Dynamic floor fountain – Cantina La Piemontina, Sizzano (NO)

La Piemontina is a new and modern winery in Piedmont, nestled at the foot of Monte Rosa, in the heart of the Novara hills between Ghemme and Sizzano. The structure extends over 7,500 square meters, spread over three levels, and is characterised by an architecture organically integrated into its natural surroundings. The basement houses the Bottaia, a 300-square-meter open-to-visit space dedicated to the preservation and ageing of wine in barrels. At La Piemontina, the Bottaia stands out for its originality and charm: in addition to representing the "noble" heart of the wine maturation process, it houses a dynamic floor fountain, designed to accompany and enhance events of all kinds. The dynamic floor fountain follows a regular wavy line, along which 16 nozzles are arranged, divided into four groups of four. Each nozzle is illuminated by an RGBW LED spotlight and powered by a dynamic pump. This allows each jet to have its own dynamics, reaching heights of up to 4.5 meters, and its own lighting, ideal for creating captivating and always original displays. All nozzles, pumps, and LED spotlights are installed in 16 drive-over boxes, custom-made from AISI 316L steel, to maintain full functionality of the barrel cellar and thus allow for the use of a forklift. The fountain operates in continuous recirculation, always using the same water, replenished only when necessary. The filtration system consists of a pump connected to a filter with a polarised glass filter bed of differentiated particle size and a selector valve, capable of effectively retaining all impurities. The system is also equipped with an automatic sulfuric acid dosing panel to regulate the water's chemical parameters. Chlorine—which cannot be used because it interferes with the winemaking process—is replaced by a liquid oxygen-based disinfection system, combined with a UV lamp, to ensure high sterilisation performance in the absence of chlorine. However, provision is made for the use of chlorine, which should be used only when necessary, when there is no wine in the barrels and when the cellar is closed. The fountain is equipped with an automatic water filling system consisting of a level sensor, a filling solenoid valve, and a flow meter with pulse output. The system is interfaced with the My Fountain app, which allows complete control of the system: management of on/off logic, programming and selection of shows, monitoring water consumption, and receiving alerts and alarms in the event of anomalies or malfunctions. The architectural design and construction management of the winery were personally supervised by architect Attilio Barone of Studio Archiprog S.r.l., based in Stresa, while the construction company was Bellani S.r.l., based in Arona.

“As a designer, I believe that water, within the winery project, is not merely a decorative element but a living and necessary presence. In an almost entirely underground space, carved into the silence of the earth, water becomes breath, the passage of time, memory. The fountain in the barrel cellar was born from this need: to introduce a slow, continuous rhythm that dialogues with the anticipation of the wine. Between reinforced concrete, glass, and Corten steel, the water softens, reflects the light, and amplifies the perception of the place. It is a sensorial counterpoint: the weight of the material responds to the lightness of movement, the controlled darkness of the basement responds to the sound, discreet but constant. Thus, water becomes as much a part of the project as the structure, a profound connection between architecture, earth, and transformation.” Architect Attilio Barone