Palco Acustico to Showcase Top Musical Talent at Stresa Festival 2021!

“Outdoor music spreads through the air, merging with the sounds, smells and colours of nature, the green of the meadows, the red of the sunset, the blue of the sea. The landscape is a very special setting for a concert, which makes the sound less technical, more authentic and sincere. Music and nature internet. The acoustic stage has the delicate task of amplifying the magic of their meeting.”(Michele De Lucchi 2021)

The Stresa Festival is a music event that takes place in the beautiful setting of Lake Maggiore, in Italy. This year, the festival's artistic director, Mario Brunello, teamed up with the renowned architect Michele De Lucchi to create a unique stage machine that would blend music, nature, and architecture in a seamless way. The result is the Palco Acustico, a musical pavilion made of larch wood that acts as a natural sound amplifier.

The Palco Acustico is not your average concert stage. It is a structure that embraces the landscape and interacts with it in a delicate way, amplifying the sounds of the music without the need for electronic components. The walls of the pavilion act as a sounding board, enhancing the natural acoustics of the location and creating a unique and authentic sound experience. The panels that make up the pavilion's shell are supported by exposed wooden arms that reveal the simplicity of the stage mechanics, making it easy to transport and assemble in different locations along the lake.

To ensure the success of the Palco Acustico, a feasibility study of acoustic modeling and simulation was carried out by a university research team led by Professor Marco Imperadori. The team used engineering software to optimize the structure and design the ideal parameters for high sound quality without the need for electric amplifications. The execution of the project was entrusted to D3Wood, a company that specializes in creating solid wood products with innovative and non-standardized shapes, using the potential of numerical control machines.

The harmony of colors is another essential component of the Palco Acustico project. To minimize the impact on the landscape, the larch wood used for the pavilion was darkened with a natural treatment, which accelerated the process of chromatic change of the wood. The result is a pavilion that blends in with the natural surroundings and creates a unique visual and sensory experience.

Even the lighting of the Palco Acustico is designed to enhance the natural atmosphere of the location. Rechargeable lights create a suffused effect that recreates the conviviality of campfires, further enhancing the connection between people and the environment.

The Palco Acustico is not just a concert stage, it is a wandering scenography that takes music to unexpected places and enhances the nature of the territory. It is a unique project that blends the expertise of architecture, engineering, and music to create a natural and authentic experience for the audience. The Palco Acustico is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in creating sustainable and meaningful projects that connect people to their environment.

In conclusion, the Palco Acustico is an exceptional project that showcases the possibilities of architecture and music in enhancing the connection between people and nature. The pavilion's unique design and acoustic properties make it an ideal stage for outdoor concerts, while its natural materials and colours make it blend seamlessly with the landscape. The Palco Acustico is a testament to the power of collaboration and innovation in creating sustainable and meaningful projects that enhance our relationship with the environment.

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Cover photo © Stresa Festival ph. Lorenzo Di Nozzi