Spazi di cura: prototipi modulari in materiale riciclato

The paper explores the potential of using recycled materials in the design of modular healthcare facilities, with the aim of promoting sustainable, flexible, and responsive building solutions in the face of future health emergencies. In light of the increasing obsolescence of traditional hospital infrastructures and the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the study offers a critical reflection on the role of modular architecture as a possible strategy for renewing and strengthening healthcare systems. The adoption of recycled materials, such as medical waste, plastics, aluminum, and other industrial products, may help reduce environmental impact and lower construction and maintenance costs, thereby contributing to a more responsible and resilient healthcare built environment. To illustrate these considerations, the paper examines two emblematic case studies: the MAC Ward, developed by the Taiwanese fi rm Miniwiz, and the CURA system, conceived by Italian architect Carlo Ratti, which repurposes shipping containers into autonomous intensive care units. Both projects appear to demonstrate that sustainable design, grounded in principles of reuse, modularity, and adaptability, could offer tangible and replicable solutions for the development of future-ready healthcare facilities, capable of responding effectively to public health crises.