Archetech Issue 37 2018 | Page 57

An expansion of an existing building in the municipality of Postalesio, in the province of Sondrio, the Valtellina Diary Store presents itself as a balanced narration of the transformations taking place in the colder parts of our nation. A hinge between the old and the new, which links the historical typology of the alpine malga, or summer hut – a building characterized by a low profile and a single volume that provides shelter from winter snow and summer sun – with its own contemporary interpretation, thus establishing an enduring relationship with the area to which it belongs. ​​ The building designed by Piuarch is 54 meters long and 21 meters wide, and is covered by a single large roof with front and side overhang, faced with sheet metal on the outside and wood inside, creating an area of about 1000 square meters, 340 square meters of which are outdoor spaces. On the two short sides, the roof extends for another 9 meters from the building profile, forming a large covered square.