Both urbanized Alpine territories and cities share the need for a continuous renewalof spaces, and the theme of the regeneration of mountain areas is all the more topicaldue to the change in the ways of inhabiting such places. In order to play an activerole in these transformations, contemporary architecture should take into accountthe interpretation of both the landscape and the urban fabric. Among thearchitect’s analysis tools, comparison with the past plays a significant role, and especiallyin the Alpine valleys, where the circulation of ideas is sometimes slower or“overdue” compared to dynamic urban realities.The occasional presence of professionals coming from other locations, often fromcities, can be considered an opportunity to renew the local architectural culture;these architectures materialize perspectives “from an outside eye” and fresh interpretationsof places.In the Alpine valleys, tourism and the exploitation of water resources are twothemes often related to the presence of “infiltrations”: although Val Bregaglia is fairlyuntouched by tourism development, it provides some examples of holiday homesand bears the signs of large infrastructural interventions related to the exploitationof water resources.During the twentieth century, there were no resident architects in Val Bregaglia. Afterthe economic crisis of the years between the two world wars, design activitiessaw the intervention of architects such as Bruno Giacometti (Stampa, 1907-Zollikon,2012), Peppo Brivio (Lugano 1923-2016), Tita Carloni (Rovio 1931-Mendrisio2012) and Pierre Zoelly (Zurich 1923-2003).More recently, Miller & Maranta (Basel), H.J. Ruch (St. Moritz) and Lazzarini(Samedan) also carried out projects in this territory.
