snøhetta: the antipodes of the lithosphere for pibamarmi marmomacc 2012

‘the antipodes of the lithosphere’ by kjetil thorsen for pibamarmi image © designboom 

norwegian architect kjetil thorsen of snøhetta has completed ‘the antipodes of the lithosphere’, an exhibition design for italian stone company pibamarmi. the project was part of marmomacc‘s ‘mutable spirit’ showcase by during milan design week 2012, which challenged companies and designers to present the adaptability of marble.

thorsen’s installation expresses versatility of marble through panels which are composed of an arrangement of stone cylinders stacked to form a wall. due to the nature of a circular object, spaces are left between the pieces, hinting at what is behind the structure. some segments are hollow, allowing light and shadow through the permeable surface. a pattern is emphasized through the contrasting forms and thicknesses of the shapes, giving texture and visual delicacy to a material we associate with weight.

marmomacc is an international fair for operators working in the marble sector. the event showcases machinery to instrumental products, various types of complex stone processing and is a venue in which to highlight the natural stone material and its inherent characteristics and potential applications.

longer hollow cylinders are combined with solid blocks of stone to create a pattern

the space between the circular forms allows light through  image © designboom 

the hollow cylinders are longer than the solid ones, giving a slight texture to the wall  image © designboom

general installation view image © designboom

image © designboom

kjetil thorsen of snøhetta explaining the project