ingo maurer: broken egg architectural installation for artpark in inhotim

broken egg architectural installation for artpark in inhotim
image © designboom

munich-based designer ingo maurer has presented at this year’s milan design week his concept for the seemingly jovial structure to be built in the art park in inhotim, brazil. the design of a large scale architectural rendition of a ceramic table lamp called ‘broken egg’ from 1996 will greet visitors with a curious wonder, using the egg’s natural geometries to create a quite incredible interior auditorium space. an organic fissure runs across curving roof and wall letting in only a sliver of light that reveals the volumetric expanse of interior space, but also draws a powerful ray of light to the exterior from the activity inside. the approach is reminiscent of an alien aircraft’s entrance stairs from an old science fiction movie, perhaps lending to the mysterious nature of its origins. the long entry stairs colored a vivid red gradually separate the guest from the ground plane and dramatically allow the egg structure to grow in size as they approach the entrance through the middle of the interior seating structure. the primary platform is similar  to a plate elevated above the rounded ground level, not quite reaching the edges of the envelope suggesting an infinite space.

exhibition of the architectural installation project at ingo maurer’s show inside the spazio krizia, during milan design week

interior platform model
image © designboom

entrance section
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exterior with crack
image © designboom

light expressed on the exterior through the fissure
image © designboom

front elevation
image © designboom

installation model
image © designboom

entrance progression
image © designboom

image © designboom

preliminary sketches
drawing © by ingo maurer / atelier one
image © designboom

sections and roof plan
drawing © by ingo maurer / atelier one
image © designboom

floor plans
drawing © by ingo maurer / atelier one
image © designboom

see the first of the ‘broken egg’ lamps created by ingo maurer in 1996, a table version exhibited at milan design week in 2009.

‘broken egg’ limited edition for at the fondazione carispe in la spezia, italy

like in piero della francesca’s painting, maurer devised an egg  specifically as an transcendental piece. to fulfill his vision of a flawed egg, the designer experimented with broken eggshells and the tension that is required to prevent fragmentation.  the surface of the object consists of crushed eggshells, while the overall installation at the fondazione carispe in la spezia, italy includes two large wall mirrors which reproduce the image into infinity.

‘broken egg’ limited edition for at the fondazione carispe in la spezia, italy

detail of piero della francesca’s montefeltro altarpiece, 1465, pinacoteca di brera, milan
see the painting here.

in art history, certain symbols are more commonly encountered, often continuing a tradition of depiction that can be traced back beyond into antiquity. the use of ornamental egg-shaped objects suspended within sacred buildings is one of these transcendental symbols. one such enduring mystery is the egg suspended from the ceiling in piero della francesca’s montefeltro altarpiece.  acursory analysis may state that the egg is well known symbol of fertility and birth. other readings see this object as a large pearl, which along with the shell represented in the architectural features behind may represent purity.