentino Belluno, Caprino Veronese, Cavaion Veronese, Dolcé, Ferrara di Monte Baldo, San Zeno di Montagna, and Sant'Ambrogio di Valpolicella, as well as the Province of Verona, lead partner of the Strategia INTERRES – Oltre l’entroterra 2024-2026. Civil society organizations also played a key role in the co-design process. Among the Strategy’s partners is the volunteer association Comunità dei Giovani – Oltre il Confine, which works to prevent and mitigate housing poverty, particularly among marginalized groups such as migrants and former inmates. Another partner in the Strategy is the artistic and cultural promotion association IN HABITAT APS. For the private sector, stakeholders such as the trade association Coldiretti Verona and the Verona Stone District contributed to the planning phase. Additionally, the Municipality of Rivoli, with the support of the Province of Verona, has initiated a negotiated procedure with the Veneto Region to secure funding for the Massena Barracks regeneration project through the 2021-2027 Cohesion and Development Fund, recognizing the site's regional significance.
Moving forward, additional local, regional, and national stakeholders will be engaged in the design and management of cultural events through consultation tables and public events, ensuring broad participation and long-term sustainability.
Moving forward, additional local, regional, and national stakeholders will be engaged in the design and management of cultural events through consultation tables and public events, ensuring broad participation and long-term sustainability.
The redevelopment of Massena Barracks was conceived according to an interdisciplinary approach, integrating historical, architectural, and restoration expertise to ensure respect for the cultural value of the building and its surroundings. From the initial phases, historians, architects, and restoration experts collaborated on the project, contributing to the Piano Guida per la Valorizzazione del Complesso Fortificato di Rivoli Veronese (Guideline Plan for the Enhancement of the Fortified Complex of Rivoli Veronese). This strategic document guided the intervention toward solutions that preserve the historical integrity of the structure while balancing conservation with new functions.
The project also benefited from a broad and multidisciplinary participatory process, which led to the definition of the Strategia INTERRES – Oltre l’entroterra 2024-2026 and the planning of M.A.S.S.E.N.A.. This process involved experts from various fields. Social and cultural specialists contributed to designing accessible and inclusive multifunctional spaces tailored to community needs. Cultural and artistic professionals helped shape a creative and innovative vision for the site’s redevelopment, incorporating narrative and experiential elements. Sustainable tourism experts played a role in integrating Massena Barracks into Valdadige’s cycling and pedestrian route network, strengthening its position within regional eco-tourism.
This interdisciplinary approach makes the project an exemplary model of historical heritage regeneration, successfully combining preservation, innovation, and accessibility. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. will become a cultural and tourism hub, generating a positive impact on the local community and surrounding territory.
The project also benefited from a broad and multidisciplinary participatory process, which led to the definition of the Strategia INTERRES – Oltre l’entroterra 2024-2026 and the planning of M.A.S.S.E.N.A.. This process involved experts from various fields. Social and cultural specialists contributed to designing accessible and inclusive multifunctional spaces tailored to community needs. Cultural and artistic professionals helped shape a creative and innovative vision for the site’s redevelopment, incorporating narrative and experiential elements. Sustainable tourism experts played a role in integrating Massena Barracks into Valdadige’s cycling and pedestrian route network, strengthening its position within regional eco-tourism.
This interdisciplinary approach makes the project an exemplary model of historical heritage regeneration, successfully combining preservation, innovation, and accessibility. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. will become a cultural and tourism hub, generating a positive impact on the local community and surrounding territory.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative stands out for its innovative approach to historical heritage enhancement, moving beyond the traditional concept of repurposing historic buildings solely as museum spaces. Instead of merely preserving the site as a static place, the project transforms it into a multifunctional hub for events, cultural activities, hospitality, and dining, adopting a dynamic and participatory perspective.
This vision redefines the classic museum model, shifting from a passive exhibition space to a living, interactive environment that promotes engagement, active use, and versatility. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. will be a space experienced daily by the community, adaptable to the needs of citizens, tourists, cultural operators, and local entrepreneurs.
The innovative elements of the project include a multifunctional space, where the building is not confined to a single use but is divided into areas for events, workshops, hospitality, and dining, creating a vibrant cultural and economic centre. A participatory and inclusive model ensures that the project, developed through a co-design process with experts and citizens, truly meets community needs. The connection with the local area integrates Massena Barracks into the Valdadige cycling and pedestrian network, fostering experiential and sustainable tourism in synergy with the surrounding natural landscape. A contemporary approach to history goes beyond passive conservation by using interactive storytelling, artistic installations, and themed events, transforming historical memory into a vivid and engaging experience.
Thanks to this innovative approach, M.A.S.S.E.N.A. will serve as a replicable model for the regeneration of other historic buildings, proving that heritage can be a driver of cultural, economic, and social development, rather than a static element disconnected from contemporary life.
