Cascina Ranverso - Val di Susa, Italy
Cascina Ranverso is located in Buttigliera Alta, in the lower Val di Susa and it is one of the oldest agricultural structures in Piedmont, dating back to 1782.
Today it serves both as a farmhouse and as a “food and wine” relay, following the biodynamic approach.
The estate was renovated with the aim of combining farm work and hospitality and applying the principles of sustainability and low environmental impact.
The rooms were restructured according to their new function (kitchen, dining room, multi-purpose rooms, bedrooms and a biodynamic food shop) while preserving the farmhouse’s historical identity.
In order to achieve such a goal, energy sustainability, ease of access to the buildings and using low impact eco-friendly materials were chosen as the guidelines for the project.
The lighting design project by Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio, the first all Italian appointment for architect Susanna Antico after years of working abroad, followed the same guidelines.
The project aims to enhance the perception of the volumes and of the architectural structure as a whole, avoiding visual fragmentation and respecting the night-time mood, leaving room to experience nature as is. A masterful use of grazing lights brings out the qualities of the characteristic red brick, which enhance both the outer walls and the inner courtyard.
Linear recessed profiles using elliptical optics and warm light (2700K) along with other in-ground narrow beam (10°) luminaires are fitted with high colour rendering LEDs (>90) and a honeycomb louver in order to guarantee visual comfort.
The carefully positioned luminaires blend-in perfectly with the architecture, allowing unfettered perception of the illuminated space.
Lighting Design Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio
Client Cascina Ranverso
Installation contractors Scotta Impianti
Lighting equipment manufacturers: Luce&Light, Reggiani, Formula Luci Italia, Zumtobel
Lighting design project Susanna Antico Lighting Design Studio with the collaboration of Giacomo Rossi Lighting designer
Respecting the Land
“Cascina Ranverso embodies passion, culture and respect for the land and it goes without saying that such values had an impact on me, bringing out passion and creativity.”
Susanna Antico, lighting designer
A complex and challenging project
While working on lighting up the outer structure, Lighting Designer Susanna Antico identified a specific pre-existing visual hierarchy among the architectural elements, the archway at the entrance being the most important feature, followed by the walls on both sides of the entryway and last by the two rows of trees that frame the driveway.
It is very common to run into a few issues when implementing a project in a rural area, and lighting up the entrance was no exception: a slight slope hindered the aiming of the linear recessed profiles.
In order to solve the issue the profiles were placed inside iron frames, so that they could be held horizontal with magnets, making on-site adjustments much easier; as a result the iron frames act as a visual extension, blending into the perspective on the path from the entrance to the shop, while the wooden ceiling is lit and indirectly reflects the light from the luminaires.
Working in an environment made unique by a respectful relationship between countryside, architecture and people also means to accept and account for the changes inherent to nature.
Thus the accent lighting on the young trees standing at the main entrance, achieved by using linears (22° Beam, 3000K, CRI 90, 10W, corten finish), included installing pickets of varying length in order to point the lights progressively higher as the hornbeams grow.
The lighting on the maple tree and on the other plants in the inner courtyard has also been set up to adapt to their changes in size
Currently the plants in the inner courtyard are lit from both sides by recessed luminaires.
Evocative plays of light
The courtyard is lit by a diffused light coming both from the grazing lighting on the inner perimeter and from the accent lighting on the plants: a discreet presence that avoids establishing a main source of light in order to preserve a suitable atmosphere for the meetings hosted in the venue.
In order to support the multi-functionality of Cascina Ranverso Susanna Antico prepared customized ad hoc lighting scenarios by taking advantage of LED technology.
The scenarios account for the changing of seasons (the light’s intensity being dimmed by 10% to 60% depending on the specific scenario) with special attention paid to winter and summer, for the different kinds of events hosted and for the different function of the various rooms.
The red brick interiors stand out, highlighted once more by grazing light of linear luminaires.
The project was extended to the pond close to the facility, surrounded by 45 acres of countryside: the projectors there rest on tripods placed in the ground and are set up at 1.30 m height and can be reoriented to account for the changes in the water level depending on the times of the year.
Inside the complex the work of the studio focused on a few selected spaces.
The kitchen was fitted with waterproof diffuse light luminaires allowing for an optimal working environment for the chef and the staff.
In the main dining room linear recessed profiles using elliptical optics highlight the colour and structure of the original brickwork with grazing light, making the high brick wall one can see from the inner court into an evocative backdrop.
A system of track mounted profiles, positioned discreetly on the roof’s beams, provides accent lighting at the tables and for the walls.
The small restaurant adjacent to the kitchen is lit by recessed profiles in the floor and indirect lighting from decorative corner luminaires in order to highlight the vaults, which are a strong feature of the room.
The lounge on the first floor is lit by a system of linear profiles guiding the gaze toward the beautiful wooden trusses, while narrow and middle width beam projectors discreetly placed on the tie beams allow for flexible use of the space.
This is the story of a unique place told through careful modulation of light rather than words.
Info on L&L Luce&Light lighting systems:
Info on Cascina Ranverso Food and Wine Relay:
Contact
info@anticos.it
+39 025464300
Philosophy
Lighting should be felt and not seen.
The lighting design schemes of the built environment are considered added values, in harmony and integration with the environment to be lit.
