House of Water Lilies

Casa delle Ninfee is a social-benefit project promoted by VIVI SANO ONLUS. The project involves the conservation and restoration of the greenhouse in Palermo’s English Garden, now Parco Piersanti Mattarella. Built during the creation of the garden, work on which began in 1851 to a design by Gian Filippo Battista Basile, the greenhouse is an “exercise in style” inspired by the fashionable garden houses of the time. A base of tufa and Billiemi stone blocks gives the small structure its distinctly Palermitan identity, enhanced by a Liberty-style cornice. The greenhouse endured years of neglect and abandonment, during which acts of vandalism profoundly altered its appearance.

The project, carried out under the supervision of the Palermo Superintendency, followed a conservation-led approach to the restoration of both the stonework and the ironwork. The restoration was carried out by Arianna Pardut and Francesca Pagliaro. At the centre of the greenhouse, an ornamental pond was created for the water lilies, and wrought-iron seats were installed to hold pots of plants selected by the Palermo Botanical Garden.

Giardino interno lungo e stretto, con un canale d’acqua centrale, panchine lungo i lati e un pergolato ad arco sopraelevato

Credits 

Design and Site Supervision Provenzano Architetti Associati

Main contractor Maltese Antonino

Restoration work by Arianna Padrut and Francesca Pagliaro Arte e Restauro

Glassworks Fortezzza

Lighting Design Rilux Mondo Luce

Botanical consulting: Prof. Paolo Inglese, Palermo Botanical Garden

The project, carried out under the supervision of the Palermo Superintendency, followed a conservation-led approach to the restoration of both the stonework and the ironwork. The restoration was carried out by Arianna Pardut and Francesca Pagliaro. At the centre of the greenhouse, an ornamental pond was created for the water lilies, and wrought-iron seats were installed to hold pots of plants selected by the Palermo Botanical Garden.

Serra interna con una vasca riflettente sotto un tetto ad arco in vetro, circondata dal verde