cino zucchi architetti: galleria vedeggio cassarate, switzerland
a fluid sectional sculptural ribbon of wood defines a playful visual space at the entrance of the tunnel to lugano, while serving a succinct functional purpose.
‘galleria vedeggio-cassarate’ by cino zucchi architetti, lugano, switzerlandimage © cino zucchiall images courtesy of cino zucchi architetti
tunnels are historically environmental intrusions, albeit efficient transportation time-savers through otherwise pristine landscapes. italian practice cino zucchi architetti came up with an idea to functionally beautify the tunnel and entrance point to lugano that connects to the milan-zurich highway, at the same time serving as a sculptural screen for the machinery and construction work currently being erected in a larger scale urban revitalization project. the 25-meter long serpentine structure grows subtly out of the ground, flourishing into a curving fluid timber ribbon in plan and elevation.
the greater perceived form is in reality made up of parametrically-designed spruce posts ranging in length, reaching the highest point at ten meters. the connection of the individual sections into the ground are concealed by a bed of white rocks to lend to a purer idea of the concept, rather than cluttering the visual impact with subsidiary details. the optical effect of the sculpture offers a dynamic range of views that vary according to the observer’s position in comparison to the the wall. a playful rhythm of solids blending into voids and vice versa are created on the surface by the many concave and convex faces, further animated by the speed at which the viewer passes by.
sculpted materials define an aestheticimage © cino zucchi
structure transitions out of the groundimage © cino zucchi
individual wooden posts anchored into hidden connections in the groundimage © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
the roadway to the tunnel leading into lugano and the highway to milanimage © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
playful shadows change with the time of day and seasonimage © cino zucchi
gradient transparencies as a result of the viewer’s angle to the sculptureimage © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
construction and vehicles hidden behind the 10-meter tall screenimage © cino zucchi
bird’s eye viewimage © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
image © cino zucchi
site plan
floor plan
3D model
