(IN)TANGIBLE HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

The paper presents a research experience – yet ongoing – funded by Regione Liguria and developed since the beginning of the year 2021. The request was to get a ‘governance model’, as it was roughly named, operating through a designerly vision for the Parco Regionale delle Alpi Liguri. For reaching the point, the design encompassing either visual artefacts, either physical ones should include what was called as the park paths (for highlighting the access to the park from seven little different towns) as well as a determined codification of visual recurring motifs, conveying a sense of community and belonging for the locals together with a witness of the local traditions for visitors and travellers. The research group started to work on the paths, as it was pretty clear the request for prerequisite non-misleading, shared ‘signs’, presences of intangibles heritage and material culture, that could be read by visitors and felt as genuine from local inhabitants. The call was challenging, indeed, but still was evident that throughout design-thinking, carefully detecting the semantics on the field along with sensing the narratives within the communities, an undeniable result could be performed. Kick-off was an exploration of case studies, even identifying what was unsaid within the request itself. Then, a series of field activities were handled, such as numerous site inspections and interviews. In the meanwhile, we were learning how and what to narrate. Afterwards, the team came up with a proposal for the park paths, presenting it to the stakeholder: although the acknowledgements, further refinements and upgrades followed. Through the narration of the research experience – in its methods and developments – along with the presentation of final outcome – in the form of the presented project – we aim to offer our personal viewpoint for the expression of material culture and local cultural heritage.