A Czech Architect Designed Pavilion As An Homage To Greek Philosopher

The enchanting northern Italian dolomite valley of Val Gardena is the site of the 6th annual Gherdeina Biennale, a party language, themes composing the mountains’ Architect Jiri Prihoda was invited to engage with the plan of a pavilion of poetry. Together with its architectural and sculptural qualities, the pavilion acts as a site for poetry and performative readings. Val Gardena is known for its famous skilled carpenters who, since the 16th century provided the whole of Catholic Europe with religious wooden carved figurative sculptures. The valley winds across the Sasso lunge mountain, which draws attention to its dominating ridge-line at any given minute one sees it on the horizon.

It’s assembled using locally sourced wood and was constructed by its regional carpenters with expressed structural qualities. At night, the only light source is that the glowing corralit stone that makes up a section of the barrel roof. Prihoda initially employed this artificial stone in the 2013 firefly dwelling. The longitudinal axis of the barrel is directly aligned with the Sasso lunge mountain, offering visitors a framed view of its Royal picture while moving through the distance of the object.

That the pavilion is situated in an archeological dig site at the summit of Col de Flam. Here, local artist Gregor Prugger narrated the story of himself as a young boy digging in this particular spot for shards of ceramics from that period. Poet Alessandro Francesco held a reading during the opening days of this Biennale. Diogene’s barrel is surrounded by a mountain route that winds upwards toward st. jacob’s church built in the 13th century. Following the closing of this Biennale that the pavilion will remain as a permanent artwork, open to public use by both Val Gardena visitors and residents.