Architecture News

Architectural Cases

Celebrity Style

Building materials

English

Building materials

Pedrali Pavilion: From Ephemeral Showcase to Enduring Community Hub

Slide 11
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Slide 11
Slide 1
The Pedrali Pavilion, originally a temporary installation, has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a lasting symbol of community and innovation. This architectural marvel, designed by AMDL CIRCLE and Michele De Lucchi, now stands as a permanent fixture, embodying Pedrali's dedication to art, education, design, and local engagement.

Embracing Permanence: A Vision Transformed

From Ephemeral Exhibit to Enduring Landmark: The Pedrali Pavilion's Evolution

The Pedrali Pavilion, created by AMDL CIRCLE and Michele De Lucchi to commemorate Pedrali's 60th anniversary, has embarked on a new journey, transitioning from a temporary wooden exhibition space to a vibrant, permanent community and cultural hub. This architectural endeavor in Mornico al Serio, Bergamo, mirrors the historical significance of structures like the Crystal Palace, setting a new benchmark for sustainable design and adaptive reuse.

The Structural Essence: A Fusion of Natural Materials and Innovative Design

Crafted from PEFC-certified spruce wood, the pavilion boasts impressive dimensions and a distinctive silhouette defined by arched portals and horizontal beams. Its design thoughtfully integrates natural elements, fostering a harmonious connection with the surrounding landscape. The meticulous preservation of its original timber framework highlights a commitment to its intrinsic lightness and aesthetic appeal.

Architectural Renewal: A Brass Canopy and Enhanced Functionality

A significant upgrade to the pavilion includes the replacement of its original wooden roof with a striking new brass covering. This material choice, treated to achieve a burnished, satin finish, mimics the weathered appearance of aged wood, respectfully nodding to the structure's initial composition while enhancing its durability and weather resistance. The new roof shingles maintain the exact dimensions and pattern of their wooden predecessors, ensuring visual continuity.

Redefined Interiors: A Space for Collaboration and Discovery

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by an inviting arena, serving as both a welcoming foyer and a precursor to the upper levels. The preserved timber structure on the upper floor now hosts a modern auditorium, meticulously designed for a diverse range of events, conferences, and exhibitions. This space, subtly reconfigured, features matte-finished oak flooring and larch paneling, creating an intimate ambiance that celebrates the building's wooden heritage.

Ground Floor Transformation: Showcasing Outdoor Collections and Sustainable Practices

The ground floor, once an expansive open area, has been reinvented as a sophisticated showroom dedicated to Pedrali's outdoor furniture collections. Here, glass elements are strategically employed to maximize natural light and offer uninterrupted views of the external environment, blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. Designed by DWA Design Studio, the showroom's light structure, complemented by glossy soft-sand partitions and photography by Alecio Ferrari, creates an immersive experience. Furthermore, the integration of a geothermal system underscores the pavilion's commitment to energy efficiency, providing heating and cooling while minimizing environmental impact.

Beyond the Structure: Cultivating Community and Wellbeing

The transformation of the Pedrali Pavilion extends beyond its physical boundaries, embedding it within a broader network of community and cultural initiatives. This adaptive reuse signifies Pedrali's long-standing commitment to enriching lives through projects like #pedrali4art, #pedrali4design&architecture, and #pedrali4community. The initiative also includes the creative repurposing of the original roof elements through a design workshop with local students, highlighting an innovative approach to education and material reuse.

Integrated Landscape: Connecting Architecture with Nature

The pavilion's evolution also encompasses its surrounding landscape, with the introduction of new pathways and communal gathering areas. Luserna stone paving creates a seamless transition between the architectural design and the natural environment, while terraced green seating areas, adorned with seasonal trees, invite visitors to connect with nature. Additionally, the establishment of the Pedrali Path promotes healthy lifestyles among employees, further integrating the pavilion into the company's holistic approach to wellbeing.

A Testament to Vision: Pedrali's Enduring Legacy

The conversion of the Pedrali Pavilion is more than a mere structural modification; it represents a profound shift from transient beauty to permanent utility. This endeavor transforms a corporate space into a vibrant cultural hub, fostering human connection and creativity. It stands as an indispensable destination for design enthusiasts and a testament to Pedrali's vision in Bergamo.

