Work to restore the Baita Paeról on Monte Ortighera completed

The Baita Paeról (Paeról hut) corresponds to the traditional typology of the mountain hut, supporting the grazing activity on Monte Ortighera in the Dossena area. It therefore consists of two flanking bodies, functionally separated and with independent access.

The project has been co-financed for € 70,038.40 with the call for proposals entitled: European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EARDF) – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (EU Reg. 1305/2013) – PSL GAL Valle Brembana 2020 – Measure 7 – Action 10 ‘HISTORICAL – ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE RECOVERY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES’ – Operation 7.6.01 – Incentives for the recovery and enhancement of rural heritage.

HISTORY

Originally, the double-pitch roof had a structure of wooden beams and planks that supported the flat slate ashlar cladding. Approximately one third of the valley pitch was absent due to the collapse that had affected the masonry in the southern corner, and more than half of the total surface of the roofing had been replaced with brick tiles.

There were no fixtures and fittings and therefore the state of conservation of the property did not allow for full and safe use of its spaces. In the past, it was used for cattle grazing activities and as a dwelling for drovers.

THE WORKS CARRIED OUT

The project envisaged a conservative restoration and renovation of the structure, in order to preserve the building’s original aspects and guarantee a systematic set of interventions aimed at its completion, also through consolidation, renovation and insertion of innovative elements. In this sense, the first interventions are in fact aimed at the full redefinition of the envelope in its broadest and most extensive sense, repairing the collapses and gaps, extensive or localised, of the roof and perimeter masonry.

The south corner, affected by widespread collapse of the masonry apparatus, was entirely restored with the insertion of a new masonry finished with lime plaster made with medium and large-sized aggregates, in a colour that is harmonious with the stone cladding, to denounce the alterity of the intervention and, at the same time, maintain the memory of this long period of decay and abandonment of the building.

From a distance, the visual perception of the renovated building is unified in terms of colour and material; up close, one can clearly distinguish the restoration work carried out, which therefore does not deny the previous level of collapse. Similarly, work has been carried out on the roof, with the use of poplar cladding of regular cut, recovering all the elements of the current covering and adding new ones; new window frames were installed on the openings.

In connection with the full definition of the programme, the two volumes that make up the hut were connected from the inside by making a breach in the backbone masonry. Also on the outside, sufficiently distant from the building, is a small volume made entirely of stone, to contain a cistern for collecting rainwater from the roof, which is pumped inside the hut to feed the water-sanitary system.

PROMOTION AND INFORMATION PLAN

The project for the recovery and valorisation of the Baita Paeról is the premise for the creation of a new Monte Ortighera Information Centre, to be located in the renovated building, chosen as an excellent imaginative and mnemonic expression of the alpine construction rationale. This will provide a permanent, highly-qualified and well-equipped centre for the study, information, communication and dissemination of the peculiarities of this extensive area, identified as an ‘Agri-district of ancient biodiversity’, i.e. a centre for the training and dissemination of traditional agro-sylvo-pastoral practices.

The Municipality of Dossena has long adopted a series of actions aimed at the recovery and valorisation of its territory through actions directly applied to its architectural, rural and productive heritage for cultural, dissemination and demonstration purposes.

The present work is part of this programme and specifically applies to the recovery and valorisation of the Baita Paeról, a small rural building on Monte Ortighera, expressive of the testimonial value of the historical rural heritage of the area but which could also be taken on as a pilot project applicable to other nearby buildings that together with the Baita Paeról could constitute an infrastructural network to support hiking activities, also for educational, training and dissemination purposes.

ADDRESSEES

The main targets of the information and dissemination campaigns envisaged by the project for the recovery and enhancement of the Baita Paeról are:

  • the general public, spread throughout the territory, even if not in the immediate vicinity of the property;
  • students and teachers of primary and secondary schools in the area;
  • university students attending courses related to environmental enhancement, historical heritage or the study of Alpine biodiversity;
  • public administrations: staff of public bodies and entities involved in SCI management;
  • technical-scientific staff and didactic operators of protected areas or museums who come into daily contact with visitors to the different contexts;
  • professionals (foresters, agronomists, veterinarians, biologists, naturalists, landscape architects, etc.);
  • the entire scientific community;
  • hikers.

Project developed Studio WERK – Milan – ‘Drawings extracted from the final project for illustrative purposes only’.