By Simone Bandini
“In France there is an old saying, stupid as a painter. The painter was considered stupid, while the poet and the writer were considered very intelligent”.
(Marcel Duchamp)
Who knows what Duchamp, a famous exponent of the French avant-garde, would think if he had seen us busy around a toilet, wanting to reproduce a new ‘Fountain’ – his ready-made work/urinal, created by the artist in 1917. The original piece, which was widely known for its sensation, was lost. Today only copies are preserved in various museums around the world.
And here we are with the volcanic Claudio Cosci and his son, equally impetuous, Giuseppe. The two have been carrying on Cosci Service since 2015, a spin-off dedicated to the home and renovations born from the Idraulica Cortonese.
Our photographer, Luciano Valentini, had a brilliant, crazy idea for the cover image – wanting to portray the histrionic creativity of Claudio and his son in an artistic shot. The intention is to modulate and instinctively convey the irrepressible passion and presence of mind of the two, enlisted a whole morning for this daring mission.
And here comes the perfect shot!
So we go back to his office to get to know each other better. There Paola Tiezzi, administrative manager, who has now learned Claudio’s character and knows how to evaluate his aspects, sometimes unpredictable, awaits us: “His bad relationship with technology leads him to have a good memory … He knows all the endings of the phone numbers!”, she jokes.
Right from the prints in plain sight you can see the affection reserved for his city, Cortona: the Town Hall, the Church of Santa Maria Nuova, the views with cypresses and sunflowers in summer.
From small and traditional plumbing and construction interventions, the work over the years has been updated and evolved thanks to the constant increase in clients and has focused on large projects such as turnkey renovations, swimming pools and gardens. However, Claudio is inspired by the same spark as in the past: the sensitivity for beauty that gratifies and ennobles his work – which is combined with his proverbial ability to solve technical problems of all kinds.
This love for beautiful things has, over the years, been welded and combined with the desires of a large number of families who have elected this territory as their residence, mainly English and American, in the wake of the famous ‘Under the Tuscan Sun’, a bestseller that later became a successful film on the Tuscan dolce vita. “Claudio – says Paola – thanks to his character, resourcefulness and always positive spirit, he was the engine of the growth of this company of which his customers have become, to all intents and purposes, true friends with whom to dream and joke”.
To get to know Claudio Cosci better, we ‘question’ him more specifically. Certainly, knowing him, he will not back down!
VALLEY LIFE: How important is the connection with the city and the territory – and how important is having been supported and motivated by your family?
CLAUDIO COSCI: My homeland has given me a lot, I was born there, my roots are my friends, in addition to this it has also given me a lot of confidence, it has given me the opportunity to grow, carry on my dreams and get to today with two companies that give me a lot of satisfaction. My family has been fundamental, it has always supported me in everything, it has had and has a lot of patience even when work takes me more than expected; My son then works in both companies.
VL: Traditional and innovative systems, which ones do you recommend?
CC: To date, technology and innovations have made great strides and, in my opinion, it is right to look ahead, to progress, but taking the best of the present, but also of what has preceded us: this allows us to be more performing in the various types of work and with the various types of customers.
VL: Villa “Il Maggio”, what does it represent for you? Is it perhaps the classic ideal of the country cottage?
CC: It’s my ‘creation’! There I put my ideas, my free time as well as my work: it was a long renovation, demanding from every point of view; When it was purchased it was little more than a ruin and, getting to what it is today, has been a long journey full of satisfaction and sweat. When there are no guests, I like to spend time there, let’s say that it ‘recharges’ me. It has the style of the ‘classic country house’, but it is also much more: it is equipped with a SPA with sauna, Turkish bath, emotional shower, whirlpool pool and a relaxation room, and outside there are two other swimming pools, the classic and a jacuzzi in a panoramic position.
VL: What do you like to do?
CC: I really like the contact with people but also with nature: I love walking in the woods to pick mushrooms, I follow and participate in the harvest of my olives, I try to carve out time to take care of a small vegetable garden and of course spend time at ‘Villa il Maggio’ and come up with new ideas, perhaps together with my family.
VL: And what makes you angry?
CC: I get very angry, only in rare situations if someone betrays my trust but fortunately I am surrounded by reliable people with whom I have excellent relations.
VL: What is still missing from your life, human and professional?
CC: If I look back, I can say I am satisfied. I have many friends and a wonderful, united family: I have opened two companies, one in plumbing, from where I started, and the other in services for everything concerning home. If I look ahead, I still see many professional projects, even in other sectors: I prefer not to anticipate anything but I’m already working on it!
We will see some good ones!
Info: – Cosci Service, Viale Regina Elena 3, Camucia di Cortona (Ar) / Tel. 0575 603750 / www.cosciservice.it / info@cosciservice.it
– Idraulica Cortonese, Via Gramsci 42 f/g, Camucia di Cortona (Ar) / Tel. 0575 631199 / www.idraulicacortonese.com / info@idraulicacortonese.com
