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13
Preface
The same terms “borough” and “township”, even if both referred to peripheral areas
external to the oldest centre of the city, are often used like synonymous and inappropriate.
Simplifying as most as possible the ideas that will be explained on the following pages of
this book, we would like to precise since this preface that
boroughs
are ancient settlements
formed in rural contest, while
townships
, originated in XIX century, are depending on the
gates of the first toll fence (
cinta daziaria
, 1853).
Of the 17 boroughs and 14 townships analyzed on this long research we now present
in this book, we firstly defined the perimeters and borders. The selection derives from an
accurate analysis on rivers and creeks water banks, municipality borders, roads, ferries
dealing with both the types of settlements studied. Boroughs and townships are in fact
places verified depending on historical approaches, distinguishing between the areas de-
riving from the still present great fortification
“à la moderna”
and the Aquisgrana Peace
Treaty (1748) and the following re-alignment depending on the building of the two toll
fences (1853-1912 and 1912-1930). We have also considered the difference between the
flat section of the city (on the left side of river Po) and the hilly section (on the right side).
In the flat area boroughs are strongly depending on external roads, farms, churches,
factories as primary elements originating the formation of the settlement and the resi-
dential typologies are various and connected with a stratified historical road pattern. The
hill boroughs are depending on the more or less high assessment, with differences on the
residential typologies passing from rich villas to more modest houses and agricultural or-
ganizations still present with typical solutions able to define a specific, well recognizable,
landscape.
For the flat area townships, the first toll fence (1853-1912) has a primary role and the
gates are placed on the intersection with the external roads, defining the first settlements
and the organization of the urban pattern. On this first original organization of the new
townships a following regimentation, depending on the development plans of the XIX and
XX centuries took place, defining the nowadays organization of this city sections.
For the study we now offer to the citizens and scholars the authors also have taken ad-
vantage from the past experiences defined during the support offered by the Politecnico di
Torino to the definition of the unexecuted City Master plan (PRG) of 1980 and the following
of 1995. The definition of the so called
historical and environment values
was extended to
the whole municipality territory and not only to the more impressive centre. Thirty years
after that work, it is interesting to re-analyze the areas already considered to verify their
conditions and the transformations introduced.
Even in a diffused condition of lack of importance, many of the settlements considered
in this work are well preserved and a specific analysis made
in loco
can confirm the rele-
vance of the historical character still recognizable in these peripheral areas.
The base for all the study is the specific and deep historical knowledge dealing not only
with the city pattern, but specifically with the main structural elements of the landscape
(roads, canals, rivers, etc.) connected with productive structures (industrial complexes, mil-
itary headquarters and barracks, school and health facilities, popular block of flats, etc.).
A select set of historical cartographies is the main tool to investigate the origin and
the transformations of each peripheral settlement, borough or townships, with a detailed
analysis of the implications and involvements.
Edited by the Edizioni del Politecnico – corroborating the real interest of the Athenaeum
for the story and the protection not only of the more stately segment of the city, but more
of all of the areas normally neglected – with the patronage of the Municipality of Turin
and the support of the CeSRAMP, this volume is now offered to Turin Community. We hope
it will be a real investigation tool, but also an effective support to future city activities, to
promote the preservation of the local identities.