Giovanni Caudo on Earthquake Reconstruction and Italy's Internal Areas

In an interview with Artribune, architect and urban planning professor Giovanni Caudo discusses the 2016 earthquake in Amatrice, Italy, and the broader challenges of reconstruction. He emphasizes that it is not the earthquake that kills but human works, quoting the bishop of Rieti. Caudo praises Italy's Civil Protection service as among the best in Europe for its rapid response, setting up tent cities and emergency schools within weeks. However, he criticizes the lack of prevention and planning, noting that the building stock in the Apennine region is constructed on an active fault. He calls for a serious program for internal areas, referencing Fabrizio Barca's national strategy for internal areas, which aims to create sustainable development models. Caudo argues for a public-led reconstruction plan integrated with the internal areas strategy, involving private investment and oversight to avoid corruption. He advocates for rebuilding not just houses but communities, with a focus on infrastructure like broadband to enable remote work. He criticizes the government's 'Casa Italia' project, suggesting it should be renamed 'Città d'Italia' to reflect a broader urban vision.