To gaze at the 43 hectares of vineyards at the edges of the Riserva Naturale Sughereta di Niscemi, in Sicily, enjoying its nectar. A simple, powerful vision captured by Paolo Panerai, Editor-in-chief and CEO of Class Editori, winemaker and vice-president of Compagnia Immobiliare Azionaria, the company that controls the Wine Relais Feudi del Pisciotto property.
The old baglio from the 1700s in the rural zone between Caltagirone and Piazza Armerina has been transformed into a boutique hotel with just 10 rooms, blending architectural and wine culture through a project of conservative restoration. The contemporary design elements are essential and establish a respectful rapport with the rural stone structure. The need for contact with the outside, to fully grasp its essence, has required special design focus.
To create sheltered open-air spaces without hampering the evocative panorama has led to the choice of the Vision bioclimatic pergola by Pratic to cover the terrace created from the eight vats of the original palmento. With its clean minimal lines, the pergola establishes a perfect dialogue with the context, limiting aesthetic impact without sacrificing functional quality. The self-supporting structure is discreet, covering about 25 sqm, made to measure with the need for anchoring to the historic walls. The wooden platform on which it stands generates indoor-outdoor continuity and material warmth, playing with tones that match the surrounding natural context.
But the true design plus of Vision is its bioclimatic technology developed by Pratic. Made entirely in aluminium and stainless steel and conceived for year-round use, Vision creates internal climate conditions of maximum comfort thanks to natural temperature regulation achieved by using the sun’s rays and air circulation. The sunscreen blades rotate by 140 degrees, taking on variable angles to control light intensity. Or they close automatically, in case of rain, to ensure total protection, channeling rainwater under the floor thanks to perimeter drainpipes concealed inside the structure.
Effective operation is ensured by severe testing conducted by Istituto Giordano, certifying the perfect performance of the bioclimatic structure by Pratic, not just in case of heavy rainfall, but also in case of snow or strong winds. The blades make it possible to extend the pleasure of outdoor living into the evening, thanks to LED RGB lighting at the edges, and spotlights installed in the surface, ready for adjustment of brightness and angle.
