Contact Us
Email:
associazione_canovacanova.com
Tel.
+39 0324 338756
Via alla Pioda, 10 Oira 28865
Crevoladossola VB Italia
PIVA 01804710034
Banca Popolare di Intra
Ag. di Domodossola
Piazza dellOro, 1
28845 Domodossola, VB, Italia
Bank Coordinates:
IBAN IT04G0503545360250570145782
BIC (swift) VEBHIT2M.
The Ghesc Project
Ghesc is a village consisting of 7 stone houses across the river from Canova. First documented in the 13th century, it has been abandoned for about 100 years. Large trees are living within the walls of the houses and the place exudes a fascinating aire of mystery. 21 years ago Ken and Kali Marquardt, who were then involved in the restoration of Canova just across the river, dreamed of the day it could be resuscitated but not until a few years ago were the first steps taken in that direction. Two young active members of Canova, Maurizio Cesprini and Paola Gardin, took the first courageous step and purchased "Casa Alfio" and are now in the final phases of restoration, carrying out the majority of the work themselves.
Last year the Canova Association, thanks to donations from friends, purchased a large ruin in the midst of the village. Ghesc sets the stage for what we like to call the "Infinite Laboratory", and is the playing field of the International Canova Field School program.
GALLERY
Donations
To receive your membership card and further information concerning Canova Association activities please send this information to:
kkmarquardt_fastmail.fm
or:
associazione_canovacanova.com
For International Bank Transfer:
IBAN IT04G0503545360250570145782
BIC (SWIFT) VEBHIT2M
Canova Association is a non-profit organization.
Interntational Architect Encounter
2011
Suad Amiry, Palestina
Adine Gavazzi, Italia
Ben Spencer, USA
Khaldun Bshara, Palestina
2010
Julian Smith, Canada
Gustavo Araoz, USA
Poonam Verma Mascarenhas, India
2009
Kathryn Findlay, Scotland
Ammar Khammash, Jordan
Andrew Freear, Alabama
Steve Badanes & Linda Beaumont, Washington
2008
Gabriël & Gwen Fagan, Cape Town
Carol A. Wilson, Maine
Angelo Stagno, Vienna
Enrico Pinna - Mariri Viardo, Genova
2007
Phillip Allsopp, Scottsdale
Greg Smallenberg, Vancouver
Etienne Bruwer, Constantia
Lauren Sickels, Scottsdale
Daniel Marquardt, Chicago
2006
Nina Maritz, Windhoek
Patricia Cristina Ferro, Roma
Aron Faegre, Portland
Julian Smith, Ottawa
2005
Josep Bunyesc, Barcellona
Yuksel Demir, Istanbul
Kingston Heath, Oregon
Martin Schmidt, Svizzera
2004
Gunny Harboe, Chicago
Randall Kober, Chicago
Prinzgau Podgorschek, Wien
Christine Tarkowsky, Chicago
2003
Rodrigo del Canto, Chicago
Renato Vivaldi, Santiago
Aleksander Ostan, Ljubljana
Gio Dardano, Torino
2002
Bruce Fowle, NYC
Daniel Marquardt, NYC
Angus Brown, London
Henrique Pessoa, Sao Paolo
Every year in the month of June, Canova organizes a meeting of four architects active on the world stage. The Encounter, an informal event, aims to be a moment of professional and personal exchange between the guests, sharing the widest imaginable experiences from all corners of the globe. Another important aspect of the Encounter is the impact that their presence plays on attracting attention to the dire present condition of local medieval stone architecture and Canova Association's role in sensitizing the local population and political administrators to address this issue. The participants, hosted in Canova for four days, are accompanied on local outings to discover for themselves the beauty of the Ossola valley and its medieval stone architectural patrimony.
2012 Encounter: 21 - 25 June
Activities
Canova Association presents a rich program of events each year, some reserved for members only but the majority open to the public. These occasions are meant to increase the involvement of people dedicated to the continuation and protection of European and our local heritage of ancient rural stone architecture.
Guided Tours
Every corner of Italy is layered with cultural riches and the Ossola Valley is no exception. But the fact that Ossola has not been trampled by global visitors and is even to a large exent undiscovered by its nearby neighbors makes it one of the most fascinating destinations these days in Europe. One of the highlights of the annual activities offered by Canova are the organized walk-abouts for the local inhabitants to discover the many jewels hidden in the stone walls of the surrounding medieval villages. These visits, accompanied by a local architectural historian, have proved to be highly popular and it isn't unusual to find 100 people, at times huddled under umbrellas, to listen to the stories these stone villages have to tell and to enjoy a glass or two of local "Prunent" wine and some black bread and cheese.
Guided tours are also available for small groups upon request.
Field Schools
The Canova Field School program is playing an ever more important role in the activities of the Association. The past two years has seen the establishment of an exciting and successful partnership with Willowbank School of the Restoration Arts, Ontario Canada and the Yestermorrow School, Vermont, USA. The average field school course runs for three weeks with students joining us from around the world. They go home having followed stone from the heart of the mountain to placing it as the final cap of a chimney, arch or wall. Real work, real fun, real food!
This year the University of N Carolina, Raleigh, USA will return for a week-long workshop in May. The Politecnico of Milan and the Politecnico of Turin are planning to return after recieving an enthusiastic response from their short trial course this summer. And the word is out that RIWAQ from Ramallah, Palestine is planning to participate in an intensive workshop and collaboration project beginning this summer.
