Design as a Tool for Regenerating Abandoned Spaces: The Aesthetics of the Unfinished

Luciano Crespi argues for a distinction between "non finito" (unfinished) and "non-finito" (deliberately incomplete) in architecture and design, proposing the latter as a strategic approach to regenerating abandoned spaces in Italy. The article cites 546 unfinished public works in Italy according to the Ministry of Public Works, and 6 million abandoned spaces estimated in the book "Riusiamo l'Italia." Crespi contrasts these with the "Incompiuto Siciliano" project, which he critiques for potentially legitimizing illegal construction. He references Saskia Sassen's concept of "improbable" spaces and Nicolas Bourriaud's notion of contemporary nomads. Crespi advocates for a design-led regeneration using temporary, reversible installations that preserve the symbolic content of sites. He draws on Michelangelo's non-finito sculptures, citing art historian Giulio Carlo Argan, and physicist Guido Tonelli's ideas about cosmic precariousness. The article was published on Artribune in April 2021.