STUDIO SWITCH With backgrounds spanning architecture, industrial design and interior design, Bergamo-based Studio Switch brings a mixture of art and science to its diverse portfolio of projects in both Italy and abroad. Pietra Perduca Travo, Italy In the stunning Trebbia Valley, with its gentle and charming hills, a dedicated association called Organico Perduca is establishing a permanent journey in which art meets nature. The final step is an extraordinary natural amphitheatre which faces the mystic Pietra Perduca rock massif. The Pietra Perduca was left by an ancient ocean’s presence 250 million years ago. Many deep meanings and an aura of sacredness surround this place; Celts worshipped the Penn God there, and then Christians dedicated the site to Saint Anna. Pietra Perduca, within neighbouring Pietra Parcellara, is the symbol of this part of the valley. Organico Perduca asked Studio Switch to design the lighting, a challenging request given how many aspects must be considered: respect for a historical site, devotion, emotion, communication, engagement. The lighting concept was inspired by the Perduca’s holiness: a red emotional light turns on the holy fire which breaks the darkness, drives to the art and warms up visitors like a big fireplace. Meanwhile the Pietra Perduca becomes the valley’s red heart, transforming the hills into a macro amphitheatre and bringing together the entire community around an ancient fire. The same light represents communication because it announces that the amphitheatre is hosting a show, offering engagement within the theatrical backdrop. The lights for the amphitheatre had to solve further needs related to the Perduca’s light. The terraces for the seats are illuminated considering both the setting of the welcoming scenography and the visual needs of the users. The choice to light just the vertical sides of the terraces was taken due to the Perduca’s fire being located in front of the terraces. Finally the stage has its own lights hidden on the trees.
Château de Wallerand Vireux-Wallerand, France Built in 1714, the historic Château de Wallerand is now a luxury hotel in the French Ardennes, welcoming travellers who are looking for an exceptional location, a verdant estate and attentive service. The hotel has 10 rooms combining old-world charm with contemporary design, comfort and tranquillity. The lighting design had to fulfill a number of different needs: highlighting the architecture and its external volumes; studying the individual rooms and the restaurant, taking inspiration from the huge world of decorative and design lighting fixtures that complete the complex level furnishings, ensuring visual comfort and the right amount of light; illuminating the orangerie, which becomes the main feature in the park; creating the right atmosphere for the wonderful spa; and giving the right mood lighting and spots within the park, which is the transition between the hotel and the river. The biggest challenge was ensuring that all the different lights speak the same ‘language’ while satisfying different individual needs. The design team resolved this by defining a master guideline to follow. The guideline was built on two simple words that inspired and governed all decisions: gentleness and elegance. Every time a decision was needed on the type of light, emission, temperature, lamp design and what kind of scenography they show, the designers asked themselves: “is this choice gentle and elegant”?
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