Regeneration and Visions that Challenged the Status Quo: The Eni Village in Borca di Cadore

Today, I want to share with you an experience that has deeply inspired me and that I hope will ignite your passion for regeneration and the valorization of dormant resources. I had the opportunity to visit the Eni Village in Borca di Cadore, a place that embodies the utopian dream of Enrico Mattei and architect Edoardo Gellner.

A Revolutionary Vision

Gellner’s vision of architecture and territorial planning was revolutionary for its time. For him, every intervention had to be in profound harmony with the natural and cultural context, creating spaces that respected and enhanced the surrounding landscape. His philosophy aimed at a perfect integration between human work and the environment, promoting functional, aesthetic architecture deeply rooted in the territory.The Eni Village is the perfect embodiment of this vision. Built between 1954 and 1962, the complex extends over an area of 200 hectares at the foot of Monte Antelao. It includes a colony for 600 children, two hotels, 280 single-family villas, a church designed in collaboration with Carlo Scarpa, and a fixed-tent campsite. Every detail, from urban planning to furnishings, was designed to integrate perfectly with the Alpine landscape.

A Social Experiment

This project testifies to Enrico Mattei’s far-sighted entrepreneurial vision. Here, he created a mountain settlement capable of representing his idea of progress, based on taking care of the worker and their family, both during production time and leisure time.The village was not just a collection of buildings, but a true manifesto of an era that firmly believed in the power of community and the possibility of creating spaces in harmony with the surrounding environment. Gellner designed this village with families, children, and young people in mind, creating a place where personal growth and collective well-being could flourish.

Seeds of Regeneration

Today, thanks to the initiative of Dolomiti Contemporanee, the village is experiencing a new phase of life, reactivating itself. Through art and creativity, seeds of regeneration are being planted, starting from respect for the past and looking hopefully towards the future. This project demonstrates how art can be a powerful catalyst for change, capable of transforming abandoned spaces into meeting places that can trigger innovation processes.

A Legacy of Industrial Humanism

Reflecting on this experience, I can’t help but think of the legacy left to us by figures like Enrico Mattei and Adriano Olivetti. The 1950s and 60s in Italy were characterized by their industrial patronage, a convergence of fundamental values, and a passion for culture that shaped their approach to business and society.

Mattei, in particular, demonstrated a keen sensitivity to nature and open patronage towards art. The Eni Village of Borca di Cadore is a testament to this vision, where the company takes care not only of its employees but also of the territory in which it operates.This integration between industry and culture created a true industrial humanism, where economic progress went hand in hand with human and social development. Their visions, which challenged the status quo, were not always well received, but they left an indelible mark on our country’s history.

An Invitation to Action

For those who, like me, are dedicated to the regeneration and enhancement of marginal areas, the Eni Village of Borca di Cadore represents a shining example of what is possible when vision, passion, and commitment come together. This project makes us understand once again that capital alone is not enough to trigger regeneration processes. There’s no point in renovating abandoned places if there are no projects, values, and vision to guide the true process of regeneration.

It’s an invitation to look at the “remains”, the most marginal places, those abandoned, with new eyes, gratitude for what they have been, and intellectual generosity and strategic vision towards what will come.

After this beautiful experience, I invite you to connect with the Dolomiti Contemporanee collective, to visit this extraordinary place and let yourself be inspired by its history and its rebirth. May it be a beacon for all of us, guiding us towards a future of regeneration and renewal, where beauty, culture, and sustainability are at the center of our communities.