An Italian village uses a giant mirror to capture sunlight. Credit: Instagram/ozgursorgulayan
A remote village nestled in the mountains between Swiss and Italy faces a unique shortage every year: sunlight. The city of Viganella The region is protected from the sun’s rays for more than 90 days a year and has suffered from dark winters for centuries. In recent decades, Viganella has had to fight against depopulation, a common problem in many Alpine villages. The lack of sunlight has undoubtedly contributed to this decline. However, in 1999 a remarkable solution emerged.
Local architect Giacomo Bonzani proposed a bold idea: to install a giant mirror on a nearby peak to reflect sunlight into the village square. This innovative solution became a reality in 2006, thanks to the efforts of Bonzani and engineer Gianni Ferrari. The mirror, a massive structure eight metres wide and five metres high, uses a sophisticated tracking system to follow the path of the sun. It reflects sunlight into the village square for six hours each day, providing a much-needed infusion of warmth and natural light.
The innovative solution has attracted attention from around the world and the village has become a popular tourist destination. Visitors flock to marvel at the giant mirror and experience the unique atmosphere created by the reflected sunlight. The mirror has also helped create a more pleasant environment in the village, especially in the cold winter months, and has even inspired other communities facing similar challenges to explore innovative solutions. In fact, a similar mirror was installed in Rjukan, a village in Norway, in 2013 after studying the impact of the mirror in Viganella.
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