Banca Del Fare
Banca Del Fare: Social and Rural Regeneration in Alta Langa
Banca del Fare is a project born in 2016 to restore the vernacular architectural heritage of Alta Langa, addressing the abandonment and degradation of traditional Langhe constructions. The project promotes a sustainable rural development pattern under three premises: the use of local materials, traditional ways of building, and the promotion of hands-on education. The transmission of old construction techniques bridges together local artisans and students in a workshop-school environment.
Italy
Cascina Crocetta, SP52, 12070 Castelletto Uzzone CN
Prototype level
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
004050: Castelletto Uzzone (IT)
Banca del Fare is a participatory program that integrates craftsmanship, sustainability, and rural regeneration. Initially launched within a nonprofit association, it became an independent project before 2016 and soon evolved into a public policy initiative aimed at counteracting rural abandonment, restoring traditional architectural heritage, and safeguarding century-old techniques at risk of disappearing. The initial project was to restore and revitalize Borgo Cascina Crocetta and its "cascina", a traditional farmhouse in the Langhe region. Rather than relying on external contractors, a participatory and community-driven approach was adopted to actively involve local artisans and residents, reinforcing the link between heritage conservation and social inclusion. Over time, the site evolved into a hub for education and restoration, integrating traditional knowledge with hands-on training and public engagement. All construction materials are sourced from local suppliers, and the artisans involved are primarily from the local population. Many of them are elderly craftsmen, directly connected to the progressive disappearance of traditional skills, making their participation essential for knowledge transmission and intergenerational learning. The initiative takes place annually over four months, from May to early October, and stops in the winter months for lack of heating. It consists of four fully immersive ten-day courses, each dedicated to a specific material and building technique, including stone, wood, raw earth, and canna Mediterranea. Additionally, six three-day workshops follow the same hands-on learning approach with local and natural materials but in a more condensed format. Cascina Crocetta serves as the central laboratory, with courses designed around its renovation and expansion. Everything built during the sessions remains as a permanent installation or an integral part of the farmhouse.
traditional building techniques
sustainable rural regeneration
use of reclaimed materials
intergenerational knowledge transfer
community space revitalization
Sustainability is at the core of Banca del Fare, requiring a well-structured framework that integrates environmental, social, and economic aspects. The use of local materials significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation while promoting traditional craftsmanship. The project began by studying historical building techniques in the Alta Langa region and identified two primary materials that define its architectural heritage: wood, primarily used for roofing structures, and stone, the key component of dry-stone walls, a technique recognized as part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018. Over time BDF expanded its approach by incorporating additional sustainable construction techniques, to implement further material circularity. One of these is raw earth construction, which requires no firing, generates no industrial waste, and can be reintegrated into the environment at the end of its lifecycle. More recently, the project introduced canna Mediterranea, a locally growing reed that is easy to harvest and offers an eco-friendly alternative for lightweight structures. These materials are locally-sourced and contribute to an architecture that is both low-impact and harmonious with the surrounding landscape.
The project applies these sustainable techniques beginning with small-scale interventions within Borgo Cascina Crocetta and gradually expanding to nearby areas. Every construction is designed with durability and functionality in mind, ensuring that it blends seamlessly into the landscape while providing long-term benefits. Beyond the physical structures, the initiative fosters a deep learning experience by actively involving local artisans, suppliers, and students. BDF strengthens local economies without de-essentializing them while actively preserving traditional craftsmanship. This approach proves that sustainable building techniques need not only practice but also active transmission to new generations.
The project applies these sustainable techniques beginning with small-scale interventions within Borgo Cascina Crocetta and gradually expanding to nearby areas. Every construction is designed with durability and functionality in mind, ensuring that it blends seamlessly into the landscape while providing long-term benefits. Beyond the physical structures, the initiative fosters a deep learning experience by actively involving local artisans, suppliers, and students. BDF strengthens local economies without de-essentializing them while actively preserving traditional craftsmanship. This approach proves that sustainable building techniques need not only practice but also active transmission to new generations.
