COMMON LAND(SCAPE) morphologies of a multifunctional rural landscape in the Isalle valley, Sardinia

This paper aims to explore the relation between landscape design and multifunctional rural development. Within the frame of the transformation of rural landscapes in the so-called low-density areas, we will focus on the landscape dynamics and settlement morphologies of the common land of Isalle. This 3000 hectares territory is located in the countryside of Dorgali, Sardinia. This rural landscape is a rare example of an integrated network where topics such as polyculture, multifunctionality and the management of rural space have already reached an interesting level of development compared to Sardinian rural space. Two cooperatives of shepherds and winemakers operate in this area. Since the 60s of the’900, their work has radically changed the historical structure based on transhumance, grafting a stable network of folds, barns and crops schemes consistent with the morphology of the site. The paper outlines the settlement history of this landscape, the management policies carried out and the relationship between production dynamics and the environment. Finally, we define how a landscape design strategy could link the network of rural devices and the existing road network to a significant number of archaeological and naturalistic sites in the area. A network such as this could represent a deep change of scale in the meaning of rural multifunctionality.