Architettura e ambiente in Valle di Susa: metodi d’indagine e prospettive di ricerca

Abstract

This article reflects on the interdisciplinary dialogue between environmental and architectural history, focusing on the climatic conditions of the Susa Valley in Piedmont from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Grounded in recent studies on climate change in the Alpine region, it examines the correlation between environmental phenomena, geomorphological features, and architectural stratifications. The torrential nature of the Dora Riparia River, with its erosion and accumulation zones, has led to the formation of alluvial fans along the valley slopes, where the main mountain communities have developed. The study of these sedimentary areas provides insight into the impact of floods and hydrogeological instability, while archival sources shed light on social responses to these phenomena, such as relocating religious centers to safer areas. Architectural history provides a means of exploring these processes through a focus on technical and constructional aspects. While some architectural heritage sites successfully adapted to flood events in the Middle Ages, they failed to withstand those of the modern period. This research aims to establish a method for investigating the relationship between environmental history and architectural heritage, paving the way for future inquiry.