The construction of a territory in the Alps. Infrastructure for mass tourism / La costruzione di un territorio nelle Alpi. Infrastrutture per il turismo di massa

The research focuses on the ski resorts built in the French-Italian Alps between the late 1950s and the mid-1970s. These high-altitude touristic centers constitute spatially concentrated urban models, which are designed to be self-sufficient. Following an overview of the state of the art and an examination of the current problems affecting existing cases, the paper offers a reinterpretation of the history of the construction of tourist resorts by analysing how their relationship with context has evolved over time. From a study of the architectural object, it moves on to an analysis of infrastructure system at the local scale and beyond. The research is based on the assumption that connection with site is a strategic element to be rethought for overcoming current critical issues.