Ornella Selvafolta, Lago di Como e dintorni. I nuovi paesaggi del turismo tra Ottocento e Novecento, in Art Nouveau e Società/Art Nouveau and Society. Qualità urbana e percezione del paesaggio/ Urban Quality and the Perception of Landscape, Proceedings of the European Colloquium (Cernobbio, 4 maggio 2007)

Action - Colloquia HISTORICAL LABS/Proceedings Urban Quality & The Perception of Landscape- Historical Lab 4, Como-Cernobbio, 4-5 May 2007 Abstract (English) Lake Como and the new scenery of tourism at the turn of the century Ornella Selvafolta, Professore di Storia dell’Architettura, Politecnico di Milano Document While already renowned as a privileged spot for vacation and elite activities at the turn of the century, Lake Como undertakes significant structural changes that display a greater and more far-reaching conception of tourism. The lecture aims to offer a general view of this territorial and cultural scenery by illustrating different architectural typologies and landscape settings belonging to an "Art Nouveau culture", not as much as their stylistic features are concerned, but as the outcome of a conscious approach to modernity. Consistent examples can be found in hotel and villa developments, new waterways equipments and mountain railways, and also in the strategies to renew the lake perception fostering a more up-to-date cultural image (e.g. the Como 1899 Exhibition celebrating electricity, poster graphics, street furniture and so on).