Passage of Wood

Milan, Italy

Photo © Mikael Olsson

Architects: In Praise of Shadows Arkitektur

Location: Salone del Mobile, Milan, Italy
Year: 2014

The Passage of Wood is a statement representing what ‘fundamentals’ mean in the context of our architecture practice. It is a structure designed to offer an experience and illustrate some of the fundamental elements of architecture, such as light, shadow, materiality, gravity, space and time. It also aims to create a sense of place and provide a platform for encounters. It is an investigation to gain transferable knowledge that can be used in future built work.

The installation was the result of a close dialogue between our project partners, Wallpaper*, Dinesen and Zimmerei Beer of Werkraum Bregenzerwald, and as in any project, the design evolved in relation to prerequisites set by material, construction, logistics and transportation.

The Passage is constructed using wooden planks of very generous dimensions. All parts are cut from solid pieces of wood. The frames are glued but all other joints are wooden, and the Passage can be assembled as a wooden 3D puzzle.

The project is designed to create a spatial and physical experience that changes as one moves along the space. The solid appearance of the Passage when encountering it transforms as one moves through it, as the frames are narrower towards the centre, gradually increasing the transparency. In the middle the ceiling is at its lowest, which also creates an enhanced perspective.

Passage of Wood by In Praise of Shadows Arkitektur, Dinesen and Zimmerei Beer of Werkraum Bregenzerwald was created for Wallpaper* Handmade and presented in Milan during Salone del Mobile 2014.