Category: Senza categoria

Posted on

THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF L’OFFICINA DEI GIARDINI

THIRTY YEARS OF BEAUTY, VISION, AND EXCELLENCE

L’Officina dei Giardini celebrates three decades of history and looks to the future

This year, L’Officina dei Giardini is celebrating a major milestone: 30 years of custom-made innovation, craftsmanship, and beauty. Three decades of conservatories, orangeries, canopies, pergolas, and dreams come true thanks to the vision of Vittorio Cravanzola, founder of the Turin-based company that has been able to transform metal into light, space, and livable poetry.

To celebrate this anniversary, the company organized a special evening in a beautiful location along the Po River in Turin, bringing together staff, suppliers, customers, friends, and family—all those who, in their own ways, have shared in our journey since its inception.

AN ADVENTURE
THAT BEGAN
THIRTY
YEARS AGO

For the event, Vittorio Cravanzola retold the company’s story with much emotion—a story born out of a great sense of adventure and developed in the name of quality and vision.

“Thirty years have passed since our journey began,” he said, “and over these three decades, we have experienced moments of joy and difficult times, but we have always maintained our vision, our values, and our stylistic identity. From the beginning, we have built a strong, respected company thanks to the tireless work and creativity of all our staff.”

INNOVATING
WHILE STAYING
TRUE TO STYLE

It is a story that is also a collective recognition of all those who contribute each and every day to making L’Officina dei Giardini unique. “We have innovated, we have adapted to change, and we have always tried to improve our offer to meet the needs of our customers and of a changing climate,” he added. “We look back with pride at what we have achieved. We have created a workplace, contributed to the economic growth of our community, and built strong relationships with both our partners and our customers.”

LOOKING
AHEAD WITH
THE SAME
PASSION

But the strongest emphasis was placed on the future, because 30 years are not a point of arrival, but a new beginning. “We aren’t stopping here. We look forward with great enthusiasm and determination, ready for new challenges and new opportunities. We will continue innovating, investing in our people, and improving our offer to keep pace with the times, as we have always done, with foresight and style.”

He concluded with heartfelt thanks, which sums up the authentic spirit of the company, saying, “I would like to thank all those who have contributed to the success of our company, all our customers, suppliers, consultants, and, of course, my family—Paola and Gregorio—who have been an integral part of this adventure. It is thanks to all of you that we are able to celebrate this milestone today.”

PHOTOS
FROM THE
CELEBRATION

The 30th anniversary celebration was, therefore, more than just an anniversary. It was a moment of sharing and gratitude, but also of renewed inspiration. An opportunity to toast the past and to look forward with confidence to the next 30 years of history making, of beauty, and of innovation by L’Officina dei Giardini.

Relive the best moments with us, with a few photos by Emanuele Basile.

Posted on

Vittorio Cravanzola opens Sky’s La Valigia dei Sogni

VITTORIO CRAVANZOLA OPENS SKY’S LA VALIGIA
DEI SOGNI

“Beauty must be great, functional, and durable.” This is the philosophy of Vittorio Cravanzola, founder of L’Officina dei Giardini, interviewed for the broadcast La Valigia dei Sogni on Sky. A journey through vision, art, and architecture to tell the story of how conservatories are much more than just structures. They are spaces that unite nature, design, and well-being.

FROM ART
SCHOOL TO
THE BUSINESS
WORLD

A sculptor by training, Cravanzola has transformed his passion for aesthetics into a one-of-a-kind business. “We merge beauty, architecture, and engineering.” Founded 30 years ago, his company creates structures that embellish private homes and luxury hotels throughout the world, from China and the Middle East to Europe. “Traveling is a part of the job,” says Vittorio, “but what I love most is meeting people who, like us, pursue beauty with wisdom and attention to detail.”

CONSERVATORIES:
BOTH HISTORY
AND MODERNITY

Conservatories as we know them today came about in the 19th century to protect exotic plants. Today, these spaces serve much more varied uses. “They are extensions of the home, where natural light creates a unique ambience.” Glass roofs, bioclimatic design, and excellent materials make them livable 365 days a year— “perfect for anyone looking for a relaxing corner in contact with nature, even in the city.” It is no coincidence then, as Cravanzola points out, that they often become the most lived-in rooms in the house. “Light brings happiness, and greenery transforms these environments into oases of well-being.”

L’OFFICINA
DEI GIARDINI:
CRAFTSMANSHIP
EVOLVES

To define L’Officina dei Giardini as a company would be an understatement. “We are artisans with an industrial approach, capable of handling bespoke projects for every need,” explains Vittorio. From furnishings for private homes to large structures for hotel, each creation embodies elegance, durability, and respect for the environment.

