The story of the San Salvario Neighbourhood House began in 2003 with the creation of the San Salvario Local Development Agency, uniting 27 associations and organisations to enhance social, economic, environmental, and cultural life in the district. Recognising the lack of inclusive venues, the Agency prioritised the establishment of a multifunctional community space. After negotiations with the City of Turin, the 2005 ‘ConverGente. Casa del Quartiere’ project secured funding from the Vodafone Italia Foundation to restore the historic early-20th-century municipal baths. Officially opening in 2010, the Casa became a pioneering model of participatory urban regeneration and inspired the broader Network of Case del Quartiere across the city.
Managed by the Local Development Agency, the Casa supports co-design and delivery of social and cultural activities, providing infrastructure, logistical assistance, and facilitation, while residents, associations, and volunteers lead programming. The space offers a café, co-working rooms, multi-purpose halls, and an outdoor terrace, hosting workshops, youth programmes, language clubs, festivals, and migrant support services. Its participatory model strengthens civic engagement, social inclusion, intercultural dialogue, and collective ownership. In 2020, a Collaboration Pact ensured the shared care and activation of the Aiuola Ginzburg green space, creating a welcoming area for recreation, learning, and community events.
