Territorial Regeneration in the Crater Municipalities After the Earthquake of L’Aquila: Social Challenges and Innovative Approaches

The earthquake that struck L’Aquila and its surrounding area in 2009 caused considerable devastation, leading to the establishment of Special Offices for Reconstruction. In addition to restoring the built heritage, these offices tackle pre-existing challenges such as combating social exclusion, and demographic decline, and preserving cultural heritage. While these challenges are not direct consequences of the earthquake, they have been exacerbated by it. Addressing them while ensuring respect for the sustainability goals outlined in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda is essential. Key strategies include promoting sustainable tourism, involving the community in decision-making processes, and using technological tools such as WebGis platforms for data collection and analysis, as well as social inclusion. Several projects are outlined to illustrate participatory design aimed at urban regeneration, and social revitalization, and how these can contribute to the characterization of the territory. This contribution underscores the importance of inclusive approaches and innovative solutions to contribute, within the post-earthquake reconstruction context, to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).