Brother Martino Dotta is well-known in the Swiss Canton of Ticino for his commitment to those less fortunate and for doing as much as he can to create a support network for people in need. His passionate efforts led to a modern community centre being created in a deeply historic building.
La Masseria di Cornaredo is a farmstead compound with rustic Lombard architecture, an important witness to the local culture of Lugano. It stood empty for over thirty years. The Capuchin friar proposed bringing a new and meaningful use to this historical, half decayed agricultural building, offering a space that is open to all people, whether poor or wealthy.
Today, La Masseria di Cornaredo, also known as the “building yard for solidarity”, is a social hub that offers many things: There is a community centre with a social services office, a social canteen, shower and laundry room, where people without a permanent home can also rest, supplemented by a restaurant with eight double rooms, a meeting room and a shop selling local produce.
We supported this project as part of our Parquet Magic 2023 campaign. With a donation of 150 square metres of Monopark Oak Crema and 180 square metres of on-edge oak solid parquet, we helped to usher in a new chapter in the history of La Masseria di Cornaredo.
“It was an honour for us to support the Francesco Foundation. It is such an important task to encourage the creation of spaces for social integration and to offer people direct humanitarian support.”
| Location | Lugano-Porza, Switzerland |
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| Architect | Studio di Architettura Roberto Marcon SA |
| Building owner | City of Lugano; Fondazione Francesco per l’aiuto sociale, Brother Martino Dotta |
| Floor installer | CV PAVidea Sagl |
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| Parquet | Monopark, Oak Crema & On-Edge Oak Solid Parquet |
| Photographer | Gianpaolo Gianini |
