"Casa Capriata 2008" is a research project begun in 2006 by the Architectural and Industrial Design Department of the Turin Polytechnic and the Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservators of the Turin Province that will conclude during the XXIII World Architects Congress UIA Torino 2008 with construction, at Gressoney Saint-Jean (Aosta) and in a technologically updated form, of the design originally devised by Carlo Mollino for the X Milan Triennial in 1954 and not built at the time.
This is therefore a tribute to modern Italian architecture in the person of Mollino, a Turin architect but also excellent designer and photographer as well as mountain climber. His works made a significant contribution to modernizing the formal, typological and constructive repertory in the context of Italian and international architecture in the second half of the XX century,
"Casa Capriata" will be built in Gressoney St. Jean in the Weismatten ski district along the WalserWeg and serve as an experimental wooden prototype for high-altitude dwellings: located at the ski-lift arrival point, it will be used as an alpine refuge.
Reiterating the character of the original design - strongly characterized by an experimental use of innovative materials and ingenious building techniques - the new proposal of the building is heavily oriented towards environmental sustainability, pursued through using energy-saving techniques and carefully managing non-renewable resource cycles: a careful study of the stratigraphy of the exterior to reduce heat loss, the use of alternative technologies to generate heat and electricity and manage the plumbing system enable the building to qualify as the first passive high-altitude home in Italy, certified by the prized "Casa Clima A - Gold" seal of approval.
The companies funding the project are also technical partners, which - under the scientific coordination of the Turin Polytechnic - helped define the building methods for the structure, exterior and installation components.

Promoters:
Turin Polytechnic - Department of Architectural and Industrial Design (DIPRADI) and the Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservators of the Province of Turin (OAT).

Partners:
Autonomous Aosta Valley Region, Commune of Gressoney Saint-Jean (Aosta), Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservators of the Autonomous Aosta Valley Region, Federation of the Piedmont and Autonomous Aosta Valley Region Orders, Milan Triennial, Agenzia Casa Clima, Denaldi Legnami, Saint-Gobain Isover Italia, Internorm Italia, Rheinzink, Unimetal, Hoyal Italia, Bertolotto Porte, Idrocentro, Artigo Rubber Flooring, Velux, Bi Esse, Carra Depurazioni, Zanotta.

Scientific Manager and Work Group:
Guido Callegari
Turin Polytechnic - Architectural and Industrial Design Department
Liliana Bazzanella, Alessandro Mazzotta, Elena Tamagno
Turin Polytechnic - Architectural and Industrial Design Department
Mario Sassone
Turin Polytechnic - Department of Structural Engineering and Geotechnics

Technical Committee:
Guido Callegari, Liliana Bazzanella, Alessandro Mazzotta, Elena Tamagno
Turin Polytechnic - Architectural and Industrial Design Department
Mario Sassone
Turin Polytechnic - Department of Structural Engineering and Geotechnics
Riccardo Bedrone
OAT Turin Order of Architects
Aldo Comé, Giancarlo Cella, Luca David
Commune of Gressoney St. Jean
Maurizio Coslovich
Walser Mountain Community
Ulrich Klammsteiner, Daniela Demartini
Casa Clima Agency

Expertise Group:
Denaldi Legnami, Saint-Gobain Isover, Hoyal Italia, Internorm Italia, KME Italy and Unimetal

Chronology:
Spring 2008: worksite opening
Summer 2008: construction of the building and presentation of the refuge during the XXIII UIA World Congress Torino 2008
Fall 2008: work conclusion
Winter 2008: building inauguration

Websites:
www.casacapriata.polito.it

www.comune.gressoneystjean.ao.it