The former Lanificio Fratelli Zignone, known today as the Fabbrica della Ruota, was active from 1878 to 1964 in the area of Valle Fredda (BI). After 20 years of abandonment, the building was given new life in 1984 when it housed an exhibition entitled: "Archeologia Industriale in Valsessera e Vallestrona".
This event sparked the idea of creating DocBi – Centro Studi Biellesi, which took the large metal wheel emblematic of the factory as its symbol. DocBi designed and executed the reclaiming of the industrial area and surrounding land - which includes the tips of Rive Rosse, an area of particular environmental worth - with the intention of using it for cultural projects. Already well advanced, the project intends to conserve traces of the area’s past activity while adapting the ancient wool mill for public use.
The Fabbrica della Ruota is today a cultural centre, part of the eco-museum system of the Province of Biella and a symbol of textile industrialization.
Film Commission Torino Piemonte
Via Cagliari 42 — 10153 Torino
Phone: +39 011 2379201
Fax: +39 011 2379298
Email: info@fctp.it