The Cardada Project, Foothills of the Alps in the Ticino, Switerland

Topics

• Regional value added
• Mobility

Short description

Cardada is a mountain reached via cable way from Orselina. Here we have realized a meeting place, a landscape promontory that is a passageway suspended in the trees, new connecting trails past the biggest trees in the forest, a play path, a geological observatory, and a musical wood. They were responses to a mountain that in some places was more like an urban periphery. Yet to be realized are a 'laminate' waterfall at the departure station and a space for encounters on Cardada. (“The work of 'Cardada, reconsidering a mountain’, surpasses the immediate expectations of guiding movement and use within an extremely beautiful and, at the same time, fragile natural setting by revealing unexpected elements of its identity, its processes and geological memory. In the project, nature is revealed in an unfolding, sequential way, on a most personal level.” -Jury Report (1st prize, 3rd Biennial on Landscape of Barcelona))

project executive

Budget

1,600,000 € (19,200,000 €)

Participants

Shareholders of Cardada Impianti Turistici SA, Orselina-Locarno; Swiss Confederation National Grant; Canton of Ticino Loan; Neighboring Municipalities: Locarno, Muralto, Orselina, Avegno, Minusio, Gordevio, Mergoscia, Patriziato (Brione s./Minusio – Minusio – Mergoscia)

Objectives

This project achieves to allow for a new way of viewing and experiencing the mountain. A way in which we are able to perceive our landscape as a horizon of history and to marvel instead of limit ourselves to a reductionist and aesthetic contemplation of nature that makes the landscape a mere panorama.

Activities

At Cardada activities are wide ranging, including everything from the more leisurely touristic attractions, to highly specialized academic research. Tourists in general come to Cardada to enjoy walks, mountain biking on Alpine paths, and to discover something special about the environment. Cardada has also become the site of various educational seminars, for students and professionals of various backgrounds, including landscape architecture, geology, biology, and ecology.

Results

This project has received the 1st prize at the 3rd Biennial on Landscape of Barcelona 2003(The Rosa Barba Award), a competition comprising of more then 430 projects throughout Europe. Numerous publications of exemplary European landscape design have included this project.

Use of prize money

Prize money would be used to pursue further research and publications.

Website

http://www.burgi.ch

Criteria for the Jury

Impact on nature and environment

Economic value added

The economic value added to the region from this project is considerable. More than 200,000 tourists per year visit this project, therefore the economy of the region as a whole is enhanced. All tourist related industries and services, such as hotels, restaurants, car rentals, etc., benefit greatly. This project also adds value to the region by creating a place for seminars and education on site, for schools and universities researching landscape and geological issues.

Socio-cultural value added

The socio-cultural value added from this project is a result of presenting the natural environment in a new and innovative way. Scientists, biologists, geologists, engineers, and experts of various other disciplines all collaborated to enrich this project and allow for the public to benefit from this great knowledge base. In this project the Alps can be seen in a way that allows for society to reflect on the long millions of years old geological processes that have formed the region.

Innovative content

This project is innovative through the way that landscape elements are combined with informative markings and symbols allowing the public to experience the Alpine environment while simultaneously evoking the imagination to consider the multitude of life forms and the grand time scale connected to this spectacular space. The common feature of the signs proposed for different places on the mountain is the search for a deeper perception of the landscape by refining human sensibilities for the qualities of nature and its invisible dimensions. The project examines the question of whether fascination can lead to a more profound respect for our environment.

Good governance

This project has ensured that decisions were taken transparently and with the participation of all of the players involved through over one year of meetings with many communities in the region, the many associations, and all authorities involved. This process has allowed for each voice to be heard and considered in the decision making process. In the initial phase of the project the proposal was presented to all involved players and through their feedback changes were made until there was a complete consensus to move forward, this process was then repeated as necessary throughout the other project phases.

PR impact

The success of the project is made known to the general public through publications, seminars, pamphlets, and posters in key locations. The extent of this impact is considerable, virtually all residents and tourists to Ticino know about Cardada. Also, many people choose to return multiple times throughout the year demonstrating the success of this project to be significant.

Multiplier effect / networking

The project seeks to pass on the experience gained in many ways. Most importantly is perhaps through the actual experience of the project. One of the visitors to Cardada was a professor from Ireland, and after returning to Dublin he was inspired to write an article entitled “The Only Way to Climb a Mountain”, describing his experience to others, as it was published in a newsletter of the Garden & Landscape Designers Association (Compass / Issue 20 Winter 2001/2002). Paolo Bürgi has also given numerous lectures to students and faculty at landscape architecture universities around the world.

Transferability

For this project we created an elaborate methodology that can possibly be applied to other sectors and regions. This methodology consisted of constructing a work diagram consisting of two parts, one being project direction and the other having to do with administration. The project direction was then further divided into several contributing players, coordinating the group was the landscape architect, the group also consisted of a historian, an architect, an artist, a biologist, and a geologist. The administration was comprised of a lawyer, an economist, a marketing director, and a graphic designer. Each of these players had specific roles to play, resulting in a draft of ideas on the intervention proposal and costs.

Images

The Geological Observatory, a red line that stands for the insubrian line intersects the platform. For the last 200 million years it has divided the rocks of the north from those on the south. Rows of stone samples taken from either side of the line refer to the vast temporal dimensions underlying geological processes.

View from the Landscape Promontory, a suspended passageway made of steel and titanium leads to the lookout platform with a view of Lago Maggiore. The landscape panorama is not the only thing that visitors are meant to appreciate. Symbols in the paving with accompanying texts in the railing provide references to history and literature.

The Landscape Promontory, detail of symbol engraved into the paving.