Five groin vaults, six metres underground — and still perfect after eleven years.
Chef Ruben, an Italian chef who works for private homes, came to us with a precise vision: to build a natural wine cellar with vaulted ceilings, capable of housing his collection of fine wines. The challenge was both technical and aesthetic: to create a welcoming space with an ancient feel, one that could genuinely meet the long-term requirements of wine preservation.
The final architectural composition consists of five brick groin vaults: a large crossing vault over the tasting room, a smaller one over the kitchen, two vaults over the cellar divided by a brick pillar, and a fifth with a 25 cm keystone arch. All vaults are separated by relief arches — flush at the impost and 4 cm at the crown, each 52 cm wide — creating a quiet, measured rhythm throughout the space.
The cellar was built 6 metres below ground, with two natural air intakes drawn from chimney stacks set in the upper garden. This passive ventilation system allows air to circulate autonomously — entering and exiting naturally — maintaining a constant temperature and humidity year-round without any mechanical intervention.
Eleven years on, the cellar is exactly as it was on the first day. No mould, no infiltrations, no odours. As Chef Ruben told us: "Today the cellar is exactly eleven years old, and thanks to this natural ventilation system I have never had problems with mould, infiltrations, or bad odours. Pietrantiche truly satisfied me in the details, the finishes — the result speaks for itself. If you ask me for a negative side, I wouldn't be able to find one."
