vudafieri saverino partners: reflective natural

'reflective natural' by vudafieri saverino partners
all images courtesy vudafieri saverino partners


'reflective natural' is a project by italian architects vudafieri saverino partners 
currently on display at the venice architecture biennale.

'reflective natural', natural reflection and natural reflected, delves into cultural 
simulation, the ambivalence of the human milieu considered as an objective 
architectural space and equally an intimate subjective space. it is the outcome 
of a conceptual notion that envisages architecture as 'hyper-nature'.

comprised of five reflecting surfaces constructed like a house of cards, the exterior
structure reflects surrounding nature, while the interiors are covered with climbing 
plants. in this way the space is enclosed but its boundaries are undefined, its geometries
distorted, and sun and water can enter here. within, the floor appears as a meadow, 
reflecting on the walls and ceiling. outside, the walls become extensions of the sky. 

thus the artificial space is inverted: while nature invades the inner space of 
the psyche, which is personal and private, the conceptual and mimetic external space 
loses its architectural solidity and fades away into light and immaterial landscape.

in some measure the project upends the traditional antagonism between the natural 
and the artificial, between nature and architecture. the 'interior vegetation' will grow 
and overrun the walls, while the architecture will be subject to cyclical changes, as 
the days and seasons pass, retrieving an ancient approach for capturing living space.

these reflections are made a reality through the partnership of il bisonte, an italian brand 
of small leather goods. the sophisticated simplicity of this 'contemporary dolmen', its 
intimate involvement with its surroundings, its lithe, spirited interaction with humanity 
and nature, are in perfect unison with brand’s fundamental values. as an icon of this shared
vision stands the seating bench designed by tiziano vudafieri and claudio saverino with 
saporiti italia.

a tale of the accord that exists between human life and the habitat where it is welcomed,
made possible by taking as appropriate and by a prudent elaboration of nature’s resources,
experienced as an intimate complicity with the cycles and mutations of time.



the stools within the structure







project info:
project: vudafieri saverino partners, tiziano vudafieri and claudio saverino
sponsor: il bisonte
supplier: bianchi fratelli, saporiti italia
green design: alessandro nasti
structural design: paolo giustini