Crasta & Curtins

Crasta and Curtins are two hamlets nestled in the scenic Fextal Valley, a side valley of Sils in the Engadin, which are inhabited all year round. The public lighting in some areas was inadequate, and the electrical power lines were so old that refurbishing them would have been very costly and disruptive. Faced with this ageing infrastructure, the municipality sought a reliable, sustainable and proven alternative. Drawing on positive experiences of solar lighting solutions elsewhere, they opted for one.

We had successfully refurbished the village’s historic street lamps in 2024 and 2025 with VALENTINO luminaires, complete with custom PIR sensors and smart lighting management. The local municipality of Sils im Engadin/Segl then proposed an ambitious next step: to develop a solar-powered variant of the same luminaire.

Drawing on our specialised solar lighting expertise with Photinus Schréder, we developed a bespoke solar-powered version. The resulting system pairs the VALENTINO luminaire with the Photinus Energy Tower to create an elegant, self-sufficient installation that blends perfectly into the landscape. This approach guides the community towards a more sustainable future by optimising the use of free solar energy, protecting the environment, and ensuring visual consistency across the entire valley.

The project enjoyed the full support of the local residents from the outset, who were drawn to its economic benefits and harmonious aesthetic integration. Compared to standard alternatives, our integrated solution stood out by successfully meeting the customer’s exacting requirements, particularly with regard to the sophisticated integration of PIR sensors and smart lighting management, an area in which other solutions had failed.

This project represents an innovative and sustainable advancement for Sils im Engadin, providing the community with safe and reliable public lighting throughout the challenging winter months.