projects | Viabizzuno progettiamo la luce

fervital is one of israel’s leading stone and marble manufacturers since1956. run by three brothers, it enjoys their deep and shared passion for natural stone, a passion which the architects embraced as they developed the concept for this showroom. the showroom is located in herzliya in a very long and impressive commercial space with a very tall ceiling and an interesting change of levels – street level upon entry and a drop of 1.5 meters at the far end. this dramatic level change and the shape of the space recalled the topography of a quarry. this was preserved and used as a unique feature in the design. to achieve an emphasized perspective and lure the eye down the space, all the showroom’s supporting spaces were located along one side of the space, forming the grounds for a strong architectural backdrop to the display and creating a trapezoid-like contour to the space. this line was completed with an oversized upright catalog of pull-out partitions carrying all the stone and marble slabs fervital has to offer. the shell of the space including walls and floor was conceived in wood, a natural material that can be both rich and neutral,complementing the stone without competing with it. the ceiling and structural columns were kept raw and painted white, keeping them understated. the topography of the showroom was subdivided into three levels with a set of different stairs and ramps allowing for a pleasant movement around the display. the first impression is that of a stone garden filled with a thoughtfully placed collection of elements, all made of different stones and marbles. the further one strolls the impression fades as these elements are revealed as familiar products existing in our homes and displayed here as stand-alone objects. the lighting designers were involved in the project from an early stage and the lighting was embedded in the concept. tracks with econo track fittings where suspended in diagonals that react to the space and the change of levels and kept white as the ceiling. the fittings were positioned and angled to highlight the unique objects and pieces of furniture but also to graze and complement the stone surfaces. the royal suspension fittings, hung once in a line and once in a cluster, added a dramatic focal point, accentuated the height of the space but still created intimate areas with their warm soft light.