Sericulture in Calabria in the 19th Century: Landscape, Architecture, Energy Transition

The paper deals with silk production in Calabria with particular regard to the activities in the area of the Strait of Messina during the 19th century. The study area offers the possibility to trace a constant search for a balance between local dynamics and external factors: on the one hand, there are rural activities and craftsmanship, the domestic, or cottage industry dimension of work, the subsistence economy, and local markets; on the other, there are industrialization and technological innovations, a new rational organization of work, and the global market. In the background, there is the energy transition from biomasses to coal, which presents consequences in terms of design and environmental issues. The paper tries to highlight some effects of the transition from this wide frame, such as the evolution of architectural typologies, the relationships between spinning mills and landscape, and the consequences of the introduction of coal.