Design and the Local Area: The New Headquarters of Consorzio Canale Sarmassa

Water, even before being a natural resource, is a true cultural infrastructure. This perspective inspired the design of the new headquarters for the Consorzio Canale Sarmassa, which was inaugurated on March 22, 2025, in the hamlet of Podio, Bene Vagienna. The Canale Sarmassa, documented as far back as 1596, crosses the Cuneo plain, connecting territories, communities, and agricultural systems along a route that still irrigates approximately 3,000 hectares today. It is a historic infrastructure that is not merely technical but also a defining element of identity. The interior and exhibition design project interprets precisely this dimension, transforming the consortium headquarters into a hybrid space that combines administrative functions, a training center, and a museum dedicated to the memory of water.

An open and collaborative design process

The project was not developed according to a traditional construction drawing, but through an open and iterative process, carried out in close collaboration with architect Michele Bossio (A&T Progetti srl). The continuous dialogue between design and production made it possible to define spatial and technical solutions iteratively, starting from essential guidelines and progressively transforming them into concrete elements of the installation. This approach enabled very direct control over the details and a strong integration between concept and execution. Construction, which began in January 2025 following the site survey in October 2024, was completed in an extremely short timeframe, maintaining design consistency and precision of execution throughout all phases.

Three rooms, one narrative

The exhibition is divided into three distinct yet closely interconnected spaces, designed as a single narrative system that guides visitors from the institutional dimension through the educational dimension to the historical memory.

 

Conference Hall

The conference hall serves as the primary operational and institutional space. Here, the design focuses on a minimalist and restrained aesthetic, centered around a three-meter-long custom-made lacquered MDF counter, conceived as a continuous volume without visual interruptions. This design choice addresses the need to convey an orderly and authoritative image, in which technology and functionality are fully integrated into the design. The 12-centimeter-high raised platform, constructed with a metal frame and laminate finish, serves an exclusively ergonomic function, improving visibility of the speakers and incorporating accessibility and safety features without compromising the clean lines of the space. The space is completed by modular informational panels that allow for the reconfiguration of content over time.

Study Room

The study room introduces a more open and flexible space dedicated to training and teaching. The bright space, visually connected to the conference room via an internal balcony, features tables, seating, and display systems consistent with the lower level. The central element is a custom-designed reversible whiteboard, made of ABET metal laminate on both sides. It is not merely a teaching aid, but a hybrid technical device that combines a writable surface with a magnetic board, capable of rotating thanks to a specially designed metal structure. Its engineering ensures stability, durability, and great flexibility of use, making it a true work tool as well as a piece of furniture.

Water Museum Hall

The Water Museum Hall serves as the narrative heart of the project. Here, the exhibition design takes on a more technical and conservation-oriented approach, featuring a large custom-built cabinet made of lacquered MDF designed for the management and protection of historical maps and cartographic artifacts. The main challenge was managing the wide-span drawers, which was solved by incorporating metal stiffening elements and a slight structural counter-curvature to control deformation over time. The system incorporates multiple locks and discreet technical solutions that ensure security and functionality without compromising the clean aesthetic. Next to it, an interactive table with an integrated touchscreen introduces a digital dimension to the experience of the content, making the museum space dynamic and accessible.

Materials and Continuity in Design Language

One of the central aspects of the project is the material consistency that runs through all the galleries. Lacquered MDF, melamine-faced panels, technical laminates, and graphic surfaces are not used as isolated elements, but as parts of a single design language. Even the display elements and frames for the historical artifacts are designed to ensure visual continuity, with solutions that combine protection, durability, and clarity of presentation. This attention to detail is never merely decorative but serves the purpose of creating an environment that must simultaneously meet institutional, educational, and museum requirements, while always maintaining a strong overall coherence.

Design as Cultural Infrastructure

The design of the new headquarters for the Consorzio Canale Sarmassa serves as an example of how interior design can become a tool for interpreting the local area. The design does not merely organize functional spaces but constructs a continuous narrative that connects historical memory, contemporary use, and cultural identity. In this sense, the project transcends the logic of traditional furnishing or interior design to approach a form of narrative architecture, in which every element contributes to the creation of a coherent and layered spatial experience.

Collaboration and shared process

The project is the result of a collaborative effort, in which dialogue between the design team, the production team, and the client played a decisive role. The collaboration with architect Michele Bossio and the operational team made it possible to address complex technical challenges, transforming them into solutions that are seamlessly integrated into the overall design, while consistently maintaining alignment between the vision and its execution.