Denver Community Design Festival: Fostering Public Engagement Through Transformable Installations
Building materials

Denver Community Design Festival: Fostering Public Engagement Through Transformable Installations

BAIT Transforms G-SHOCK DW5600 into a Ripe Banana-Themed Timepiece
Building materials

BAIT Transforms G-SHOCK DW5600 into a Ripe Banana-Themed Timepiece

BUSTAN: A Robotic Earth Pavilion for Multi-Species Living
Building materials

BUSTAN: A Robotic Earth Pavilion for Multi-Species Living

Building materials

Zaha Hadid's London HQ Reimagined as Public Arts Hub

Slide 10
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 9
Slide 10
Slide 1
The Zaha Hadid Foundation is embarking on an exciting new chapter, opening the doors of Zaha Hadid's former London headquarters to the public. This initiative transforms the historic Victorian schoolhouse, once the vibrant center of Hadid's groundbreaking architectural practice, into a dynamic cultural hub for architecture, design, and the arts.

A Visionary Legacy Unfolds: Zaha Hadid's Headquarters Reimagined

Transforming Zaha Hadid's Historic London Base into a Public Cultural Center

A decade after the passing of the iconic architect Zaha Hadid, her foundation is preparing to unveil her former London headquarters as a public cultural space. Situated at 10 Bowling Green Lane in Clerkenwell, the Victorian schoolhouse, which served as her practice's home for over thirty years, has undergone a significant transformation. Scheduled to open on November 3rd, 2026, with an exclusive preview on October 29th, the revitalized building will offer galleries, a lecture hall, educational facilities, and dedicated spaces for displaying collections. It will also host diverse exhibitions, engaging workshops, and creative residency programs, marking a new era for a space that once buzzed with architectural innovation.

Preserving Architectural Heritage: Studio KA's Meticulous Renovation

The extensive renovation project, meticulously overseen by Studio KA, led by Katherine Nolan and Alex Butterworth, thoughtfully respects the Grade II-listed building's rich history, which dates back to the early 1870s. The ground floor has been reconfigured to enhance flow and accessibility, while original architectural features such as fireplaces and doorways have been carefully restored. New interior finishes introduce a palette of colors directly inspired by Hadid's own artistic paintings. Crucially, the renovation deliberately retains distinctive elements from Hadid's tenure, including unique Z-shaped door handles and striking shard-like flooring inlays. The space is further enriched with furniture and objects from Zaha Hadid Design, ensuring her unmistakable visual language continues to permeate the daily experience within the building.

Celebrating Performance Art: The Inaugural Exhibition

The foundation's inaugural public program delves beyond Hadid's renowned architectural structures, launching with "Zaha Hadid: Architecture of Performance." This exhibition, drawing from the Foundation's own collection, focuses on the architect's groundbreaking work in stage and set design. Curated by Catherine Howe and guest curator Libby Sellers, the exhibit explores Hadid's innovative approaches to performance environments across various disciplines, including dance, opera, and popular music. Featured projects span from her 1989 collaboration with choreographer Rosemary Butcher and the Music Video Pavilion in Groningen, to her stage designs for the Pet Shop Boys' Nightlife World Tour and Mozart's Così fan tutte at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. These diverse works powerfully demonstrate how her explorations into movement, abstraction, and spatial geometry extended far beyond traditional architectural boundaries.

New Artistic Voices and a Comprehensive Timeline

Complementing the main exhibition, a second gallery will feature "The Rebar Beneath," an 11-minute, dual-channel video installation commissioned from London-based artist LionHeart. This work, a blend of film, poetry, and performance, was developed through extensive research into Hadid's archives, examining the hidden structures beneath visible forms through layered projections and fragmented spatial compositions. Additionally, Pulitzer Prize-winning illustrator Mona Chalabi contributes "The Completely Exhausting Inexhaustibility of Zaha Hadid," a compelling visual timeline charting the architect's life and creative output. This animated piece is projected in the foyer onto a textile surface, notably inspired by an Issey Miyake coat once worn by Hadid. The opening program also includes a series of public discussions, guided tours, workshops, and a pop-up AA Bookshop, offering a comprehensive and engaging experience.

Evolving Identity: Experimental Jetset's Dynamic Graphic System

The reopening also marks the introduction of a new graphic identity designed by the Amsterdam-based firm Experimental Jetset. This innovative visual system extends Hadid's spirit of experimentation into the Foundation's public communications. Moving beyond a conventional static logo, the designers have created a flexible typographic language that utilizes a distorting grid, allowing letterforms and compositions to adapt dynamically across different applications. This system cleverly reflects Hadid's own practice, which was characterized by ideas of transformation and continuous inquiry, translating them into a contemporary graphic framework. A redesigned website by London-based Made by ON, set to launch the week of October 12th, will integrate this new identity and provide enhanced access to the Foundation's diverse programs and extensive archive.

