matteo thun unveils davines village in italy, the house of sustainable beauty

with a design driven by the values of beauty, sustainability, and well-being, matteo thun & partners studio has unveiled davines group’s — an italian beauty company — new headquarters near parma, italy. built on a surface of 77,000 square meters, the davines village complex comprises about 11,000 square meters. the remaining area — 80% of the total area — is composed of green zones designed by renowned landscape architect del buono gazerwitz. altogether, it integrates sustainable energy, waste reduction, optimization of natural resources, and saving of non-renewable ones.

developed following the concept of home, the davines village reinterprets the archetypes of italian dwellings found in rural areas in a contemporary way. it hosts the offices and training spaces, the research and development laboratory, the production plant, the warehouse, and a large central greenhouse that works as a restaurant and as a co-working area. featuring two-story houses arranged around two central courtyards, the design emphasizes the company’s family roots while conveying a welcoming effect.

‘the starting point – the employees’ well-being – was the key factor that inspired our work in designing offices, production department and warehouse. we wanted to create a functional village with harmonious aesthetics that could combine traditional rural architecture with innovative values, expressed around the greenhouse and the vast green spaces,’ comments matteo thun, architect and founder of matteo thun & partners studio.

constructed with a minimum amount of masonry elements, the complex achieves great architectural transparency while providing every working station with views of the outside. the large glass greenhouse building in center

the large glass greenhouse building located at the center of the complex is characterized by a modern and light architectural style. overall, the complex has been constructed with a minimum amount of masonry elements, achieving great architectural transparency while providing every working station with views of the outside.

the green areas by del buono gazerwitz have different functions including two internal courtyards, the scientific botanical garden, a large garden surrounding the building, and the green kilometer. inside the scientific botanical garden some of the plant species used in the cosmetic formulations are grown, resulting in an open air laboratory.

realized by monica signani, the interior design comes from the desire of combining the values of participation and sharing with the aesthetic enhancement of the work environment. far away from a traditional corporate image, the different areas evoke living spaces where formal and aesthetic choices blend with functional needs. to complement this equation, the furniture was custom-made by the contract division of molteni&c|dada.

‘the soul of davines expresses itself through its deep values. the davines village embodies them: a company headquarter that exemplifies the concept of sustainable beauty that we pursue with ever stronger commitment and passion. the virtuous architectural design has turned into a reality that puts the well-being of the people who work here at its center and represents a place where ethics and aesthetics coexist in harmonious balance.’ – davide bollati, davines president