Fiery Water Factory: the most “environmental” recording studio ever!
Who would have thought that a “trunera” could host a recording studio?
Exactly – a “trunera” is a farmhouse built of unbaked clay that is typical of the area around Alessandria (Piemonte, Northern Italy). One of these so-called “unbaked-clay houses of Fraschetta” was converted to an audio facility, made up of a control room, a recording room and two iso booths.
This would be enough to describe the uniqueness of this unrepeatable project. Studio Sound Service produced a one-of-a-kind design… and we – the Proaudio team – built it!
THE “TRUNERA” DESIGN CHALLENGE
As often happens, the studio was created in an environment not designed to “play to perfection”. That’s why – in order to set up a state-of-the-art recording studio – il maestro Donato Masci worked on a project design even more ad hoc than usual.
The design took into account the unusual acoustics produced by the vaulted brick ceiling and the red clay bricks – capable of absorbing the medium-high frequencies but not the low ones. And also, the impossibility of drilling into the lateral walls, which are made of unbaked clay…
THE PURENESS OF GEOMETRY AND MATERIALS
The geometric designs of the rooms took shape through the combination of mobile panels for the recording room and a frame independent of the walls for the acoustic treatment of the control room.
The use of fabric and wood, our “favourite” materials, was a doubly winning choice. “Doubly” because, in addition to guaranteeing an optimal result, it has also contributed to building the studio by following the ethnic style of the building and the people who would have lived in these rooms!
AFFORDABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY: TECHNIQUE AND PHILOSOPHY
Respect for the environment and sustainability (economic as well as ecological) have guided the technical choices for the realization of the entire project and have given the Fiery Water Recording Studio it own unique soul.
The same soul that the guys of Fiery Water Factory put into building the studio. A part of the most technical operations, in fact, was made by our team, while the “Fiery” guys themselves made others.
The custom console, made entirely by Fiery Water Factory, is the tangible (and high-quality) proof of their precious contribution.
Also the use of stone and wood – which fit perfectly within the context of the “trunera” – meant a remarkable cost savings, considering that the wooden trunks “came” directly from the field of “Bob” Carmelo Sofi, the owner and resident sound technician of the Fiery Water Recording Studio!
A “NATURAL” PASSION FOR MUSIC
Special thanks go to Carmelo Sofi. He gave us the opportunity to work on such a truly unique project. Since the very beginning of the design process, he imparted his vision and his passion to us and gave life to a place where time is “marked only by metronomes” and where creativity can express itself in harmony with the environment.
The entire team, composed of Proaudio Construction for the building operation and project management, Studio Sound Service for the design, SMAP for the equipment and CabloCustom for the cables, is proud to have contributed to a unique achievement of its kind and in the name of sustainability.
