by Eleonora | Apr 30, 2026 | Museum layouts and exhibition spaces
It is a pleasure to find ourselves, just over two months later, once again involved in a project that we had already loved bringing to light at the end of last year. The multimedia and interactive exhibition Intelligènzæ returns in a new guise: not a replica, but a profound transformation that keeps the heart of the project intact, exploring one of the most fascinating questions in science: what is intelligence?
A new format: the exhibition becomes traveling
This edition marks a major paradigm shift: new content, new venue, and above all a rethought design to make the exhibition itinerant and replicable. The challenge was to transform an immersive and complex exhibit into a modular and transportable system. Fundamental was the concept of architect Stefano Grande, who together with our technical and production work shaped an exhibition system “on wheels.”
7 chests and a modular narrative pathway
The new layout consists of seven main caissons plus one final element, designed as autonomous narrative units but part of a single system. Made of okumé, they are designed for strength, lightness and repeatability in transport. Each module opens with different geometries-symmetrical and asymmetrical-creating a dynamic exhibition rhythm.
The interiors, lacquered in light blue, recall the previous edition, while each caisson houses interactive elements such as monitors, digital devices and control systems, creating distinct but coherent experiential micro-environments.
Reuse and design continuity
The final element of the itinerary introduces a key principle: reuse.
An exhibition rack was in fact made from a structure of the previous edition, transformed and repurposed to become a vertical support for a new graphic panel. A gesture that combines memory and design, maintaining continuity between the different stages of the project.
Engineering and technical solutions
Behind the formal neatness is articulate engineering work driven by transportability, safety and durability.
Each caisson is a self-contained system with integrated wheels for handling and a structure designed to distribute loads, reducing stress on hinges and opening points. Plant systems are fully integrated and accessible via removable panels, with ventilation and technical hatches to ensure maintenance and reliability. Dimmable LED lighting is an integral part of the design, helping to define spaces without altering their formal cleanliness.
Industrial language as visual identity
The boxes echo theaesthetics of industrial transport crates, inspired by professional flight cases. A language that is not decorative, but part of the design narrative: logistics becomes visual storytelling.
An interdisciplinary project
Intelligènzæ was born from a network of expertise that combines design, research, and communication.
A central role is played by Taxi1729, a Turin-based organization specializing in science popularization, together with figures such as. Vincenzo Guarnieri and the concept of architect Stefano Grande.
Our contribution focuses on engineering and production, transforming the concept into a concrete, modular and transportable system. Special thanks to Federico Verdi and Davide Di Polito for the technical development of the most complex elements.
Conclusion
Intelligènzæ is not an exhibition to be observed, but an experience to be walked through.
Each element is designed to activate the visitor and turn the visit into a process of discovery.
You leave with more questions than you had upon entering. And that is what the project is all about: an intelligence that is constantly evolving, like the design that houses it.
Photo credits: Paolo Saglia – GiustiEventi
by Eleonora | Apr 17, 2026 | Museum layouts and exhibition spaces
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.
by Eleonora | Mar 25, 2026 | Design Hub Projects
Some projects arise from a practical need, others from a hunch. The Astra project stems from both.
In this project, the Saglietti Group applied its approach through Design Hub, a space where design, engineering, and production work together to transform ideas into tangible products, ready for industrial-scale production.
Design Hub represents the intersection of creativity and technology. It is not merely a design space, but a working method that allows us to oversee every stage of product development, from the initial concept to the physical realization.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Architects, designers, and companies are supported throughout the entire process, with the goal of translating real needs into concrete solutions while ensuring consistency between the aesthetic vision and production feasibility.
The Astra Project
Astra, a Tuscan company operating in the fashion and luxury sector, approached us with a very specific request: to design a drawer unit capable of holding 1,200 spools of thread, perfectly organized, visible, and easily accessible, without any overlap.
The challenge was to develop a technical object—but also an everyday work tool—that was functional, sleek, and consistent with the company’s identity.
From the comparison to the 3D model
The first step was direct communication with the client. In collaboration with the sales department and the engineering office, every requirement was analyzed and translated into a comprehensive 3D model, including all system components.
Starting from this digital model, the second engineering department developed the machine programs, precisely defining all necessary machining operations. Every production phase was studied in detail, from cutting to milling, through drilling, and to the correct positioning of the hardware, with the goal of ensuring maximum precision and repeatability.
Materials and Construction
The chest of drawers is made entirely of white laminated MDF, a material chosen for its stability, durability, and aesthetic appeal. The unit consists of ten drawers, each designed to hold 120 beech pegs, for a total of 1,200 pieces.
The pegs, with precise dimensions of 90 mm in height and 8 mm in diameter, are positioned at perfectly equal distances. This design choice is not random but responds to the need to ensure order, accessibility, and true functionality in daily use.
Visibility and functionality
To allow for an immediate view of the spools, a transparent plexiglass panel has been integrated. Two circular holes have been cut into this panel for each drawer, enabling convenient access without compromising the clean lines and continuity of the design.
The finishes have also been carefully designed: the base and top have been chamfered using an edge-banding machine, resulting in a clean, uniform surface without the addition of applied edges.
Production and Prototyping
Now that the design and planning phases are complete, the project has entered the pilot production phase. Each chest of drawers was assembled in-house, with components labeled to ensure order and control at every stage. To date, thirty units have been produced. However, the value of the project lies not in the quantity, but in the process that led to its completion.
Un approccio orientato all’industrializzazione
The Astra project is a perfect example of the Design Hub’s approach: an environment where ideas don’t remain mere concepts, but become tangible prototypes that are tested and ready for mass production.