Perpetuating a Legacy: A Forward-Looking Vision

To celebrate this significant new chapter, the Zaha Hadid Foundation is partnering with the Architectural Association and Serpentine for "89° of Zaha Hadid," a two-day symposium held across their respective London venues on October 30th and 31st. The latter date commemorates what would have been the architect's 76th birthday. This collaborative initiative underscores a broader ambition to activate the Foundation's archives through rigorous research, educational programs, and vibrant exchanges with emerging creative talents. As Rana Hadid, Chair of the Foundation's Trustees, articulates, the core intention is to "preserve her legacy while carrying her ideas forward." By transforming a former schoolhouse and architectural studio into a public cultural destination, the Foundation actively treats Hadid's legacy not merely as something to be passively preserved, but as a dynamic and evolving source for ongoing experimentation and inspiration.

See More
Paf Atelier: Crafting Immersive Environments through Collective Imagination
Building materials

Paf Atelier: Crafting Immersive Environments through Collective Imagination

Sergio Rojo's Rock-Cut Space Rehabilitation in La Rioja
Building materials

Sergio Rojo's Rock-Cut Space Rehabilitation in La Rioja

Tijuana's New Sports Complex: Integrating Recreation and Community Life
Building materials

Tijuana's New Sports Complex: Integrating Recreation and Community Life

Building materials

Ice Cube Necklace: A Transient Jewel by GOLEM and Laila El Mehelmy

Slide 8
Slide 1
Slide 2
Slide 3
Slide 4
Slide 5
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
Slide 1

A groundbreaking collaboration between GOLEM, led by architect Ariel André, and artist-jeweler Laila El Mehelmy, has resulted in an extraordinary piece of wearable art. This innovative necklace, dubbed 'ooOoooOoooOh la l'ice,' challenges conventional notions of luxury by featuring seven ice cubes strung on a delicate chain of solid-silver beads. It's a statement on impermanence, designed to melt and transform over approximately an hour, offering a poignant commentary on the fleeting nature of preciousness.

The Ephemeral Elegance of 'ooOoooOoooOh la l'ice'

The genesis of this remarkable piece traces back to a sweltering summer party in Berlin. Amidst rising temperatures, attendees sought relief by rubbing ice cubes on their bodies. This scene, blurring the lines between hedonism and environmental concern, sparked a profound discussion between El Mehelmy and André regarding resource scarcity and perceived value. They observed how water, often taken for granted, was becoming an increasingly coveted commodity. This realization propelled them to create a piece that visualizes the preciousness of water and the transient beauty it embodies.

El Mehelmy's artistic philosophy, deeply rooted in the tactile relationship between jewelry and the human form, finds its ultimate expression in this design. The necklace becomes a living sculpture, constantly re-shaping itself as the wearer's body heat causes the ice to gradually diminish. Each melting drop signifies the passage of time and the warmth of human contact. The silver chain, initially a backdrop for the frozen elements, eventually reveals its own intrinsic beauty, with larger beads marking the spaces where the ice once resided. The necklace also comes with a custom silicone tray, enabling the wearer to refreeze and re-experience this unique performance, blurring the lines between adornment and art installation.

This creation intentionally subverts the traditional symbols of luxury. By replacing enduring gemstones with transient ice, El Mehelmy and André question the inherent value of permanence. They argue that true preciousness might not reside in an object's ability to resist change, but rather in its capacity to provoke reflection on the inevitable processes of transformation. The melting ice cubes, or 'solid water gems,' force the wearer and observers to engage with the object's evolution, transforming it from a static accessory into a dynamic spectacle. This ingenious design underscores the cyclical nature of water, as solid ice liquefies, touches the skin, and eventually evaporates, conceptually preparing for renewal. The artists emphasize that the beauty of 'ooOoooOoooOh la l'ice' lies precisely in its temporality, embodying a profound inversion of luxury where its essence is most pronounced at the very moment it begins to fade.

This innovative jewelry piece by GOLEM and Laila El Mehelmy serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between human desire for luxury and the undeniable realities of environmental change. It invites us to reconsider what truly holds value in a world grappling with resource scarcity, prompting a deeper appreciation for the ephemeral and the natural. The 'ooOoooOoooOh la l'ice' necklace is more than an adornment; it is a conversation starter, a performative art piece, and a poignant commentary on our relationship with both time and nature.

See More