Milano-based architecture firm Peter Pichler Architecture has built a scollop-formed structure as part of Milan Design Week 2018, which will kick off tomorrow in different locations of the city and will be on view until April 22, 2018.

Called Future Space, Peter Pichler Architecture's installation has been built at the courtyard of Università degli Studi in Milano. The giant wooden sculpture acts as a cave, allowing visitors enter in by evoking a playful game of light and shadow.

Constructed by Domus Gaia, the wooden pavilion is made of more than 1,600 wood-sticks (fir wood), with an overall weight of 12 tons. The symmetrical structure is inspired by the extraordinary quality of the Renaissance proportions of the courtyard of Ca' Granda and plays with the fundamental elements of Renaissance style: Symmetry, proportion and geometry.

"The project explores the potential of the materic presence of wood in a non-typical “building” environment as a structure that should transmit a spatial experience. The installation reflects our studio thoughts about future spaces: sustainability (wood as material), structure and spatial emotions," said Peter Pichler Architecture.

Three separate wings gradually change in height by simply stacking and rotating different lengths of wood sticks and create like a pyramid-like ensemble. Visitors are invited to enter and explore the cave-like installation. 

The perforated structure filters light and evokes a playful game of light and shadow. It forms three openings, one serves as the entrance and the other two provide views towards the courtyard of the university and other installations.

Project facts

Project: "Future Space", Pavilion Salone del mobile 2018

Design: Peter Pichler Architecture

Year: April 2018

Location: courtyard Università degli studi, Milano, Italy  

Design team: Peter Pichler, Gianluigi D´Aloisio, Daniele Colombati

Technical partner: Domus Gaia (wood construction), Zumtobel (illumination)

Facts: Pavilion made of more than 1.600 wood-sticks (fir wood) with an overall weight of 12 tons

All images © Oskar Dariz

> via Peter Pichler Architecture