Have a look at the prospective links and join in on one of them before they fill up.
Publications
You can download this illustrated booklet of the "infinite Laboratory" of Ghesc. Hard copies are available upon request.
This project has taken center stage in Canova Association activities. It represents the current state of mind and future goals.and is the largest challenge we have taken on so far.
We are looking for partners who share the sense of adventure and recognize the potential of reviving this enchanting village, abandoned for 100 years.
ghesc0web.pdf
Events
Next Event
Canova will launch the new year with a festive event on Sunday 29 January at 4 pm at Bar Paù in Oira. The noted local film director and musician, Giuseppe Ambiel, will present "100 years of ski in Val Formazza"
Don't miss it.
2012 Calendar
January 29 Membership Launch, Bar Paù, Oira
March 17 General Assembly
April 21 Ghesc Visit with Polytechnic University of Milan
May 19 Boarengo Visit ( members only )
May 15 - 21 UNCA Workshop
May 24 - 29 SHC Field School
June 5 - 26 Willowbank Field School
June 21 - 25 Canova International Architect Encounter
July 14 - 21 Riwaq Workshop
July 20 Presentation Riwaq ( members only )
July 25 - August 8 Yestermorrow Field School
August 27 - September 5 Polytechnic University of Milan Field School
September 23 Visit to Village of Piedimulera ( members only )
November 10 Dinner for Canova members
December 7 Grappa Festa in Villages of Lomese and Chezzo
About Us
Canova Association is an international non-profit organization founded in 2001 in the medieval village of Canova, Oira di Crevoladossola, Italy. The principle goal of the association is the recuperation and re-evaluation of rural medieval stone architecture. Ample space is given to promoting artistic activites: concerts, exhibitions and seminars. Art and architecture intertwine, stimulating research and debate, revolving around the conviction that old stone construction can offer adequate if not superior models in our search today for sustainable human dwelling solutions. The continuing insensitivity to this fact is resulting in indiscriminate demolition and renovation, cancelling forever the inestimable heritage of rural stone architecture in Europe. The intention and goal of the Canova Association is to reverse this tendency, carrying out activities aimed at sensitizing both the public and private sector.
President: Ken Marquardt
Secretary: Maurizio Cesprini
Board Members: Maurizio Zigiotti, Mirella Cassani, Paolo Volorio, Patrizia Testore, Stefania Tonni
Willowbank
Canova and Willowbank School of the Restoration Arts, Ontario Canada continue their adventure together for the third summer. The dates for 2012 are 5 - 26 June. The focus this year will be on archaeology and stone restoration in the "Infinite Laboratory" of Ghesc and leading the course will be the reknowned conservation architect Julian Smith and archaeological specialist, Shelley Huson. Italian Archeologist Paolo Lampugnani will contribute his vast experience in the archaeological scene here in the Region of Piemonte.
Please contact Shelley Huson as soon as possible if you want to participate as the course will be limited to a maximum of 12 students. www.willowbank.ca
www.willowbank.ca
GALLERY
Yestermorrow
This will be the third year Canova collaborates with the pace-setting Yestermorrow School of Vermont, USA. With the enthusiastic guidance of architect Mac Rood and the one and only stone mason / artist Thea Alvin, the hands-on stone immersion course scheduled for 18 July - 1 August, 2012 is looking very good indeed. The worksite will be in the ancient village of Ghesc where Canova has purchased a medieval ruin and in 2012 we will begin the process of putting those fallen stones back in place.
Please contact Shelley Huson as soon as possible if you would like to join us as only 12 places will be available.
www.yestermorrow.org
GALLERY
Univ. of N. Carolina
In 2003 the Canova Association embarked on a collaborative project with University of N. Carolina professor Cynthia Ho, internationally recognized author and European medievalist. She purchased a historic palazzo in the heart of Vogogna, one of the Ossola Valley's best conserved historic towns. Every other year UNCA students return to emerse themselves in the local history that Cynthia brings to life. One week of the course takes place in Ghesc involving a dynamic service learning experience moving stones in a pleasurable choreographed work dance.
For more information please contact Cynthia Ho at: cho_unca.edu
Consulting
The goal of the Canova Association is to increase the understanding of our cultural heritage of rural medieval architecture. The process of modernization and insensiitive, non-critical renovation continues to cancel and transform definitively the distinctive character and morphohology of our historical centres.
The rural inhabited centres of the Ossola, and throughout Europe, were developed by a universal knowledge, handed down for centuries upon centuries by our ancestors. Bound and inspired by the physical resources of the site, its exposure to winds, sun and the availability of water, they utilized the local building materials to create the villages that we today are seeking to preserve. The Canova Association supports and promotes the rich diversity which characterizes each individual valley, every village and every house, and opposes the current melt down tendencies toward uniformity and esthetic estrangement from their cultural context.
This does not signify that we must renounce modern needs and comforts: the recuperation of historical buildings while maintaining up-to-date living standards is easily possible. This is demonstrated in the houses of Canova, which were restored over the past 15 years with great care, following an attentive analysis of the original architectural elements and constructive techniques, a fool-proof procedure for today's professional.
Recuperation of our heritage of stone architecture begins with respect for the existing structure and the continuing use of stone, wood and lime.
