The first correction of the Rhone in 1862 marks the beginning of a new era in Valais: the era of the Camargue. During that time the landscape of the plain, as well as the Rhone, fought back against the correction and made Valais a place of great biodiversity and natural harmony.
Maurice Troillet, a conservative member of the Conseil d’Etat, was elected in 1925, and shortly after, decided to dramatically reshape the plain transforming what once was a savage landscape in agricultural fields, while simultanously ordering a second Rhone correction in order to gain more land.
Ever since the landscape of Valais has been described as the California of Switzerland, or simply: New California. An alternative voice to this development at that time was Philippe Farquet. He was a historian and a botanist and strongly defended the Camarguian landscape. The liberal-radicals supported Farquet and fought for a position in government, among other things, to save the existing landscape. They ended up losing to Maurice Troillet.
What if, Maurice Troillet had never been elected?
If the liberal-radicals had won a position in government instead, the Valaisan Camargue may today still exist. This project develops the hypothesis of an alternative present in which after the first Rhone correction, there are no further corrections of the river. Instead, the Camargue develops through time as a fluid landscape along the Rhone. The territory of the plain, as well as Fully, the city with the greatest flood danger, consequently adapt to the river, preserving the plain’s biodiversity while developing in harmony with its surrounding wild nature.
The design of a waterfront forms a threshold between the city of Fully and the Camargue, adding a public space as well as a pedestrian path to its commune, while connecting it to the surrounding landscape. The alternative present is both durable and fluid. Fully is not only protected from flood events, but can embrace them as a quality to its changing Camargue.
VOLUPTAS, Chair Charbonnet / Heiz, Assistant Marina Montresor
Chair for the Theory of Architecture, Prof. Laurent Stalder, Assistant Davide Spina
