Cotonificio Cantoni - Transformation of a cotton spinning mill on Lago di Como

During industrialisation, the textile industry shaped northern Italy, leaving behind unused complexes like the Cotonificio Cantoni in Bellano. Built in 1902, the factory now divides the town. In a small town like Bellano, the challenge is to reactivate this 160m complex through transformation and adaptive reuse, finding a sustainable function for the vacant cotton spinning mill while acknowledging its historic significance for the town. By opening the river façade and reactivating the existing bridge, the intervention reconnects key landmarks and integrates the site into the urban fabric.

The project proposes to transform the vacant Cotonificio Cantoni in Bellano into a creative hub, reconnecting the fragmented urban fabric and addressing the town’s current lack of integration between its historic core and surrounding infrastructure. The former cotton mill, built in 1902 and expanded in 1948, occupies a central yet disconnected position within Bellano, separating the old town from the railway station and the river Pioverna. The design maintains the existing three-part structure of the Cotonificio while introducing new functions to revitalize the space. The ground floor becomes a public zone with walkways that cross through the building, connecting the town, river, and nearby landmarks such as the Lido, ferry pier, and scenic Orrido waterfall. By opening up the river-facing façade and activating an existing bridge, the project creates a new arrival point for Bellano, linking the town’s creative community, tourists, and residents. Inside, the building is adapted for multiple uses, with open-plan spaces on the exhibition and workshop levels that preserve the industrial character of the production halls. Semi-public and private programs occupy the upper floors, providing spaces for artists, school groups, and visitors. The rear part of the complex, formerly an extension of the production halls, is given a new façade and converted into residential units. Loggias and galleries replace the original window openings, bringing light into the interior and creating a seamless transition between interior and exterior spaces. The design aims to integrate Bellano’s cultural history with its future potential, establishing the Cotonificio Cantoni as a vibrant center for learning, creativity, and community life.