• Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

    Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

  • Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

    Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

  • Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

    Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

  • Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

    Suvereto converter station, project by Pierattelli Architetture

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Pierattelli Architetture win competition for Tuscany’s new Terna electricity substation

Inspired by local Italian countryside, farmland and vegetation, the design is industrial but dynamic and changeable in character and creates a continuous dialogue with the landscape

by Georgina Johnston 02 April 2021 Landscape

The project for the new substation forms part of the modernisation of the connection between Sardinia, Corsica and Italy; a major infrastructure that is able to facilitate reduced grid loss and greater integration of renewable sources. The restricted invitation-only tender aimed to gather proposals that would cover all aspects of the construction project and surrounding area, including buildings, perimeter fences and Lighting.

Pierattelli Architetture produced an evocative design that blends the setting, offering a new architectural take. Modular facades made of terracotta elements, a traditional local material, are fastened to steel cables. The texture of the terracotta absorbs the nuances of the surrounding landscape and reflects its tones, beauty and warmth. Such tones are also alluded to in the rust-effect paintwork of the entrance gate and in sections in the wall. Native plants such as olive, cypress and pine trees create a sense of continuity with the nearby farmland and at the same time recall the cultural identity of the area.

The winning design was chosen by the commission for its minimised environmental impact, innovation, originality, and aesthetic character, as well as for factors such as its restoration of vegetation, reduced construction times and ease of maintenance.

The Suvereto converter station has been designed to blend fluidly with the colours of the surrounding landscape. At the very heart of the design is terracotta, with warm, textural nuances, combining earth, water, air and fire, it is the main material used and has the ability to adopt the nuances of the surrounding lands and create links with tradition. 

The main building features solar-shade facades composed of terracotta geometric elements fastened to steel cables. The modular system creates a rhythmic surface pattern, which is also achieved through the terracotta tiles with their different dimensions and tones. The latter, in squares, rectangles and strips, are fastened to steel cables using metal anchors, making it easy to replace them.

A further nod to Tuscany and the surrounding landscape can be seen in the terracotta tones and textures on the outside of the warehouse. Here the ventilated facade is made up of one single type of rectangular terracotta tile, the surfaces of which have been washed and treated. The resulting interlinking arrangement achieves a clean, repeatable system in which each piece can be easily identified and replaced if necessary. The elements are anchored to a supporting structure composed of vertical bars fixed to the walls with brackets and wall plugs.

Pierattelli Architetture’s design for the Terna Suvereto substation not only blends in beautifully with the landscape, it also takes inspiration from it. Along with Tuscan materials and colours, its greenery is also used as a design tool and to add a softening effect. 

Native plants such as olive, cypress and pine trees, typical to the Tuscan countryside, are added to the pre-existing green area and along the road leading to the building’s entrance. Greenery is also included in sections of the perimeter fencing in order to soften its visual impact. The original stone-filled gabion walls, 2.5 m high and 0.50 m thick, have been modified so that the basket of the wall elevation is shifted back or made to stick out, thereby creating a beautiful interplay of voids and solids, light and shadow. On the internal side, zinc flower planters provide a bed for Virginia creepers, whose colours change with the seasons.

Lighting design is used to cleverly highlight the facades and their changing textures, and recessed LED floor lights cast strips of light upwards to elevate the sense of theatricality of the compositions. The same lighting system has been chosen for the entrance and the green spaces. The driveway to the building is a particular focal point, while theatrical spotlights nestled amongst the olives illuminate groups of trees and subtly highlight the landscape. 


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