Every BDF project respects the historical and architectural identity of each location while incorporating sustainable and traditional building techniques. A strong emphasis is placed on utilizing local resources and human capital, preserving the rural landscape aesthetics while ensuring that restored spaces are functional and welcoming. At Borgo Cascina Crocetta, a series of hands-on workshops have contributed to the restoration and adaptation of the site. The Torretta project, built in 2016, introduced a new wooden structure housing sanitary facilities, improving usability while maintaining architectural harmony. Similarly, the renovation of the Ex-Magazzino between 2017 and 2018 involved stone wall consolidation, roof reconstruction with traditional Langa stone, and interior refurbishment using natural materials. BDF also enhances the participatory experience by promoting a sense of belonging, learning, and connection to cultural heritage. Borgo Cascina Crocetta provides a space that encourages creativity, collaboration, and slow living. The Rural Arena (2023) involved participants in the design and construction of an outdoor space using repurposed wood, while the Dry Stone Wall Workshop (2022) revived traditional masonry techniques to reinforce terraces and communal areas. Each intervention has both aesthetic and functional value, but restoration alone is not enough—spaces must be reclaimed and actively used by the community. This principle is evident in the Look Up project (2023), which refurbished San Luigi Church. As part of the intervention, participants crafted three outdoor pavilions designed for night sky observation, which, during the daytime, served as spaces for relaxation, including yoga sessions. Further recognition of the initiative’s architectural and cultural impact came with the Didactic Pavilion (2024), which was selected as one of the 12 finalists for the prestigious Wood Architecture Prize.
BDF integrates principles of inclusion through affordability, participatory governance, community engagement, and flexible design solutions. While the initiative is not yet fully accessible to individuals with cognitive and motor disabilities, it promotes inclusion through pricing models, which attract diverse participant profiles, ensuring that participation is accessible to a broad audience, especially young, including students, professionals, and individuals simply looking for hands-on experience. University students gain practical experience in architecture and engineering, while artisans, builders, and craftsmen from different backgrounds use the program to refine their skills. Some participants leverage the knowledge acquired to apply it in their professional activities, as seen in cases where former students replicated similar models. Others are simply drawn to the community-based, outdoor learning experience, seeking a deeper connection with craftsmanship and rural life.The workshops and ten-day courses are designed to be low-cost and all-inclusive, covering insurance, accommodation, and meals. Additionally, some initiatives receive public funding or private sponsorships, such as the GAL Langhe Roero funding (regional funds) for the kitchen space, which further reduces costs. The use of recycled, reclaimed, and local materials further lowers costs while promoting sustainability and circular economy principles. Overall, BDF promotes a skill-sharing model where participants can exchange labour for learning, making education more accessible to those who may not afford traditional training programs. The local community participates in the inauguration, opening, and closing of workshops. Many are engaged as suppliers so local businesses can benefit economically from the initiative. Others contribute as artisans, transmitting their knowledge to younger generations.
Since its inception, more than 40 interventions and workshops have been carried out to regenerate the architectural heritage of Alta Langa through Banca del Fare. Over the past nine years, the project has mobilized more than 400 participants from 30 different nationalities, including approximately 275 course participants and 60 staff members and tutors. The participant demographics reflect the inclusive nature of the initiative, with 63% women and 37% men, and a diverse cultural background of 54% Italians and 46% international participants. BDF also directly benefits and involves citizens and civil society through its impact on local communities, Alta Langa's cultural heritage, and its economic activity. The initiative has so far engaged three small rural municipalities—Castelletto Uzzone (Cascina Crocetta, Chiesa di San Luigi, Ciabot Lumatsin), Monesiglio (Castello di Monesiglio), and Levice (Fienile di Levice, planned for 2025). Additionally, it has mobilized suppliers from surrounding towns, including Cortemilia, Saliceto, Cengio, and Gorzegno, creating a socially cohesive network of local rural economies. One of the key ways the initiative involves citizens is through the dissemination and preservation of traditional knowledge, which is at risk of being lost. This knowledge is not only transferred to participants through workshops but also made available to the wider community. Each project is carefully documented and officially archived in the municipality where the intervention takes place, ensuring its accessibility for future reference and potential replication. Beyond documentation, the initiative leaves a tangible and lasting impact on the territory. The interventions carried out between 2016 and 2024 are not just symbolic but have resulted in permanent, functional improvements to the landscape and infrastructure. A clear example is the "Muretti a Secco 2022" project, which reinforced dry stone walls to prevent mudslides and rockslides.
