Prospettive Alpine: the Atelier Martino Pedrozzi projects on display in Rodi-Fiesso

The students of the Martino Pedrozzi Atelier at USI Academy of Architecture have developed 17 projects concerning the aggregation between Quinto and Prato in the Upper Leventina. The works have been on display at the Dazio Grande Foundation in Rodi-Fiesso since 22 March and will remain available for viewing until Sunday, 13 April. In an interview, Professor Pedrozzi explains the importance of architecture in the development of the Leventina area and beyond.

The Upper Leventina Valley is preparing for a significant transformation with the merger of the municipalities of Quinto and Prato. This process presents both challenges and opportunities in terms of territory and architecture. To navigate this transition, students from the Architectural Design Workshop, led by Professor Martino Pedrozzi at the USI Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio, have developed 17 projects. These projects are now showcased in the exhibition "Prospettive Alpine," which opened on 22 March and will be available for viewing until Sunday, 13 April 2025, at the Dazio Grande di Rodi-Fiesso Foundation.

The exhibition offers a reflection on the spatial potential of the future municipal entity, emphasising new strategies for connecting and enhancing the area. The projects, approved by local administrations, propose interventions that create continuity among various infrastructures while integrating elements of identity and addressing the needs of the population. A few days before the exhibition opening, we spoke with Prof. Pedrozzi about the work his students completed in the studio, showcasing how architecture can serve as a tool for interpreting and transforming the territory.

Professor Pedrozzi, what are the main architectural and territorial challenges posed by the aggregation between Quinto and Prato? And how do the projects developed in the Atelier try to address them?
"Aggregation always poses the challenge of extending the community's attention to a wider area. In our design studio, we begin with the local area, aiming to transform this challenge into an opportunity by repairing or enhancing specific locations or entire infrastructures within our projects. These improvements often highlight the importance of aggregation to local administrations. A crucial first step is to engage in dialogue with the municipalities involved, taking the time to understand their perspective on this 'new' territory."

How did the students' work contribute to imagining a new spatial identity for the Upper Leventina? Were there any particularly innovative or surprising ideas?
"Planning in the Upper Leventina region involved navigating a variety of infrastructures, not limited to energy, which allowed for an in-depth discussion of the area's identity. From this perspective, most projects have been developed in dialogue with the extensive areas and elevation differences created by these networks. The hydroelectric basins, airport, railway, funiculars, and the surrounding development fabric have been interconnected and revitalised. These projects reflect a potential that fosters imaginative and shared use of the space, creating continuity between the different areas. This serves as a significant starting point for the community, which will need to engage in discussions and implement changes moving forward."

Which characteristics of the territory have most influenced the project proposals? Are there any elements of identity that you wanted to preserve or reinterpret?
"As I said, the infrastructure, in the strictest sense, was an important reference and a fundamental design element. However, there are also sub-infrastructures that significantly contribute to a continuous connection with the valley's culture. For instance, the environmental and tourist features of the Piora Valley, the Ambrì Piotta Hockey Club, which occupies part of the airport and is currently undergoing transformation, and the various lakes and reservoirs that provide opportunities for sports and typical alpine activities, all illustrate a conscious reinterpretation of the area. These projects are rooted in careful observation and reflect a deep understanding of the landscape and its cultural significance."

In your opinion, how could the urban and natural landscape of the future municipality evolve? What strategies do you consider crucial for a harmonious transformation?
"I believe it is essential to present the community of Alta Leventina with an overall vision that shows the potential, which is in truth a necessity, to perceive and experience the territory in terms of continuity. Over the years, there have been divisions along the valley floor that tend to devalue, for example, the perception of the valley when travelling on foot, in terms of the level and height difference of the side valleys. This issue clearly involves environmental evolution in parallel: all the projects use the landscape tools at our disposal to solve the problem of discontinuity, as well as architectural ones. We envision a territory that can be reactivated along various interconnected pathways, where themes such as biodiversity and the sustainable use of water resources enhance the spatial experience for the municipalities involved."

What impact do you hope this exhibition and the debate it has generated will have on the future development of the Upper Leventina and - in general - on territorial policies in Ticino and the Alps?
"Although we started from concrete necessities and sites of real interest for the administration, we immediately inhibited the normative constraints linked to them, or at least we reconsidered them in a new interpretation based on freedom and generosity. This should not be read as an act of defiance but rather as a tool for discussion that allows us to dream of otherwise impossible scenarios. The exhibition of projects at Dazio Grande, which saw the participation of many representatives and citizens, confirmed the effectiveness of this approach. Having said that, we are convinced that many of the proposed ideas are grounded in realism, particularly in relation to the Alps. These ideas focus on the use of local resources, the cultural and social phenomena occurring at high altitudes, the climate, and the transformations that climate change brings to mountain regions. Everyone is invited to reflect critically on the work of our students, imagining solutions to phenomena that affect the whole of Switzerland."

"Prospettive Alpine" will be open at the Dazio Grande Foundation in Rodi-Fiesso until Sunday 13 April 2025. The exhibition is accessible on opening days (Thursday evening, Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday) or by appointment (tel. 091 874 60 60).