From Agriculture To Tourist-Culture

March - May 2008, Cisternino-Stockholm
Collaboration on Master Course Studio 4 - AY 2008 - KTH - Royal Stockholm PolytechnicThe course analysed the strong change that is affecting the Itria Valley: from a society based on small-scale agriculture to a region affected by ever-increasing tourist flows.
Within the territory, two case studies were analysed: on the one hand agricultural buildings (Trulli and Masserie), and on the other the situation of historical centres.
The Itria Valley is characterised by the presence of ancient and well-preserved trullo constructions. The fortified Masserie buildings belong to the same family of rural complexes. These buildings represent a unique architectural example of the development and evolution of the agricultural community living in this hilly region.
The phenomenon of recent years of agricultural abandonment is leaving room for investors who buy land and develop it often inappropriately.
The aim of the course was therefore to gain a thorough understanding of the characteristics of this area and to identify the parameters for its coherent development.