It is a process that enables the development of scalable products, while consistently maintaining a balance between design quality, production efficiency, and attention to detail.
Conclusion
That is why the Design Hub was created: to transform complex needs into tangible solutions, guiding each project from the initial sketch through to production. This same approach has guided the development of projects such as StarsBOX and the Home Office collection, reaffirming the Saglietti Group’s role as a bridge between design and industry, between vision and reality.
Because an idea is the starting point.
But it is only when it takes shape, becomes precise, and can be replicated that it can truly enter the world.
by Eleonora | Mar 12, 2026 | Museum layouts and exhibition spaces
Designing a museum exhibit means finding a balance between artifact preservation, scientific storytelling and visitor experience. It is from this principle that the intervention created by Saglietti Group for the Archaeological Museum of Bene Vagienna, where we oversaw the installation of two new rooms dedicated to the civil basilica of ancient Augusta Bagiennorum.
The museum, housed in the 18th-century Lucerna Palace in Rorà, tells the story of one of the main urban centers of southern Piedmont in the imperial age, founded under Augustus at the end of the first century BC. The expanded exhibition space is part of the cross-border project P.E.P.A. – Patrimoine Environnemental / Environmental Heritage., dedicated to the enhancement of archaeological and landscape heritage.
The staging project
The work involved two new exhibition halls on the second floor of the museum, opening in June 2024. The project was developed in collaboration with architect Michele Bossio (A&T Progetti srl), through a constant dialogue between architectural and exhibition design.
Room A introduces visitors to the excavation activities and construction of the basilica. The space is organized around a large double-sided vitrine that visually connects the two rooms, flanked by infographic walls and a partition wall with an integrated monitor that creates an area dedicated to stopping and exploring. One of the main design challenges was the presence of a pillar and a difference in height between the rooms, which was solved with custom-made furniture capable of integrating both elements and restoring continuity to the path.
Room B, on the other hand, delves into the architectural finishes of the basilica and the objects of daily life. Here the vitrine continues with a taller plexiglass dome to house larger artifacts, while in the center of the room a freestanding vitrine narrates the ceramic and metal materials found during the excavation. The tour concludes with afloor installation that collects fragments of the basilica floor under a large laminated safety glass.
A team project
The intervention resulted from the joint work between designers, museum and technical team. Special thanks go to architect Michele Bossio for the design comparison and to the Archaeological Museum of Bene Vagienna for the trust and vision with which it chose to invest in an exhibit capable of bringing archaeology and contemporary design into dialogue.
by Eleonora | Mar 2, 2026 | Offices and Industrial Spaces
The collaboration between Saglietti Group and Albertengo Panettoni was born in 2016, when two family businesses rooted in artisan tradition met: us with decades of experience in carpentry and them with nearly two centuries of history in the confectionery industry. The bond between our companies is based on shared values: respect for tradition, attention to detail and passion for quality. Thanks to this synergy, each project becomes not just a functional intervention, but a true custom design experience.
Meeting room and showroom: the first step in a long collaboration
The first assignment involved the transformation of a 46-square-meter room into a meeting room/showroom. The main challenge? To integrate 40 linear meters of brushed ash shelves with concealed structure and integrated LED lighting, ensuring aesthetics and functionality. Using modular solutions and concealed systems, each element was designed to be flexible, stable, and adaptable-a perfect example of how bespoke design and handcrafted engineering can coexist without compromise.
The corporate heart: indoor museum and dynamic woodwork
Between 2018 and 2019, we designed the Albertengo Corporate Museum, a 245-square-meter space designed to tell the story of the brand.
- Dynamic boiserie: open panels and niches, some furniture and lacquered in red and gold, with matte print inspired by packaging snowflakes.
- Corporate plastic: central table with glass case and integrated lighting, ready to grow in 2025 to support the company’s expansion.
- Modular solutions: self-supporting wood and glass portals, inspectable platforms and easily upgradable graphics, demonstrating flexibility and durability over time.
Integrated space management enabled the creation of functional and aesthetically consistent environments, combining tradition and innovation.
Executive offices: elegance and functionality
Massimo and Livia Albertengo’s offices combine refined aesthetics and tailored solutions:
- Administration office: 8 desks and 6 cabinets with double sliding doors, modular partitions to create a cafeteria area without masonry work.
- Maximum’s office: furniture on wheels, storage wall with integration of pillar and heating carrier, work surface optimization.
- Livia’s office: custom slanted desk for slanted wall, glass writing insert, stylistic continuity with burgundy color details to stand out from Massimo’s green office.
Each design choice was guided by functionality, aesthetic harmony, and future flexibility, demonstrating the effectiveness of modular design andcustom craftsmanship.
Innovation and flexibility: from point of sale to graphics Baj Milan
In 2023, the acquisition of the historical brand Baj Milan brought new challenges: the opaque graphics on the glazing and paneling were updated without replacing the modular panels, highlighting the durability and adaptability of our systems. Thanks to the modular design, each element can be easily disassembled, repainted and updated, ensuring aesthetic and functional continuity in future projects.
A partnership that grows over time
From 2016 to the present, the journey with Albertengo has shown how craftsmanship, modularity, and bespoke design can transform complex challenges into elegant and enduring solutions. Each project tells a story: from a meeting room to a museum, from executive offices to an interior retail outlet, with attention to detail and integrated functionality. This collaboration demonstrates how family businesses with shared values can create unique spaces, strengthening the link between design, history and innovation.
Recent Comments