Luciana Di Virgilio e Gianni Veneziano / Veneziano + Team

“In our output, from architecture to art to design, we have often worked with traditional glass mosaics. In this project, on the other hand, we have experimented with the Mosaico Digitale of Pepe & Con, a company based in Gravina, Apulia, which is easy to install (cut with scissors or blades), can be applied to any surface, and has a lower cost than glass mosaic, permitting larger areas. On the ground floor of a private residence, near the entrance, a large mosaic depicting a face and objects wraps the wall of the living area and then expands into the kitchen, and on the adjacent wall. The starting point for the development came from watercolors, reworked and printed on resin tiles, which in the assembly phase formed a gigantic puzzle. Like a painting without a frame, the images are thus imprinted and spread across the surfaces, without limits. A sort of pop revolution, with freedom of transposition of any form dictated by the mind. Digital mosaic offers the possibility of rethinking an ancient technique in a contemporary way, imagining a cycle of frescos in the 21st century. A dialogue between historical memory, what we call the ‘archaeology of sentiments,’ and the contemporary, an intrinsic part of our language and background.”

Migliore+Servetto

“For some time, we have been conducting research on the use of innovative materials in relation to experimentation with environmental perception. In this sense, we can mention the projects made with the material i-Mesh, a technical fabric composed of just two components, fiber and resin, that can be separated and recycled, as an effective device to develop a new language of site-specific constructions. Inspired by the concept of permeability, these weaves – supplied on panels ready for installation – lend themselves to the configuration of always changing patterns and scenes. We have designed the Shades tapestries, which are shaped by light and the relationship they establish with the surrounding space, through the graphic system of the textures. These are open, extremely permeable and dynamic forms, made to interact with emptiness, where the perception changes depending on variations of light and background. Two works from 2015 that offer good examples of this logic are the concept store of Mondadori in Milan, where inside white metal rings the light expands along the technical fabric with a forceful material weave, featuring a reminder of the logo of the publishing house, with large luminous planes on the ceiling to identify the different areas; and the roof terrace of Accademia Citterio, facing Padiglione Italia during Expo Milano 2015, another interesting opportunity for experimentation with the material.”

Marco Piva / Studio Marco Piva

“One of the characteristics of our studio is the way we work on the architectural use of materials generally applied for decorative ends. One of them is Vetrite, an innovative product by Sicis: sheets of glass combined with polymers to permit the cladding of large surfaces. This is a high-tech composite glass obtained by combining polymers in the liquid phase with metal lamination and textile fibers. The versatility of Vetrite technology can give rise to an innovative product, starting with special pre-treated glass, with self-cleaning, anti-bacterial properties, etc. The special glass for easy cleaning has a thin, transparent layer that grants very effective photocatalytic and absorbent properties. The photocatalytic layer relies on the combined action of UV rays from sunlight and water, to remove grime that settles on the glass. Besides having an attractive appearance and offering the option of custom patterns, the Vetrite sheets can be cut, shaped and installed with ease, like a normal facing material. They can also have backlighting, for a theatrical, engaging effect.”

Filippo Taidelli

“The need for a warm, welcoming atmosphere inside a healthcare facility in prefabricated metal like the Emergency Center in Bergamo made it even more stimulating to face the challenge of ‘domesticating’ hospital space, creating a living therapeutic environment capable of ‘embracing’ patients and making the feel at home, in a place set aside for wellbeing and health, not for illness. With this aim, we utilized a wood-effect vinyl sheet for the flooring – a material provided by a product of Graboplast that ensures an appealing, soft surface that is also durable and easy to wash. GraboSafe Silver Knight is antibacterial, skidproof flooring that stands up to abrasion and scratching, with a special layer of 0.7 mm for extra-permanent applications. These special technical characteristics make it particularly suitable for healthcare settings; the wide range of available finishes has allowed us to choose a texture that would give the space the domestic look we were seeking.”