In the Italian context, where mountains and remote valleys suffer from limited accessibility and inadequate infrastructure, depopulation naturally emerges as a consequence for villages and towns located in those areas. This, in turn, makes efforts to revive local communities increasingly challenging. To reverse this trend and ensure the long-term viability of local economies, a deep understanding of the issue and well-informed decision-making are essential. GORSE was established in response to this challenge. Its mission is to develop a research-driven project focused on analyzing the various causes of depopulation and formulating effective methodologies to address them, ultimately aiming to repopulate these areas and revitalize local communities.
The Cervo Valley in Piedmont served as our primary investigation area. Due to its diverse environmental conditions, we chose to focus on a more specific location, better aligned with the GORSE brief and that of the external institution NODES: Desate, a scarcely accessible abandoned town. Then, to bridge the gap between initial analysis and practical solutions, we developed and distributed tailored questionnaires. These surveys
reached a diverse group of stakeholders, including enterprises, second homeowners, local residents, tourists, and big city residents, all possessing varied levels of interest and influence within the valley. Their responses were crucial in understanding that the core drivers of depopulation are geographic isolation, compounded by the lack of public transport, as well as the absence of modern amenities and essential services. Stakeholders’
specific needs and requirements guide us toward our ultimate proposed solution for reversing depopulation: a combination of Digital Twin development and the ‘Albergo Diffuso’ model.