REDISCOVERING THE CONSERVATORY
The January issue of The TSL Gazette, dedicated to conservatories, features an interview with Vittorio Cravanzola of L’Officina dei Giardini as the cover story.
“In an era in which space and light are seen as being fundamental to our well-being, conservatories are being held up as beautiful, natural spaces for relaxation.”
Vittorio Cravanzola, art scholar and owner of L’Officina dei Giardini, will be celebrating 30 years of business in 2025 with over 1,500 conservatories created around the world. A sophisticated visionary, Cravanzola moves between tailoring and design with the same mastery with which he creates his conservatories—true jewels of architecture and harmony.
HOW ARE
CONSERVATORIES
CREATED?
Conservatories as we know them today have their roots in the English and French colonial lifestyles of the 19th century, when botanical gardens gave rise to conservatories, which served as greenhouses to preserve exotic plants during harsh European winters. Over time, conservatories have evolved into places of congregation and relaxation, where you can admire nature, sip tea, and enjoy light and warmth. In short, they have become the most lived-in room in many homes—a space for breakfast, for reading and meditation, and for conviviality, all of which encourages physical and mental well-being.
HOW DID
L’OFFICINA DEI
GIARDINI COME
ABOUT?
It all began in a Paris café some thirty years ago. I was there for a garden show, and the inspiration came from a book I bought by chance. The idea was crazy but exciting: to create conservatories in glass and metal, inspired by masterpieces such as the Crystal Palace and the Grand Palais in Paris. At the time, without knowing it, I had created what, today, we would call a startup. My first projects were the restoration of a greenhouse at Castello di Pralormo and a conservatory for the State Archives in Turin. Residential and hotel commissions soon followed, and today we work around the world out of our Turin base.
WHAT STYLE
SHOULD A
CONSERVATORY
HAVE?
The style depends on the setting and the client. It can be modern or reflect 19th-century canons, but what matters most is that it express the uniqueness of those who live there. No two conservatories are the same. Every home has its own spirit of place, a soul that calls to us. My job is to give that spirit shape. Often, the first sketch I make is the final one, with a few variations that arise out of discussions with the client. Upon delivery of the final product, the sketch that generated the dream is honored, and I’m always pleased to see how that sketch coincides with reality.
HOW ARE
CONSERVATORIES
FURNISHED?
A conservatory is an extension of the home, so the materials and furnishings need to be in harmony with that home. The steel and glass find their counterpoint in softer elements such as wood, wicker, and fabrics. Or, for contrast, you can be daring with furnishings of high design. Plants are, of course, an integral part. From lemon trees planted in winter to orchids, everything revolves around their inclusion. Humidity control is also essential to ensure the well-being of both people and plants.
Lighting, too, is crucial. By day, there is natural light. By night, the conservatory loves soft, never direct light from lanterns or hidden sources. Rugs and fabrics complete the harmony and lend a feeling of intimacy and warmth.
HOW IS A
CONSERVATORY
BEST ENJOYED?
Like a tailored suit. Each conservatory is unique, customized to the needs of the client and the style of the home. It is this bespoke nature that makes it special. There is a connection between a tailor’s attention to detail and the art of the conservatory. Both reflect personality, history, and style.
After all, a home is a reflection of its owner, and the conservatory becomes that home’s luminous heart. It is the place where we feel good and can dream, where past interacts with future in a space that belongs to us and reflects us deeply.
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The Style Lift Gazette is an elegantly designed print publication with limited distribution. It is tactile and beautiful, compelling to read—as only perfectly woven prose can be.