Banca del Fare is an integral part of the “Borghi a Prova di Futuro” local development plan, designed to integrate cultural, social, and tourism projects to promote sustainable growth in the Alta Langa area. Launched in 2022 with national funding, the initiative forged a strategic alliance between the municipalities of Castelletto Uzzone, Bergolo, and Levice (two of which applied) to enhance historical and architectural heritage for tourism purposes without disergarding social cohesion. Although Banca del Fare has been active since 2016 with a strong local focus, it quickly became a cornerstone of this broader initiative by bridging community needs with regional development goals. Local administrations recognized Banca del Fare as a powerful vehicle to amplify the impact of the “Borghi a Prova di Futuro” plan. Meanwhile, the community, already benefiting from this participatory project, saw the opportunity to expand its scope and impact. This synergy between institutional vision and community involvement solidified Banca del Fare’s role as a driving force for cultural and social regeneration. The initiative thus effectively mobilized resources at local, regional, and national levels. Locally, 13 suppliers provided essential materials and services, including stone, masonry, wood, lime, and local food supplies for workshops and events. This localized approach not only stimulated the local economy but also preserved traditional craftsmanship and promoted community participation. Regionally, 6 entities, including financial institutions and educational organizations, offered crucial financial support on one hand, while on the other recognized educational activities with ECTS. On a national level, strategic sponsorships amplified the initiative’s cultural and economic impact, ensuring a stable financial foundation.
BDF combines sustainable architecture, green design, traditional craftsmanship, and hands-on educational methods to achieve its goals. Sustainable architecture and green design principles guide the restoration of traditional buildings while minimizing environmental impact. By incorporating natural insulation, natural ventilation, and locally sourced materials, the initiative ensures ecological sustainability. The construction process emphasizes the use of reclaimed and natural materials, such as stone, lime, and earth-based mixtures, promoting a circular economy while preserving historical authenticity. Natural building techniques and traditional craftsmanship are central to the initiative. Participants learn heritage construction methods such as dry stone walling, lime plastering, timber framing, raw-earth techniques, and Mediterranean reed applications. The interaction among these diverse disciplines is facilitated through collaborative workshops and hands-on education. Expert artisans bring traditional knowledge, architects contribute sustainable design principles, and engineers ensure structural integrity and modern safety standards. This multidisciplinary collaboration leads to a dynamic exchange of knowledge, fostering creativity and innovation in problem-solving. It also enhances the learning experience for participants, who gain practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge. Hands-on education and deep vocational training are fundamental aspects of the initiative. The “learn-by-doing” concept is based on the principle of coming, understanding, designing, and building. Unlike conventional architectural education, where design often remains theoretical, this approach ensures that participants engage with every stage of the process, from conceptualization to physical construction, reinforcing the connection between ideas and their material realization.
The initiative has a strong local scope, deeply rooted in the territorial context. It blends education and cultural heritage, preserving both tangible and intangible aspects of craftsmanship and traditional building techniques. Most conventional efforts in the craft industry remain within a conceptual framework. While connections, showcases, guidance sessions, and tutorials engage artisans, their impact often fades once these activities conclude. Banca del Fare sets different goals by establishing long-term commitments to the territory. Despite operating seasonally due to the lack of heating in Autumn and Winter, it has maintained continuous activity in the Alta Langa region for the past nine years. A key innovative aspect is the revival of traditional knowledge directly from elder artisans and farmers, integrating their expertise into the learning process. This approach not only safeguards local craftsmanship but also actively transmits it to younger generations in a hands-on, immersive format. Unlike many modern sustainability initiatives that rely on imported solutions or materials under the guise of greenwashing, this project promotes building with what is available in the surrounding environment. Another defining element is the shift away from individualistic DIY approaches toward collective, participatory construction. Rather than focusing on isolated, self-led projects, participants engage in shared work that fosters collaboration, strengthening community bonds and reinforcing the social function of craftsmanship. Furthermore, while many architectural and design students are limited to theoretical knowledge, this initiative provides a rare opportunity to bridge the gap between design and execution, allowing participants to physically construct what they have envisioned.
The initiative follows a structured, partecipative methodology rooted in a learn-by-doing approach. Every intervention begins with an assessment of what the community needs and why, ensuring that each project has a clear functional and social purpose. Once the needs are identified, experts and tutors are contacted to provide technical guidance and support. A pre-design phase is then conducted to evaluate available materials and outline a highly preliminary project concept. The core methodology is structured around a ten-day course, broken down into different phases. The first three days are dedicated to participatory design and theoretical exploration of the chosen material, conducted directly on-site rather than through digital tools. This phase allows participants to familiarize themselves with these techniques in a practical setting. Half a day is allocated to safety training to understand the risks and best practices before starting construction work. The next seven days are dedicated to hands-on fieldwork, where participants engage in the realization of the project. If unexpected challenges arise, whether for an individual or a specific phase of the project, work is paused, and a collective reflection takes place to identify solutions in a participatory manner. This collaborative problem-solving process strengthens the educational value of the initiative, reinforcing that construction is not just about execution but about adaptation and teamwork. On the evening before departure, once the project is completed, a community event is held. During this gathering, participants and local residents come together to celebrate the work done, review the process, and explain the different steps taken. The following morning, a collective evaluation and monitoring session takes place, where participants provide feedback and reflect on the experience. At the end of each workshop, a suggestion form is sent out to gather further insights and improve future editions.
