Types and technologies of rural mountain architecture in the Northeast of Italy: three valleys compared

The written work analyzes the heritage constituted by rural mountain architecture in the north-east of Italy, focusing in particular on three valleys in Friuli Venezia Giulia. The case studies refer to Andreis’ residential area (in the Carnic Prealps), to Resia Valley (Julian Prealps) and to Sauris’ city center (Carnic Alps). Referring to the respective environmental/residential contexts, the building types identified were defined as follows: Andreis house, Resian house and Sauris house. Two of the cases analyzed are characterized by a significant set of common characteristics, but belong to different cultural areas. The Resia valley has been inhabited for centuries by a population of Slavic origin, Andreis historically gravitate around the Friulian plain. Sauris, on the other hand, differs from the first two both in the geographical and altitude locations, and from the ethnic-cultural point of view. In the past, all three areas were characterized by permanent isolation, which favored the development and maintenance of original architectural features. The study identifies the particular building types that characterize the three local areas by describing the distribution layout, the technical details and the material construction characteristics. The system of similarities/differences between the different types in relation to settlement situations, as well as the relationships between building typology and construction technologies, are also identified at the same time.