​The conference will be held at Monte Verità, a former utopian-like hub of alternative cooperative life and now site for numerous formidable architectural works, standing in the beautiful landscape between the Alps and Lago Maggiore in the Swiss canton of Ticino.

Its story begins in the 1900’s, when various artists from around the world came together in what was then called Monte Monescia to create a new alternative community, that “[…] strove to achieve the emancipation of women, self-criticism, new ways of cultivating mind and spirit and the unity of body and soul […]”. The historical overview of this place’s history, which can be found in Monte Verità’s website, speaks of a “[…] Christian-communist community […]” that “[…] sought a third way between the capitalist and communist blocks, [and] eventually found a home […]” in the hill above the town of Ascona. The community attracted much international attention, and what became a rather unusual sanatorium was visited by people of all kinds, from political revolutionaries to artist and even those fleeing from both World Wars. Since the beginning, and especially after its purchase by the banker Baron von der Heydt in the 1920’s, the site saw the construction of numerous different buildings in the most diverse styles, such as Casa Selma, Casa Andrea, Casa Elena, Casa dei Russi, Casa Aida, Casa Centrale (mostly demolished in 1948), and Casa del Tè (no longer exists). Most notably, the Casa Anatta, built by one of the original founders Henry Oedenkoven, was praised by Siegried Giedion in 1929; and the Bauhaus Hotel, originally assigned to Mies van der Rohe but ultimately designed by Emil Fahrenkamp.

​

The site is now the property of the Ticino Canton, and run by the Fondazione Monte Verità,