WATCH
THE FULL
INTERVIEW

Curious to learn all the secrets of the modern conservatory? Don’t miss the interview with Vittorio Cravanzola on La Valigia dei Sogni (in Italian):

🔹 Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXVuQBAwTyo

It’s a fascinating story that reveals how to dream, design, and create spaces that enrich everyday life. Because, as Cravanzola reminds us, “Nature is art, and art is happiness.”

🌿 Contact us to find out how to transform your space into a work of art!

Posted on

Masterwork in progress at the Four Seasons, Florence

MASTERWORK IN PROGRESS AT THE FOUR SEASONS, FLORENCE

Beauty attracts beauty, and the world’s most beautiful hotels choose L’Officina dei Giardini. The work we present today is a work in progress that we want to share from start to finish, telling the story of how dreams take shape and projects come to fruition. For the delight of the client, the pleasure of their guests, and our own professional satisfaction.

We are at the Four Seasons in Florence, a beautifully restored 15th-century Medici palace, which took 9th spot in the first edition of The World’s 50 Best Hotels, which is compiled by the British monthly Restaurant, a publication that also ranks the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and Bars.

L’Officina dei Giardini has also executed projects for two other ranked hotels, including the 2023 winner, the Passalacqua Hotel on the shores of Lake Como, and Le Sireneuse in Positano, ranked 20th (see here for details).

The project entrusted to us by the Four Seasons has been a truly rewarding one. The city’s largest private garden offers endless ideas and inspiration and is a space that deserves a masterpiece within a masterpiece. This historic venue, consisting of Palazzo della Gherardesca and the villa, a former 16th-century convent, is a treasure trove of frescoes and works of art that only glass can exalt in total freedom and elegance.

But we will reveal the details little by little…

A CONSERVATORY,
OR TWO!

The core of our work began with the most impressive structure we designed for the Four Seasons. The client requested two matching conservatories overlooking the hotel’s courtyard that would transform its geometry and enhance the depth of its interior spaces.

These two conservatories feature a self-supporting, curved structure made of thermal-break steel. The wall is divided into seven segments composed of as many steel and glass frames with fixed transom windows. The opaque, multi-pitched roof rests on the primary metal support structure and is made of a high-performance technical laminate. The slight inclination of the pitches allows rainwater to be collected in a perimeter gutter, which is conveyed by downspouts in amounts suited to the roof surface.

FOUR
SEASONS OF
THE UTMOST
COMFORT

The two conservatories are to be used for breakfast and dining, giving the hotel new spaces that fully lives up to the Four Seasons name—conservatories capable of offering maximum comfort in any outdoor temperature, whether its shelter from the summer heat or warmth in the winter cold, the scent of flowers in spring or the poetry of autumn foliage.

The journey from the project rendering to the final result passed through the efforts of our skilled artisans. Right from the assembly phase, you can already see the curved structures and the new environments that are being created.

Follow along as we create this masterpiece!

Photos by @emanuele_basile

FINAL
TOUCHES AND
THE STUNNING
CEILING

The closing months of the year mark the beginning of the most beautiful season for conservatories. At the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Florence, preparations are underway for the upcoming inauguration of the twin conservatories created by L’Officina dei Giardini.

As assembly of these modern conservatories continues, let’s take a look inside the Four Seasons. In addition to construction of the entryway, L’Officina dei Giardini has been engaged in an exceptional project alongside Paola Caterina Grua’s Vitràge Torino.

The Four Seasons also wanted a ceiling for a room used for show cooking. The hotel’s idea was to have a mosaic of colored and frosted glass, but we won the client over with a counterproposal… A 4-square-meter ceiling, hand-painted by Paola Grua, kiln-fired, and set in leaded panels, perfectly mounted within the metal framework created by us using frames anchored to the ceiling.

The client approved enthusiastically, understanding how an absolutely original ceiling could be born out of that initial sketch. Want to see more details of this masterpiece? Read this dedicated article.

AND THE
GRAND
FINALE!

The greatest satisfaction in delivering a project is the happiness of the client and the certainty that our work will live on for a long, long time. Now that the interior furnishings are complete, the Four Seasons in Florence can open one of the most spectacular winter gardens in the world to its guests.
The images speak for themselves, and L’Officina dei Giardini is proud of all the work we have done, from design to implementation and through to the long-awaited inauguration.

