Transformation of former industrial areas in recent decades has expanded its meaning to such an extent to be considered the main element of urban modification; its spread and its scope have gone more and more increasing, putting their recovery as a necessity and often offering itself as a real opportunity to imagine the far-reaching changes of relationship and function within the city itself. In this abstract, a three-level analysis is proposed: at the micro, medium and macro scale; analysing the debate on paradigmatic case studies may be useful for dealing with such a broad issue that we consider not ascribable in a single definitive perspective.