Living the transformation. Adaptive Reuse as strategy for accessible student housing in Turin

In the past two decades, Turin has become a magnet for young minds from all corners of Italy and the world, who move to the city to start or continue their university studies. Both the Polytechnic and the University of Turin have gradually acquired a significant role in the city's local urban development due to the student community's growth, which welcomes ever more off-site and international people. This non-local student enrollment surge has created a compelling demand for affordable and accessible housing solutions. Since traditional housing options often fail to address the unique needs of students, who face financial constraints and prioritize accessibility, security and active participation in the city's dynamic life, the provision of adequate housing supply is always a challenge. The history of Turin as an industrial city left a considerable number of abandoned structures around the city, some of them located near areas of interest for students. Strategies of adaptive reuse for the renovation of dismissed buildings, combined with financial methods and the participation of both public and private stakeholders could be the answer to the growing demand for affordable student accommodation allowing accessibility and integration in the urban context.