Posted on

REDISCOVERING THE CONSERVATORY

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.

————————————————————-

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.

Posted on

FROM DESIGN TO IMPLEMENTATION

FROM DESIGN
TO IMPLEMENTATION

A success story always starts with a well-structured plan, the realization of which passes through expert hands and takes shape in harmony with the environment for which it is intended. This is how we work at L’Officina dei Giardini, never forgetting the poetry of history, which we continue to write with all new words.

Once upon a time… there was an old farmhouse with a little-used terrace overlooking a central courtyard—perfect for summer but little used the rest of the year. Instead of simply replacing the large windows to make the garden accessible from the house, we decided, in agreement with the customer, to use the space to create a lounge area overlooking the garden, a space with that special communication between inside and out that makes conservatories so magical.

The most challenging part was integrating the new structure with the existing home, but that’s the beauty of our work, and we know how to do it best. The key point of entry was an existing central column around which a perfectly integrated, custom-designed structure was developed.

HOW IS A
CONSERVATORY
CREATED?

The customer provides us with a brief description of the space selected for the structure, some photographs, including thoughts about the type of structure they would like to create and an idea of the maximum size. We then recommend the most appropriate procedures for obtaining the necessary permits based on the location chosen for the conservatory.

PLANNING
AND DESIGN

At L’Officina dei Giardini, we develop a volumetric representation with the desired form and dimensions and include a few indicative photos chosen from among the hundreds of works we have already created. A spec sheet and cost estimate will give an idea of financial commitment needed to create the design.

After defining the contract and drafting a time schedule, our technical staff supports the customer through the authorization process by producing the graphic materials needed for the paperwork.

Once the necessary permits have been obtained, an inspection is organized to determine the final dimensions necessary for the structure. At this point, the adventure of actually building the conservatory can begin.

OUR WORKSHOP

The final design of the structure down to the last detail is presented to the customer for approval, which then starts the production process. Architects and technical staff get to work in the L’Officina dei Giardini workshop.

The project takes shape as it is pre-assembled in the workshop, which enables the customer to come it and finalize the choices for each and every detail. After a bit more coordination work, the conservatory is ready to be transported and assembled on site.

ASSEMBLY AND
INSTALLATION

On-site assembly is handled with meticulous attention to detail by L’Officina dei Giardini, ensuring that the finished product integrates seamlessly into the context for which it was designed.

And just like that, the conservatory is ready to be enjoyed!

_______________

Copywriter: @robertavozza

Posted on

THE ARTISANS OF OUR WORKSHOP, THE HEART OF THE COMPANY

THE ARTISANS OF OUR WORKSHOP, EXPERTS IN TRADITION AND INNOVATION

Italian craftsmanship is made of people—experts who are passionate about their work and give immeasurable added value to their creations. For this reason, the name we chose for L’Officina dei Giardini (literally: “The Garden Workshop”) pays tribute to the beating heart of the company: our workshop.

A WORKSHOP OF EXCELLENCE

Every construction detail of our conservatories is executed by the expert craftsmen at our Turin workshop—a 2,000-square-meter space in which we are able to create structures large and small. Each work is perfected under the careful direction of Vittorio Cravanzola and the skilled hands and know-how of our staff.

But the craftsmanship we cultivate is not the stereotypical idea of a talented blacksmith. Investment in innovation and research is an important distinguishing factor for L’Officina dei Giardini. We believe that the future of tradition and its excellence must be accompanied by constant professional development.

THE EVOLUTION
OF KNOW-HOW

At L’Officina dei Giardini, we combine artisanal know-how with cutting-edge construction techniques, composite materials for thermal insulation, and a thermal-break steel profile that is unique in the industry and was engineered at our research center. And for ornamentation, we use laser and wrought-iron systems.

In 2020, L’Officina dei Giardini earned certification in compliance with the European EQF 4 training framework by Certi.s, which certifies our knowledge, skill, and competencies in window and door installation systems based on UNI 11673-2 standards.

TRAINING AND
CERTIFICATION

Among the latest certifications obtained by our staff at L’Officina dei Giardini is that of Welding Coordinator in accordance with the EN 1090 standard. The course, recognized by the European Welding Federation (EWF) and conducted in collaboration with IIS, aims to update the knowledge of our personnel in charge of welding coordination in the field of metal construction for the CE marking of construction products.

These are important milestones for our staff who build the structures at our Turin workshop, as well as for our assembly staff, artisans who are specially trained to work with great professionalism in every country around the world.

Photos: @emanuele_basile