‘Instituting’ Care in Fragile Territories: The Role of the University in Reimagining the UrbanPeripheral Institution of the Prison of Florence (Italy)

This article explores the evolving role of the University as an instituting institution within fragile and peripheral territories, drawing upon Roberto Esposito’s theory of institutions. Focusing on the Sollicciano Prison in Florence, the paper examines how the University of Florence, through the I CARE project, performs its third mission of public engagement not only as a knowledge producer but also as an active civic agent, enabling processes of urban regeneration. By rearticulating the relationship between the prison and the city, the University challenges established spatial and social hierarchies, contributing to the emergence of a peripheral centrality. The paper positions the University as an instituting institution capable of transforming the prison from an isolated and stigmatised total institution into a catalyst for inclusive urban development and, in doing so, accomplishing Patrick Geddes’ idea of the Militant University.