Valdagno, “Città Sociale” (1927-1937): urban design and quality of life from past society to future development

Carried out between 1927 and 1937, the planning process for the new district in Valdagno (Vicenza), named ‘Città Sociale’, is considered one of the greatest Italian examples of social commitment in urban design. The district was built by the pioneer of textile industry Gaetano Marzotto, following Francesco Bonfanti’s architectural design. The aim was to provide a housing and welfare system near the factory, devised to improve the workers’ quality of life. The essay explores the genesis and features of this modern urban form, as well as transformation processes and its current state of conservation. The goal is to assess its present role in the city by investigating what has changed, what remains, and if it is still valid in contemporary society. The paper will also discuss whether this district could still provide healthy places and urban comfort. Another topic is the connection between urban form and identity of the city, in order to preserve and re–interpret them for future lifestyles. Beginning with the analysis of Bonfanti’s drawings, kept in the Archivio Progetti at the Università Iuav di Venezia, the research identifies the socio–political circumstances and the criteria of modernity on which the project was devised. Both a general and a case–study approach are used to present its emblematic buildings and urban spaces. The results are compared with what has come to light through site–visits, in order to highlight the main reasons why the urban fabric has been transformed over time and the current state of its facilities. The comparison between past and present helps to understand the role now played by the district in the contemporary socio–cultural environment of Valdagno. Valdagno continues to be a valid synthesis of landscaping, urban planning, and architectural design as Marzotto and Bonfanti imagined, suitable for the welfare needs of a society which has changed.