A school for beekeepers
Casa Dell'Ape by Enrico Sassi
Casa dell'Ape, © Marcelo Villada
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At the Casa dell'Ape in Coldrerio, a town in the canton of Ticino, aspiring beekeepers learn their craft. The small pavilion of sprucewood designed by Enrico Sassi lies downstream from the cantonal road linking Mendrisio with Chiasso and forms part of the Mezzana Cantonal Agricultural Farm - Professional Green Centre, a training centre for agricultural professions.
© Marcelo Villada
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The building's construction is reminiscent of a Greek temple. The Bee House was erected on a reinforced-concrete base and is accessed via three steps that surround the structure. On this base, fifty-six prefabricated wooden pillars are arranged in a grid measuring 130 cm.
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The longer side of the pavilion has 12 modules, making it twice as big as the shorter side. The supports bear 13 glulam beams, also prefabricated in a Ticino sawmill, that hold up the roof.
© Marcelo Villada
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All the components of the Bee House can be replaced without affecting the overall structure. The surfaces of the wooden elements have been flamed and brushed to create a rustic look. Even when connecting the wooden supports to the base, Enrico Sassi favoured a naturally aging appearance: the iron post anchors will rust over time.
© Marcelo Villada
© Marcelo Villada
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The architect has divided the interior into a seminar room that enables students to observe the beehives through a floor-to-ceiling window, as well as a laboratory devoted to honey extraction. A glass pane separates these two areas. Permeable grates form the upper and lower wall ends of the pavilion, which ensures natural ventilation of the interior spaces.
Architecture: Enrico Sassi Architetto Sagl
Client: Repubblica e Cantone Ticino, Sezione della Logistica
Location: 6877 Coldrerio, Mendrisio (CH)
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