L'altoforno 1 di Piombino. Un modello di patrimonializzazione immateriale

The blast furnace 1 affair (Afo1) of the Lucchini di Piombino Steelworks is an atypical experience stemming from the decision taken in 2008 of commencing its demolition within an investment programme framework aimed at developing the activity of the steelworks. Following this decision, the Lucchini company and the local administration signed a protocol of agreement entrusting the Italian Association for Industrial Archaeological Patrimony (Aipai) with a “memory project” aimed at gathering and processing the most exhaustive documentation of the plant to be demolished. Was there a chance of avoiding the destruction of Afo1? Does having taken on the task of thoroughly documenting the plant to be eliminated (therefore having avoided losing all evidence of its existence such as what happened in the past to Afo3 and other important parts of the disused factory), represent a step backwards for Aipai in respect to its associative principles, or rather a correct choice of responsibility? These are the questions that this contribution will try to answer. In the following paragraphs we will sum up the main steps of this matter: the background of the Lucchini di Piombino steelworks, the cessation of the blast furnaces and their progressive demolition, the memory project and finally the new steelworks museum project. ABSTRACT The blast furnace 1 affair (Afo1) of the Lucchini di Piombino Steelworks is an atypical experience stemming from the decision taken in 2008 of commencing its demolition within an investment programme framework aimed at developing the activity of the steelworks. Following this decision, the Lucchini company and the local administration signed a protocol of agreement entrusting the Italian Association for Industrial Archaeological Patrimony (Aipai) with a “memory project” aimed at gathering and processing the most exhaustive documentation of the plant to be demolished. Was there a chance of avoiding the destruction of Afo1? Does having taken on the task of thoroughly documenting the plant to be eliminated (therefore having avoided losing all evidence of its existence such as what happened in the past to Afo3 and other important parts of the disused factory), represent a step backwards for Aipai in respect to its associative principles, or rather a correct choice of responsibility? These are the questions that this contribution will try to answer. In the following paragraphs we will sum up the main steps of this matter: the background of the Lucchini di Piombino steelworks, the cessation of the blast furnaces and their progressive demolition, the memory project and finally the new steelworks museum project.