This paper presents an investigation based on an agreement between the Polytechnic University of Bari and the Archaeological Park of Egnazia (Apulia, Italy). The objectives of this collaboration are to define solutions for enhancing the accessibility of the archaeological park, including a small shelter for the entrance to the ancient cryptoporticus and a removable, repositionable fencing system for the excavation areas, integrated with lighting and information systems. The methodology involves the definition of the contemporary relationship between design and archaeology by analyzing existing theoretical literature and identifying recent case studies in Italy and abroad. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the Archaeological Park of Egnazia intended as part of a broader landscape system and a peculiar historic-archaeological site. The findings contribute to the development of a methodological framework that categorizes interventions based on the key principles of temporariness, flexibility, adaptability, and sustainability. The goal is to define design strategies for archaeological parks that address the challenge of integrating visitor accessibility with the requirements of excavation, protection and conservation.
This study examines how Asian countries, particularly in Central Asia, have developed national identity through historical, cultural, and religious dimensions amid globalization. The research focuses on five Central Asian states—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—by analyzing their post-Soviet nation-building processes. The authors demonstrate that national identity in these countries rests on three pillars: legal and political frameworks, traditional beliefs and religion, and everyday cultural practices. A common strategy across the region involves glorifying historical figures and events, sometimes real and sometimes mythical, to establish legitimacy and continuity for modern statehood. Leaders claim descent from legendary warriors or cite ancient civilizations as foundations for their republics. Regional cooperation emerges as crucial for strengthening individual national identities. Despite sharing common Islamic heritage, nomadic traditions, and Soviet history, each country has crafted distinct narratives. However, challenges remain, including clan-based governance, religious extremism, and the manipulation of historical facts for political purposes. The study reveals significant disparities in globalization integration, with Kazakhstan ranking considerably higher than Turkmenistan in economic, political, and social development indicators. The authors argue that successful national identity formation requires balancing modern governance with cultural preservation, and recommend enhanced educational programs, comprehensive legal strategies, and systematic information campaigns to strengthen national consciousness while respecting diversity and promoting regional solidarity in an increasingly interconnected world.
The present study analyzes the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques to the attribution of authorship of paintings belonging to the circle of Rembrandt van Rijn, a context characterized by strong stylistic similarnties. Using the proprietary system Luminari, two case studies were examined: a self-portrait by Rembrandt universally recognized as authentic and Portrait of a Man (The Auctioneer), a work of controversial attribution. The analysis is based on a dataset of 1,578 images referring to 16 painters of the School of Rembrandt. Different machine learning and deep learning models were compared, including Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and convolutional neural networks, with particular attention to a ResNet50 pre-trained on ImageNet. The latter showed the best performance, with an overall accuracy of approximately 72%, a significant value in a domain characterized by high authorial ambiguity. The results highlight both the potential of Al in supporting attribution analysis and the intrinsic limitations in cases of strong stylistic proximity. The introduction of a corrective index related to the School of Rembrandt allows a more cautious and informed evaluation, confirming the authenticity of the self-portrait and suggesting, for The Auctioneer, a non-conclusive attribution within the circle of Aert de Gelder.
Five years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the alarm it caused seems to have subsided. There is little talk of it, and yet the foreboding of a new, even more deadly catastrophe remains. One wonders whether we have learnt anything from those moments that highlighted our precariousness and vulnerability despite the developments made in science and technology, and whether we have made good use of our experience. At the end of the pandemic, the question arose as to whether art, and painting in particular, continued to represent an open window on the visible and the invisible, just as the question in the field of faith arose as to whether “normality was what we should hope for, or whether it was actually normality that was the cause of the problems we are currently experiencing”. Our experience of faith can provide us with a “new breath”, a new perspective on the world, and help us to look ahead with realism and well-founded hope.
The process of renewal of ordinary modern residential housing represents a chal-lenge in contemporary cities, where a substantial proportion of the post-war housing stock is reaching technological and functional obsolescence. Such buildings are often regard ed as standardised systems, yet their primary motivation was the pressing need for housing rather than monumental or representational ambitions. Their future raises questions of cultural recognition, technological performance, and the definition of appro-priate and sustainable renewal strategies. The present paper addresses these issues through two complementary research trajectories on modern residential heritage. The first draws on research on Rome's first social housing programme, where prefabricated estates - now approaching seventy years of age - are increasingly recognised as carriers of technical, social, and design-related values. In this context, the adoption of a one-size- fits -all approach to renewal is ill- advised. Instead, typological and technological criteria are needed to guide scenarios based on recurring construction features and performance conditions. The second tra-jectory examines Chinese regulatory and technical frameworks for the assessment and renovation of modern and contemporary buildings. The focus is on value-based classi-fication systems, the identification of architectural-technological elements subject to protection, and the role of prescriptive handbooks in defining graduated degrees of in-tervention, ranging from conservation-oriented renewal to controlled reconstruction and expansion. Rather than proposing a direct comparison, the paper highlights a shared methodo-logical convergence: moving from case-by- case actions toward structured yet adaptive frameworks for managing large modern housing stocks. It argues that operational tools are pivotal in balancing cultural recognition, technological upgrading, and long-term ur-ban sustainability