The project emphasizes knowledge transfer and how to foster its replicability in an intergenerational and cross-cultural context. Elders play an active role in the courses, as many are skilled craftsmen from nearby villages who pass down their expertise. There have been documented cases where students from previous editions have replicated this teaching model in at least two other Italian regions, Marche and Sardegna, the latter case in collaboration with the association Officine Condivise. In these cases, they adapted the methodology to incorporate region-specific traditional techniques, contributing to the preservation and differentiation of Italy’s diverse cultural heritage while maintaining a sustainable and socially inclusive approach. Beyond its educational impact, the material outcomes of the workshops remain accessible and free to the public. The project also establishes a framework for replicability in terms of infrastructure. An example is the "Look Up" project, designed to create a public space dedicated to sky and star observation. This initiative had an immediate cultural, educational, and awareness-raising impact on participants and later users. It also worked to promote energy conservation by addressing light pollution, a growing issue in densely populated areas otherwise mitigated within rural places, while encouraging a deeper understanding of solar energy as the planet’s primary energy source. Although Banca del Fare’s primary focus is to enhance the built environment, it has also strengthened social bonds and provided economic opportunities through skill development and job creation.
One of the most pressing global challenges that BDF addresses is the abandonment of rural areas, which leads to a loss of cultural heritage and economic decline. In Italy, 70% of municipalities have fewer than 5,000 residents, and in Alta Langa, most villages have fewer than 500 inhabitants. Castelletto Uzzone itself has fewer than 300 residents, making rural depopulation an urgent issue. Banca del Fare tackles this by restoring historical rural buildings, such as Cascina Crocetta, making them functional again while maintaining their cultural value. Social fragmentation is another key issue affecting rural communities, which often lack inclusive and accessible spaces. The initiative fosters community-building by creating shared spaces where people can gather, learn, and contribute to the territory’s regeneration. The “Look Up” workshop, for example, established a public space dedicated to sky observation, not only serving as a cultural and educational hub but also raising awareness about light pollution and sustainable energy practices. The high environmental impact of modern construction is another major challenge, especially in areas like Alta Langa, where industrial pollution caused severe damage over the past two decades. The initiative counters this by promoting low-impact building techniques. These methods mitigate resource depletion and water pollution effects while maintaining harmony with the local landscape. The Terra Cruda workshops introduce sustainable earth-based construction, providing a green alternative to conventional high-emission building materials. Examples of local solutions include the dry stone wall workshops, which revive a UNESCO-recognized heritage technique that plays a crucial role in landscape preservation and erosion control. These structures are essential for the stability of the terrain. Similarly, the raw earth workshops introduce sustainable construction methods that, while not strictly traditional to the region.
The further development of BDF in 2025 focuses on expanding its educational scope, improving accessibility, and deepening the initiative’s integration with the local community. First, extending the overall usability of the Cascina beyond its current seasonal operation; broadening the educational offer to include participants under 18, if there are no legal or insurance-related barriers; improving accessibility is the introduction of shorter, fully theoretical courses that will be accessible also to people with motor disabilities. Another shift will be in the participatory model, evolving from a participatory framework that includes people in work programs to a co-decisional approach, where community members and local institutions will actively participate in choosing which public heritage sites to restore. As for courses, a tiny house will be built as a mobile, multi-functional unit on wheels. Composed of two modules, it will primarily serve as a hospitality unit within Cascina Crocetta, offering additional accommodation options. However, its mobility ensures that it can also be temporarily relocated through municipal authorization, making it a flexible public resource for the community. To further integrate the site within the broader landscape, a new intervention will focus on the installation of signage to improve accessibility and visitor orientation within the site. In 2025, BDF will also expand to new locations, including the restoration of a collapsed barn in Levice with a combination of bamboo and canna Mediterranea, two fast-growing and renewable materials that offer lightweight yet resilient structural properties. Lastly, another project will complete a cycle of interventions that will transform Cascina Crocetta into a dedicated observation point for both the daytime and nighttime sky, further enriching the site’s cultural and educational value. The Didactic Pavilion, completed in 2024, will serve as an interpretation space for the solar observatory.
