The industrial district of Bolzano, a city in the far north of Italy, is home to the elegant steel and glass Salewa Bivac bistro, where the outdoor spaces really make the difference. Located right next to a local park and the largest climbing wall in Italy, the restaurant has a shape that deliberately alludes to the towering Alps visible to the north. Salewa is actually a brand for outdoor gear and mountaineering equipment, with this restaurant designed to promote the more informal, social side of the firm. The success has driven the need to enlarge the bistro beyond the original walls, into the garden area. As such, Salewa Bivac - originally a simple, modern design by Park Associati - has been extended by roughly 50 sq. m with the addition of one of Pratic’s aluminum pergolas. This new section completely covers the space, meaning it can be used throughout the year. The elegant, crisp lines of the Opera range were chosen as this bioclimatic pergola is
self-supporting with 15x15 cm uprights, in an iron grey hue for this project. The structure has built-in downspouts to ensure any rainwater is directed away seamlessly. The horizontal top of the pergola, merely 23 cm thick, has an integrated Raso vertical blind so the space can be completely closed around the perimeter, offering protection, when needed. The sunscreen blades in the top can be rotated from 0 to 140 degrees, allowing in plenty of light or completely closing the top. This flexibility means the lighting and protection from the elements can be regulated across the entire covered area, improving the ventilation and natural recirculation of air, and making the space more comfortable in every season. The integrated Spot Lights in the rotating blades are the final touch of Opera technology.
