Architetture minute come nuove infrastrutture dei territori alpini

The Alpine region is currently undergoing profound environmental, socio-economic, and demographic transformations, exhibiting a dichotomy between, on the one hand, unsustainable tourist pressure, and on the other, processes of fragility and depopulation. The dominant winter mass-tourism model, now vulnerable to climate change (e.g., snow scarcity), necessitates urgent redefinition. A holistic and participatory approach to tourism is proposed, focusing on slow and immersive practices that reposition the mountain from a periphery to a laboratory of sustainability. In this context, small architectures assume a fundamental strategic role, acting as a tool for territorial regeneration. Their value extends beyond mere economic dimensions, yielding multidimensional and lasting benefits. Architectural interventions are tasked with valorising vernacular heritage, reactivating local chains, and creating hybrid community spaces, as exemplified by projects such as the Viamala Visitor Centre (CH), the Gorges du Sierroz system (FR), the Kulturtenn in Obermutten (CH), and the covered space in Faverges-Seythenex (FR). These projects, through simple design and the use of local materials, aim to strengthen resilience, social cohesion, and cultural identity, acting as strategic infrastructures for Alpine “habitability” and for conscious tourism that contributes to collective territorial reactivation.