DOMOTEX VIEW FROM ABOVE
AIM HIGH There’s a new impetus this year with attention drawn to the
so-called fifth wall and the possibilities to take ceiling design further with inspiration from the past - and present
Photography | Shutterstock Words | Richard Burton
Some years before Michelangelo arrived at the Vatican to begin his iconic work, its cavernous chapel had already played host to a roll call of 15th century rock stars of the art world. The likes of Botticelli, Perugino and Ghirlandaio had made their mark on the walls - and Raphael had been commissioned to come back later with what were to become a series of iconic tapestries. But, putting aside his later trip to create the Last Judgment, it’s Michelangelo’s ceiling that everyone relates to when there’s any mention of the Sistine Chapel. Similarly, Sir James Thornhill’s work is the most noted at the Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College in London, and the Spanish mixed-media expert Miquel Barceló’s holds similar fascination for visitors to the UN headquarters in Switzerland. Clearly, there’s something exceptionally awe-inspiring about a stellar work of art displayed from on high. But there’s a lot more to
A RICH HERITAGE, AND THINGS ARE STILL LOOKING UP
Cave paintings and Egyptian tombs aside, ceilings have a rich history that goes far beyond their ancient Greek and Roman heritage and there are spectacular examples littered throughout history, from the functional to the spectacular to the downright entertaining: from Roman domes to the murals of Pompeii. The appreciation of incorporating structure in the Gothic era showed us what to do with beams and the Renaissance frescoes took decor to a new level of style and originality. Thankfully, it’s a tradition that’s very much still in motion. You only have to check into The Bellagio in Las Vegas and look up at the blaze of colour in their glass foyer for proof of that.
this philosophy than applies to just international buildings of grandeur. In any environment, the so-called
fi fth wall can be critical to setting the tone of a room, adding visual balance, be it a sense of intimacy or openness and even controlling and regulating the acoustics the way China’s Hebei RooAoo Acoustics and Th-Star Acoustic Material do. Or even incorporating the likes of
statement beams, bamboo panels, like those supplied by the likes of Amorim, eco-friendly laminates or
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DOMOTEX MAGAZINE
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