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Catellani & Smith’s Bespoke Lighting at Palazzetto Acqualunga
- Style Essentials Edit Team
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
Set within the historic landscape of Volta Mantovana, overlooking the Mincio Valley, Palazzetto Acqualunga is a private country residence shaped by a contemporary rustic language. The architecture leans heavily on wood as its defining material, used extensively across floors, beams, doors, and structural elements. The result is an interior that feels grounded and tactile, balancing rural character with a controlled, contemporary restraint.
Within this context, lighting plays a decisive role in shaping how the spaces are perceived and experienced. The most distinctive intervention unfolds in the residence’s stairwell, where a custom suspension installation by Catellani & Smith introduces both illumination and spatial rhythm. Designed specifically for the project, the lighting composition responds to the vertical nature of the stairwell, acting as a continuous visual guide across levels rather than a singular decorative feature.
At the centre of this installation is the Pòta! suspension lamp, reinterpreted here in a bespoke configuration. The lighting structure develops vertically to a total height of 650 centimetres, aligning precisely with the stairwell’s proportions. Two Pòta! fixtures, each with a diameter of 50 centimetres, are suspended in sequence, followed by a Spot Light positioned at the end of the composition. This concluding element introduces a more focused beam, creating a sense of visual closure and balance within the overall arrangement.
The lamp’s spheroidal brass structure houses 18 handmade light units, integrating LED filament technology. This combination allows for controlled illumination while retaining a subtle irregularity in form and light distribution. Rather than producing a uniform wash of light, the installation creates a nuanced interplay of brightness and shadow that accentuates the surrounding wooden surfaces. Exposed beams, handrails, doors, and parquet flooring are visually amplified, reinforcing a sense of material continuity throughout the stairwell.
To accommodate the architectural conditions of the space, a bespoke cylindrical base was developed to adapt the suspension system to the inclined ceiling. This technical adjustment ensures both stability and visual alignment, allowing the installation to remain coherent despite the structural complexity of the stairwell.
The project underscores Catellani & Smith’s ongoing focus on craftsmanship as an integral part of its design approach. Here, craftsmanship extends beyond material execution to include the ability to interpret architectural constraints and translate them into site-specific lighting solutions. The result is a unique installation that is inseparable from its setting, functioning as both a practical lighting system and a defining spatial element.
By integrating bespoke lighting into the architectural narrative of Palazzetto Acqualunga, the project demonstrates how carefully calibrated light can reinforce material identity, guide movement, and shape atmosphere without overwhelming the space. The stairwell installation stands as a measured example of how custom lighting can act as an architectural extension rather than an applied accessory.
Project: Palazzetto Acqualunga, Volta Mantovana
Lighting: Catellani & Smith
Photography: Nava Rapacchietta
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