Hidden histories of industrial heritage: micro-narratives from the company town of Dalmine, Italy

The idea of heritage traditionally implies recognition and legitimacy, embodying an identity value for the memory of a community or territory. When considering industrial heritage, the immediate image is often that of the factory – as a central and tangible entity that produced goods, employed workers, and left a significant techno-cultural imprint. Discussing hidden heritage at the first glance might seem paradoxical, as the very notion of heritage suggests something to be acknowledged and celebrated. However, the notion of hidden becomes both relevant and necessary in the context of industrial heritage. This is because the emphasis on materiality in industrial heritage is often driven by its visible presence and monumentality, presenting a double-edged sword. On the one hand, recognizing the physical remnants of industrialization generally fosters its historical conservation and architectural repurposing, creating valuable opportunities to understand and appreciate the significance of our recent past. On the other hand, this focus on material structures sometimes overshadows the individual and collective memories tied to these spaces, which are frequently erased or diminished to accommodate new interpretations and uses. This encompasses elements related to know-how, workers’ and community’s memories, and the affective connections tied to work and living spaces – memories that remain in a latent state, awaiting rediscovery. By focusing on the case of Dalmine, Italy – a company town where the factory not only shaped daily activities but also controlled social interactions and spatial organization – the chapter highlights the ways in which corporations regulated both public and private life. The study of hidden everyday heritage reveals small details and pieces of information, unearthing the multilayered relation between the material legacy built by the company – including housing, welfare, and urban design – and the intimate imprint of this physical apparatus on the lives of entire families affected by the company’s governance.