Local authorities and municipalities must frequently address the problem of enhancing their historical buildings heritage. The cost of maintenance (both ordinary and extraordinary) together with the expenses of restoration, make it indispensable to identify the ways in which these old structures can be economically re-utilized in order to guarantee at least minimal upkeep. Moreover, it must be noted that an equitable income generated by the public property is often linked with the ability to also generate forms of development within the territorial context through various types of positive impact on the natural and economic environments in which the public property is set.
With this aim in mind, the Municipality of Bagno a Ripoli assigned our working group the task of developing new scenarios for the future use of the Antico Spedale del Bigallo, a 13th century prestigious architectural complex that originally sheltered pilgrims and provided care for the sick.  Some areas of the complex that belonged to the municipality had already been restored. After extensive research of benchmark references in the field of reutilization and enhancement of historical buildings and a detailed analysis of the socio-economic context, the group identified four functional scenarios for the property, compatible on one hand with the architectural features of the building and the planning restrictions imposed upon it, and on the other hand, with the logic of the market.
Following further study and meetings with the municipality to analyze expectations, objectives and needs of the community, a workshop was organized that was open to the participation of all those who, for various reasons, had an interest in the enhancement operation (public bodies, institutions, associations, stakeholders, local entrepreneurs, etc.). This allowed the group to identify a functional scenario capable of harmonizing the various needs that had emerged during the meetings, and to draft an economic and financial plan including the elements necessary to support the municipality in drafting the public tender documentation to assign the management of the property.