When you hear San Bernardino, you probably think of a long tunnel or a winding road through a mountain pass. That there is a village of the same at southern end of this important connection in the Swiss Alps is less well-known. At best while driving past would one be quickly reminded of this once famous health resort with its own mineral springs. Although in the 1970s there were significantly more visitors, this introspectively sleepy place has fallen into oblivion. Not only the hope for flourishing tourism is left over from the heyday, but also large empty hotels that have lost their former splendour. Although today, less than 200 people live in the village, there is still a capacity of 2000 beds for visitors.
What perspectives does San Bernardino have? How could it emerge from the shadows and be revived and revitalised. Fifty students of the IMIAD programme reflected upon these questions critical for San Bernardino within the framework of a fourteen-day workshop. Besides the themes of change of use and refurbishment of the aging hotels, the central theme was the mineral springs, which were previously barely regarded. A second Vals won’t emerge very quickly – however, the student teams from five partner universities from Lahti, Lugano, Stuttgart, Istanbul and Edinburgh developed multifaceted concepts, how a location can receive a vital vision.
