alessio fava's brutalist terrariums reveal what happens when nature reclaims space

Mondobruto turns rigid architecture into a thriving ecosystem

On a moss-covered ledge of brutalism, Mondobruto takes root — a sculptural series by Italian designer Alessio Fava that turns sealed glass terrariums into poetic battlegrounds between concrete and life. Each piece in the ongoing collection explores what happens when nature is not an afterthought in architecture, but a protagonist reclaiming its space.

in Mondobruto, glass terrariums turn into poetic battlegrounds between concrete and life

Alessio Fava captures tension between decay and growth

Handcrafted from polystyrene molds and cast in custom concrete blends, Fava’s miniature brutalist structures showcase striking geometric forms — raw, stark, and unapologetically architectural. But once sealed inside humid glass environments inspired by Japanese moss gardening, they begin to erode in meaning. Live mosses and tiny plants slowly colonize the rigid surfaces, climbing through crevices and spilling over sharp lines. What begins as a sculptural object becomes a living system — porous, unpredictable, and alive.

‘Nature doesn’t ask for permission,’ says Fava. ‘It grows. Even on concrete. Even inside cracks.’ With Mondobruto, he captures that unstoppable tension between decay and growth, permanence and entropy. In the project, each terrarium is a quiet rebellion — a reminder that even the most uncompromising structures will one day be softened by time, moss, and life.

each piece explores what happens when nature reclaims architectural space

the sculptures are handcrafted from polystyrene molds and cast in a custom concrete blend

what begins as a sculptural object becomes a living system

‘nature doesn’t ask for permission,’ says Fava

each terrarium is conceived as a quiet rebellion

Fava uses Japanese techniques while moss planting

post-casting refinement brings out the full brutalist character of the structure

here, a modular approach replaces the single-pour technique — the structure is built element by element

project info:

name: Mondobruto | @mondobruto
designer: Alessio Fava

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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom