Adaptive reuse of underused mountain buildings for community hubs, coworking and low-impact living

Many mountain and inner areas have a significant stock of underused buildings, while at the same time lacking spaces for work, social life, services and cultural activities. Comunità Sassifraga is exploring how existing buildings in Valle Soana can be reactivated through light renovation, energy efficiency, circular design, community management and multifunctional use.

The proposed project would test how abandoned or underused buildings can become local infrastructures for resilient communities: coworking spaces, cultural venues, temporary accommodation, spaces for intergenerational activities, digital access points and hubs for local services.

The approach combines technical innovation with community-based governance. Buildings are not treated only as physical assets, but as enabling infrastructures for new forms of living, working and participating in mountain territories.

Partners sought
Municipalities owning or managing underused buildings, universities and RTOs, architecture and design studios, energy-efficiency experts, social housing organisations, digital infrastructure providers, NGOs and community cooperatives.

What we offer
A concrete case study in Valle Soana, relationships with local institutions and community actors, experience in cultural activation and participatory design, and a strategic vision linking building reuse, social innovation and territorial regeneration.

Relevant topics
Smart building; circular economy; energy efficiency; climate-neutral renovation; social innovation; community hubs; inner areas; rural services; adaptive reuse; participatory planning.

Keywords
Adaptive reuse; mountain buildings; community hubs; smart building; energy efficiency; circular renovation; coworking; temporary housing; local services; Alpine regeneration.