About us
The House of sustainability is a project born from the synergy between the Municipality of Airolo and Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) with the aim of creating a flagship location in Ticino for education and reflection on sustainable development, starting from the encounter with the Alpine region.
The House is scheduled to open in March 2024.
The activities of the House of sustainability are ensured by an operational team on site and supported by a scientific and educational Commission composed of representatives from all faculties, whose task is to guide, evaluate and approve the activities and courses offered by the House of sustainability.
Members of the scientific and educational Commission
- PRESIDENT: Prof. Gabriele Balbi, Deputy Rector of USI
- VICEPRESIDENT: Prof. Massimo Filippini, Faculty of Economics
- Prof. Antonio Carzaniga, Faculty of Informatics
- Prof. Emanuele Di Marco, Faculty of Theology
- Prof. Ilaria Espa, Faculty of Economics
- Prof. Michael Gibbert, Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society
- Prof. Greta Guarda, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
- Dr. Roberto Leggero, Faculty of Architecture
- Dr. Federico Lucchesi, representative of junior academics
- Prof. Pietro Majno Hurst, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences
- Guido Pedone, representative of students
- Dr. Giovanni Pellegri, head of the House of Sustainability
- Prof. Andrea Stabellini, Faculty of Theology
- Prof. Sascha Rösler, Faculty of Architecture
The operational team
Giovanni Pellegri
Head of the House of Sustainability and teacher
[email protected]
Cristina Gianella
Operational manager of the House of the sustainability
[email protected]
Giorgio Piffaretti
Head of sports activities Sport USI
[email protected]
The beginning
After a series of preparatory meetings, in December 2020, the municipality of Airolo and Università della Svizzera italiana signed a declaration of intent committing themselves, as co-promoters, to evaluate the feasibility of opening the House of sustainability in Airolo. The analysis had to consider the development of a concept for the use of the building by USI and, at the same time, also emphasize the potential of this project for the region. With the support of Ufficio cantonale per lo sviluppo economico and the collaboration of Ente regionale per lo sviluppo Bellinzonese e Valli, in April 2021, the co-promoters commissioned Studio Gendotti SA to develop a renovation project for the building: to make it suitable for the new use and sustainable in a broad sense. The development of the concept and the economic part were entrusted to L’ideatorio. In December 2021, the Airolo municipal council approved the credit for the purchase of the building, then owned by La Posta, and for the renovation works. In October 2022, the decision was made by the Council of State to support the renovation costs of the building with 1 million Swiss francs. In December 2022, the renovation works and the development of the contents and activities of the House of sustainability began.
