Entre el vacío y la memoria. La arquitectura frente al patrimonio industrial

Since the middle of the last century, the relentless process of deindustrialisation has left behind a scene of blighted landscapes, empty buildings, strange metallic artefacts, and miles of railway networks and other abandoned infrastructure. The approach to these difficult remains has been, and is, very complex, and often the simplest solution has been demolition. Nor has the approach from the fields of architecture and urban planning always been made with the attention and respect that this part of history deserves. Through a review of publications, conferences and congresses, the article sets out the general lines of this approach since the 1970s, against the backdrop of the evolution in how these remains have been valued from the heritage point of view and the birth of the first associations in their defence. This parallel, almost chronological reading will allow us to question certain actions in the light of a broader context and, from the current position, to assess whether there has been a change in the approach of architecture to this reality.