projects | Viabizzuno progettiamo la luce

in 2011, for the very first time, yap (the young architects program) was held in rome, thanks to the partnership between maxxi (the national museum of XXI century arts) and new york’s moma. in the united states this contest, at its 12th edition, gives to emerging talented architects the opportunity to develop creative design for temporary outdoor installation at moma ps1. 2011’s jury panel included mario nanni, the only professional being neither part of maxxi nor moma, called to offer his more than ten-year designer’s know how. whatami - the proposal designed by the roman group startt – wins and transforms maxxi’s outdoor space into an archipelago of eight green islands meant for hosting the summer events. these islands are skeletons of pressed hay and soil covered with 700 m2 of natural grass. the large central island is 2 meters tall and fixed to the ground, the 7 smaller islands are placed on wheels and are also made of expanded polystyrene: a material which is both recycled and further on recyclable. the concept of the entire work was based on recycle and in fact, at the end of the season, all the natural materials returned to their places of origin. in this constantly transforming environment an object stands out, as symbol for the entire museum’s yard, highlighting itself against zaha hadid’s monumental and grey set: it is a flower, made of light. maxxi poppy, an outdoor luminaire, is designed and developed by Viabizzuno. it grows from the lawn, colouring space and transforming itself from day to night: a shading umbrella during the day, a light corolla during night. 18 flowers, 5 metres high, made of red fibreglass, that sinuously, powerfully, dreamlike create a new urban horizon: a forest of lights and shadows. the head of these flowers is a multi functional element, not only decorative yet highly technological. the central area of the flowers’ lower part hosts a floodlight, while several upper parts let out direct and spread light. thin cuts in the pistils allow rain and backwater to drain. in sync with all the designing choices - searching for effects both scenery and emotional - instead of choosing led like all other YAP participants, startt preferred a halides light, more keen to a direct upward illumination: since the flower that doesn’t wither, is the one that looks at the sun.