This vision redefines the classic museum model, shifting from a passive exhibition space to a living, interactive environment that promotes engagement, active use, and versatility. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. will be a space experienced daily by the community, adaptable to the needs of citizens, tourists, cultural operators, and local entrepreneurs.
The innovative elements of the project include a multifunctional space, where the building is not confined to a single use but is divided into areas for events, workshops, hospitality, and dining, creating a vibrant cultural and economic centre. A participatory and inclusive model ensures that the project, developed through a co-design process with experts and citizens, truly meets community needs. The connection with the local area integrates Massena Barracks into the Valdadige cycling and pedestrian network, fostering experiential and sustainable tourism in synergy with the surrounding natural landscape. A contemporary approach to history goes beyond passive conservation by using interactive storytelling, artistic installations, and themed events, transforming historical memory into a vivid and engaging experience.
Thanks to this innovative approach, M.A.S.S.E.N.A. will serve as a replicable model for the regeneration of other historic buildings, proving that heritage can be a driver of cultural, economic, and social development, rather than a static element disconnected from contemporary life.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative was developed through an open, inclusive, and collaborative approach, actively involving public institutions, industry experts, local associations, and citizens. The goal was to create a shared and participatory initiative, where diverse skills and perspectives contribute to establishing an accessible and sustainable multifunctional hub.
The Municipality of Rivoli adopted a method based on strong collaboration between institutions and specialized expertise. In particular, the development of the Guideline Plan for the Enhancement of the Fortified Complex of Rivoli Veronese involved conservation and restoration experts, ensuring solutions that respect the architectural and environmental context. This approach, which guided the definition of the project, will also be maintained during the implementation and management phases, with co-design efforts bringing together specialists from social, artistic, and cycling tourism sectors, as well as community representatives to shape the spaces and functions of the future hub.
The project integrates historical heritage, social innovation, and environmental sustainability, aiming to transform a former military building into a cultural and tourist center. The spatial design is planned to ensure universal accessibility and flexibility, fostering interaction among diverse user groups. In line with circular economy principles, the project seeks to minimize the use of new materials, including furniture, favouring the reuse of objects and repurposed furnishings.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. approach demonstrates how a historical site can be regenerated through an inclusive and innovative process, with a governance model based on active community participation. The initiative serves as a replicable model for other small European municipalities, showing how heritage enhancement can drive territorial development and social cohesion.
The Municipality of Rivoli adopted a method based on strong collaboration between institutions and specialized expertise. In particular, the development of the Guideline Plan for the Enhancement of the Fortified Complex of Rivoli Veronese involved conservation and restoration experts, ensuring solutions that respect the architectural and environmental context. This approach, which guided the definition of the project, will also be maintained during the implementation and management phases, with co-design efforts bringing together specialists from social, artistic, and cycling tourism sectors, as well as community representatives to shape the spaces and functions of the future hub.
The project integrates historical heritage, social innovation, and environmental sustainability, aiming to transform a former military building into a cultural and tourist center. The spatial design is planned to ensure universal accessibility and flexibility, fostering interaction among diverse user groups. In line with circular economy principles, the project seeks to minimize the use of new materials, including furniture, favouring the reuse of objects and repurposed furnishings.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. approach demonstrates how a historical site can be regenerated through an inclusive and innovative process, with a governance model based on active community participation. The initiative serves as a replicable model for other small European municipalities, showing how heritage enhancement can drive territorial development and social cohesion.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. project represents an innovative and scalable model for historical heritage regeneration, based on a participatory and shared approach to sustainable local development. Its key elements can be replicated or adapted to different territorial contexts, beneficiary groups, and intervention areas. Easily transferable aspects of the applied methodology include public workshops to engage the community in defining space use, co-designing with multidisciplinary experts such as historians, architects, cultural operators, and sustainable tourism specialists, and working groups with local stakeholders to ensure shared management and promote participatory governance.
M.A.S.S.E.N.A. differs from the traditional museum-based reconversion of historic buildings, transforming the site into a multifunctional and dynamic space. This model can be replicated for other underused or abandoned historical sites, integrating adaptable spaces for cultural events, co-working, and light hospitality, sustainable tourism enhancement through connections with cycling routes and nature trails, and low-impact redevelopment using local materials and carbon-neutral technologies. The project also introduces a self-sustaining economic model, ensuring long-term viability through revenues from hospitality and dining to finance site operations and maintenance, cultural events and activities as an economic and tourism driver, and public-private partnerships for site management and promotion. This replicable model offers municipalities an opportunity to preserve their historical heritage sustainably, reducing dependence on public funding. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. demonstrates that heritage regeneration can drive local economic and social development, providing an innovative blueprint for small European towns. Its combination of participatory processes, environmental sustainability, and multifunctionality establishes it as a best practice adaptable to diverse territorial and cultural contexts.
