‘pibamarmi pavillion’ by alberto campo baeza estudio de arquitectura, verona, italy
all images courtesy of alberto campo baeza
this year, the italian stone-craft company pibamarmi commissioned spanish architect alberto campo baeza to design a pavilion in verona to symbolize two of the most important factors in architecture and the company’s values alike: gravity and light. the semi-cubic room (8 x 8 x 4 meters) is intersected by a simple straight walkway of white carrera and thassos marble staves, above which a massive stone block measuring 4 x 4 x 1 meter thick compresses the space for the visitor as they walk underneath. the ground is covered by a glassy still pool of water which, when viewed, reflects the room so that the space feels like a perfect cube. taught white silk wraps the walls softly glowing with natural light, an ideal background to display the several washbasins reflected in the water. the result is a refined tension between heavy solid elements and the ethereal qualities that surround them, representing the same delicate balance in pibamarmi’s products.
stone walkway through the reflective water surface
reflection of light and stone