Project Category: Resort and Entertainment
Project Name: Castiglion del Bosco
Project Location: Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy
Date of Completion: 2008
Landscape Architect: EDSA, Inc. (www.edsaplan.com)
Owner: Brunello
Development Group, LLC,
Massimo
Ferragamo and John Severson, Partners
Leonardo
Casalini, Project Manager
Encompassing 4,500 acres of countryside
in the heart of Brunello winemaking region, the 800 year old Castiglion Del
Bosco Estate is one of Tuscany’s largest contiguous estates. In 1996 The Val
d’Orcia Artistic, Natural and Cultural Park which encompasses Castiglion del
Bosco was developed, designating the area as one of protected natural interest.
The initiative focuses on increasing awareness of cultural and environmental
heritage in the region, as well as manufacturing and marketing of local
products. In 2004, the year after restoration began on the Estate, the Val
d’Orcia region of Tuscany in central Italy was added to the UNESCO list of
World Heritage Sites. The historical significance and recognitions that the
project received in the years leading up to its restoration informed the client
and design team of a design solution which included planning concepts and
construction techniques practiced over the estates history. It was of utmost
importance to understand the value of Castiglion del Bosco and focus on how to
design a project that is respectful of its past and enthusiastic about its future.
Overlooking the estate is the Borgo,
the soul of Castiglion del Bosco which was unveiled in 2009 after painstaking
restorations. Many buildings on the site have been respectfully renovated
keeping new construction and footprints on the site to a minimum. In addition
to the Borgo Core are twenty 17th and 18th century
farmhouses scattered throughout the Estate. Nine of these farmhouses have been
transformed into Villas for Club Members.
The current estate produces some of
the region’s most celebrated wines, olive oil and grappa. Winemaking at
Castiglion del Bosco has been a craft for centuries, and after acclaimed
international wine makers took command of the process in 2004, the Estate is
yielding modern Brunellos that are attracting critical acclaim. The fundamental
goal of winemaking at Castiglion del Bosco is to remain faithful to the land
and the characteristics of the grapes. Everyone at the estate has the unique
opportunity to help contribute to this goal and participate in all aspects of
the wine vinification process, from picking and sorting to bottling and
tasting.
All landscape materials on the
site were installed by local craftsman in traditional practices. Local
materials used in the construction process are Terra Cotta tiles, Wood – for
trellis’, local stone used on all of the terraces, walls, and pool decks, and
native plants. Invasive plants, wherever located on site, were removed. During the construction
process there was an emphasis on conservation and Low Impact Design
methodologies. By re-using existing building footings, keeping the majority of
site access routes intact, and properly siting all of the new architecture on
the property, negative impacts to natural run-off patterns were avoided.
Pervious materials for roads and hardscape areas were used in all newly
constructed areas.
The environmental benefactors of the
site design respected historical hydrology systems including existing lakes and
water detention basins, which are used for collecting and slowing the
infiltration rate of water run-off.
Built to store and collect rainwater for irrigation on the site Cisterns
were buried underground and kept the landscape use of potable water to a
minimum. Incorporated into the planning of the Estate were features such as Organic
Farming practices, an extensive Composting Program,and Re-vegetation on many of
the hillsides. Two traditional but stylish restaurants at Castiglion del Bosco
showcase refined and creative Tuscan and Italian cuisine which is grown and
hunted on site.
The economic impacts of the project are exhibited
in the creation of jobs and a healthy improvement to the local tourism economy.
The social and cultural factors that have proved successful at Castiglion del
Bosco are teaching local skills and trades thru a variety of educational
workshops. Workshops focus on Organic & Sustainable Farming and Gardening
practices, Wrought Iron classes, Italian language classes, and a Culinary
Program that teaches local and Florentine cuisine.
The Estate features miles of picturesque hiking and biking trails that hug spectacular ridges and meander past streams, waterfalls and hidden historic sites. A unique collaboration with students from an American univeristy program was devised in which they spent time on-site with the landscape archtiects to map and inventory existing trails as well as establish a trail program for the project. The landscape architects were dedicated to spending as much time as possible on site to ensure that the Owner’s design vision was carried out and brought to fruition.
Credits:
Architect : ArchFlorence - Arch.
Carlo Ludovico Poccianti
Interior Designer: Hispano
Suiza - Teresa Burgisser
Engineer: Viva
Engineering SRL - Nino
Solazzi
Golf Course Architect: Tom
Weiskopf Designs - Tom
Weiskopf and Phil Smith
Market Position and
Imaging: InterCommunications - Toni
Alexander
Peer Review/Landscape
Architect : Marco
Battaggia
Landscape
Contractor/Nursery: Gruppo
Matti/Piante Matti - Andrea
Matti