M.A.S.S.E.N.A. differs from the traditional museum-based reconversion of historic buildings, transforming the site into a multifunctional and dynamic space. This model can be replicated for other underused or abandoned historical sites, integrating adaptable spaces for cultural events, co-working, and light hospitality, sustainable tourism enhancement through connections with cycling routes and nature trails, and low-impact redevelopment using local materials and carbon-neutral technologies. The project also introduces a self-sustaining economic model, ensuring long-term viability through revenues from hospitality and dining to finance site operations and maintenance, cultural events and activities as an economic and tourism driver, and public-private partnerships for site management and promotion. This replicable model offers municipalities an opportunity to preserve their historical heritage sustainably, reducing dependence on public funding. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. demonstrates that heritage regeneration can drive local economic and social development, providing an innovative blueprint for small European towns. Its combination of participatory processes, environmental sustainability, and multifunctionality establishes it as a best practice adaptable to diverse territorial and cultural contexts.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative aims to address major global challenges through a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative local regeneration model.
The redevelopment of Massena Barracks is not just an architectural restoration but a concrete response to issues like climate change and excessive land consumption. Uncontrolled urbanization and new infrastructure developments lead to high land consumption, threatening biodiversity and increasing CO₂ emissions. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. promotes heritage regeneration, avoiding the use of new land for construction and reducing environmental impact. The project focuses on restoring an existing historic building, using local materials and low-impact solutions to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.
Another global challenge is the loss of cultural heritage, as many historic buildings are abandoned or converted into static museum spaces without actively engaging the community. The Municipality of Rivoli Veronese addresses this issue by adopting an innovative reuse model, transforming Massena Barracks into a multifunctional space that preserves its identity while opening it up to new cultural, tourism, and social functions.
The project also tackles social inequality, particularly in terms of limited access to culture and public spaces for vulnerable groups. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. ensures accessible and inclusive spaces, designed according to universal design principles, with multifunctional areas, affordable hospitality, and services open to all.
Finally, the project provides a solution to the financial challenge faced by publicly owned cultural sites. Many cultural initiatives rely on public funding without a long-term economic sustainability strategy. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. introduces a self-sustaining management model, generating revenue through hospitality, dining, events, and public-private collaborations, ensuring the maintenance and development of the site without additional land consumption.
The redevelopment of Massena Barracks is not just an architectural restoration but a concrete response to issues like climate change and excessive land consumption. Uncontrolled urbanization and new infrastructure developments lead to high land consumption, threatening biodiversity and increasing CO₂ emissions. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. promotes heritage regeneration, avoiding the use of new land for construction and reducing environmental impact. The project focuses on restoring an existing historic building, using local materials and low-impact solutions to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.
Another global challenge is the loss of cultural heritage, as many historic buildings are abandoned or converted into static museum spaces without actively engaging the community. The Municipality of Rivoli Veronese addresses this issue by adopting an innovative reuse model, transforming Massena Barracks into a multifunctional space that preserves its identity while opening it up to new cultural, tourism, and social functions.
The project also tackles social inequality, particularly in terms of limited access to culture and public spaces for vulnerable groups. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. ensures accessible and inclusive spaces, designed according to universal design principles, with multifunctional areas, affordable hospitality, and services open to all.
Finally, the project provides a solution to the financial challenge faced by publicly owned cultural sites. Many cultural initiatives rely on public funding without a long-term economic sustainability strategy. M.A.S.S.E.N.A. introduces a self-sustaining management model, generating revenue through hospitality, dining, events, and public-private collaborations, ensuring the maintenance and development of the site without additional land consumption.
The M.A.S.S.E.N.A. initiative is already in an advanced planning phase, with concrete actions confirming the commitment of the Municipality of Rivoli Veronese to its realization. The Municipality of Rivoli Veronese has been actively working on the project for years, allocating resources from its own budget. To address urgent renovation needs, such as roof repairs, the municipality has allocated over €120.000,00 (see Delibera di giunta del Comune di Rivoli Veronese No. 3 of February 7, 2025, attached). The Guideline Plan for the Enhancement of the Fortified Complex of Rivoli Veronese estimates that the total renovation cost for the complex is €5,800,000.00: €1,900,000.00 for conservation work and €3,900,000.00 for usability improvements. Given the scale of the intervention, the project will be carried out through multiple independent functional phases, ensuring a gradual opening of the spaces. In early January 2025, the Municipality of Rivoli Veronese, supported by the Province of Verona, initiated a negotiated procedure with the Veneto Region to secure funding from the 2021-2027 Development and Cohesion Fund. The goal is to finance the complete renovation, including work on both interior and exterior spaces. The planned activities for project implementation, aligned with New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, include sustainability, by using low-impact technologies, local materials, and energy-efficient solutions to meet carbon neutrality goals. Inclusion is ensured through design for all principles, making the spaces accessible and open to the community, while also guaranteeing economic accessibility for disadvantaged groups in event participation and space management. Aesthetics will be preserved by maintaining the historical identity of the building, harmonizing it with the Valdadige landscape, and paying special attention to interior and exterior furnishings, repurposing existing objects and using sustainable materials complementing the surrounding environment.
