The building heritage of the 20th century characterises many Italian cities and inevitably defines much of their conformation. The economic boom and the desire for social redemption in the post-war period, as well as the real need to rebuild parts of cities affected by conflict, led to the construction of a wide variety of infrastructures and buildings. The latest ones, designed for different uses, differ from the rest of the historical heritage, both for the use of modern materials and for the proposal of innovative forms. The aim of the following contribution is to investigate the current and complex issue of the recovery of modern and contemporary building heritage, focusing on the productive buildings conservation and valorisation, which due to their architectural quality and appropriate location deserve to be known and returned to the inhabitants. The following contribution illustrates two significant case studies of modern fish markets in Italy.