LIGHT + TECH 099
THE MIRROR OF WONDERS FABIO MAZZEO ARCHITECTS
An imposing entrance to a 17th-century villa would seem to cry out for a chandelier of some sort, but Rome-based multidisciplinary firm Fabio Mazzeo Architects chose a more unorthodox intervention for its headquarters. The intriguing moving-mirror is, literally, an off-the-wall installation using light and reflection.
Located at one end of the 60 sq m entrance hall, the large, mirrored wall surface is 4.5m wide by 4m high. Broken down into several sections, all of which move under their own power, it captures the many angles and perspectives of the space, reflecting the contemporary/ classical interior. A gold leaf-covered backdrop and backlighting bring out the fractures of the moving mirror. The resulting interplay of constant reflections moves fragments of the scene to unexpected places in a kaleidoscopic, shimmering image. The installation also faces and returns the image of another
mirror, from the Renaissance period, a coexistence between two works of art created 500 years apart.
The installation is not only aesthetic but also functional. An integrated monitor that uses mirror-screen technology produces additional visual imagery on the reflective surface, and is used by the team for presentations to clients.
‘As in all our projects, we started with the specifics of the setting to create a piece that could bring out the unique character of the space which has such a strong identity,’ says Fabio Mazzeo. ‘We wanted to avoid overabundance and excess. That led to the idea of an installation that is neither authoritarian nor imposing, but rather a modern piece that can find a harmonious balance with its historic surroundings. It was designed and built to create a dialogue with the interior and to orient the gaze in space, rather than capture it.’
BIANCA PULEO
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