Use and reuse of non-rhetorIcal architecture. The legacy of former “Case della Madre e del Bambino” in Post-FascIst Italy

This paper explores the architectural and socio- political legacy of the Case della madre e del bambino, welfare buildings developed by the Opera Nazionale Maternità e Infanzia (ONMI) during Fascist Italy, with a focus on their design, function, and postwar reuse. Originally conceived to serve women and children through a rationalist and non-rhetorical architectural language, these buildings reflected the regime’s eugenic policies while avoiding overt ideological symbolism. Drawing on the thoughts of Giuseppe Pagano, the study highlights how these “ordinary” architectures modest, functional, and unadorned, embodied a unique civic and hygienic modernity, which allowed for their continued use and reinterpretation after the fall of Fascism. Rather than being demolished or ideologically purged, many ONMI buildings were silently re- semantized and adapted for new uses, becoming enduring elements of urban welfare infrastructure throughout postwar Italy. Through selected case studies from Mortara to Udine and Rome, the article assesses preservation challenges, contemporary values, and the feasibility of sustainable reuse strategies. In doing so, it contributes to the broader debate on the conservation of fascist- era buildings that lack commemorative symbolism but remain embedded in the everyday fabric of cities. The paper argues that these non-monumental structures, long considered “minor architecture,” merit recognition as part of Italy’s architectural heritage—not despite their origins, but because of the complex historical layers they represent and the continued social function they can fulfill.