Primo Levi and the asbestos mine

“There was asbestos everywhere, like ash-grey snow: if a book was left on a table for a few hours and then removed, it left its negative: the roofs were often covered in a layer of powder that in the rain became sodden like a sponge, and violently slid to earth.”

- Primo Levi *
 

The asbestos mine of Balangero figures in the works of both Primo Levi and Italo Calvino.

Balangero was the largest operation of its kind in Europe - an open-pit asbestos mine. It closed in the 1980’s and in the 90’s the area was stabilized, protected from dispersion of asbestos fibres and re-vegetated using a special system for the roots of the 45,000 trees and shrubs planted.

In September 2010, an ideas competition was held for the requalification and development of the area. 18 firms applied, of whom 7 were from outside Italy. The winners are architects Area Progetti of Turin.

*“C'era amianto dappertutto, come una neve cenerina: se si lasciava per qualche ora un libro su di un tavolo, e poi lo si toglieva, se ne trovava il profilo in negativo; i tetti erano coperti da uno spesso strato di polverino, che nei giorni di pioggia si imbeveva come una spugna, e ad un tratto franava violentemente a terra.” - Primo Levi, “Il sistema periodico (nichel)”. (translation Richard Haut)