zaha hadid: the secret garden

‘the secret garden’ by zaha hadid, milan, italy image © designboom

british architect zaha hadid has collaborated with italian marble company citco to present ‘the secret garden’ during milan design week 2012. the pavilion brings together three vertical surfaces. the walls are constructed out of a jigsaw of irregularly-shaped, multi-faceted marble chips which adopt a repeated pattern to acquire a three-dimensional form. the rhythm of cracks, folds and recesses define areas of individuality. the deconstructed architecture generates a dialogue of geometries with nature that evolves the creative language and exploits the digital design process and production techniques of marble.

overarching roof image © designboom

(left) inscription inlay (right) profile view

‘the composition of the marble panels derives from the complex beauty found in the organizational patterns of the natural world. these fascinating patterns appear when energy combines with geology, developing a geometrical series of repeated cycles of growth and erosion which are layered in the immaculate marble of citco.

each piece is a structured composition which begs to be explored, revealing a complexity of form, repetitions and lines which celebrate the detailed process and the fluidity of natural systems: it is a convincing manifesto of the peerless logic and harmony of nature; a journey of discovery into the forces which created them. the demanding organization, the structural integrity and the precision of these natural systems inspire a rich architectural language with an innate capacity for complex programming.’ – zaha hadid

full view of installation image © designboom side view of pavilion image © designboom

interior view image © designboom

installation beyond the trees

extruding marble design

detail image © designboom

undulating facade

detail

night view of ‘the garden secret’

illuminated exterior

up close view of the textured faceted marble wall

night shot during the opening of the exhibition image © designboom

the second installation held within the ‘the secret garden’ is a collaboration between italian manufacturer barovier&toso and italian designer paola navone. see designboom’s coverage of navone’s ‘secret garden‘ which expresses the possibilities and production techniques of the glass.