
first image
'vegetation room inhotim' by cristina iglesias, belo horizonte, brasil
all images courtesy of cristina iglesias
the town of inhotim is a pocket of pristinely-preserved lush vegetation surrounded by ferrous-tinted landscapes of the surrounding mines
in belo horizonte, brasil. the contrast created by the two natural areas and the preservation of memory became intrinsic catalysts for spanish
sculptor cristina iglesias when designing the 'vegetation room inhotim.' the first of this scale, a regular 9 m2 square footprint is clad in polished
stainless steel panels whose mirrored surfaces reflect the surrounding forest so that from a distance the construct literally disappears.
four doors, one on each side, open a pathway to organically shaped interior spaces that at some points become too narrow for physical passage
but allow your sight line to peak curiosity. a perceptively artificial green plant motif cast in bronze and polyester resin and glass fiber tiles over
the walls and becomes a mere texture whose repetition goes almost unnoticed. to enter the other various nooks one must venture back out to
the real vegetation and wander around the orthogonal structure until discovering the other portals, the most hidden of which leads to a larger
round space with a metal-grate over a pit occupied by a whirlpool of water.
a video walk-through of the project has been debuted in the 'metonimia' exhibition at the museo nacional centro de arte reina sofia in madrid,
running from february 6th to may 13th, which also displays several of her other sculptures as well.

situated within untouched forest land

side entrance

structure almost completely disappears due to the reflective surface material

reflected landscape

'vegetation room inhotim' by cristina iglesias, belo horizonte, brasil

'vegetation room inhotim' by cristina iglesias, belo horizonte, brasil

one of the entrances into the interior labyrinth

interior walkway with a fake vegetative plant motif tiled across the walls

plan sketch

illustration

model
you did a great job. Inhotim is an awesome place and I’ve been there for three times and always want to go there again. oh, and I’m from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais – Brazil! congratulations!