piuarch pays tribute to stradivari's lost forest with installation at the university of milan

during this year’s milan design week, piuarch will present la foresta dei violini, an evocative installation that pays tribute to the millions of trees hit by a storm last year in the fiemme valley (trentino alto adige, italy). among these was the paneveggio forest, also known as stradivari’s forest, renowned for the extraordinary features of the spruces that grow there, which have been used by many, including luthier stradivari, to make the best acoustic violin sound cases.

based on a concept by nemo monti, the installation by piuarch will take place at the main courtyard of the university of milan as a reflection of the relation between nature and music. a tribute to the territory, the forests, and their absence, la foresta dei violini is made of rough wood and broken trees that were eradicated by the wind, representing a place of memory, and a witness of the violated nature, where architecture is both support and relief.

the installation includes two large spruce trunks that emerge from the loggia of the main courtyard of the university of milan. their roots are suspended in the void overlooking a balustrade on the courtyard, and supported by an architectural easel made of worked red spruce wood. ‘we want to celebrate the primordial architecture of the forest, respecting its structures and forms of intersection with the planet and its inhabitants,’ notes milanese studio piuarch. ‘this project evokes the ability of nature to communicate with human beings, inviting them to tactfully observe its rules, taking care of it and following the natural order of the earth.’

image by leonhard angerer image by leonhard angerer

project info:

design: piuarch

concept: nemo monti

sponsor: citylife

with the support of: provincia autonoma di trento, magnifica comunità di fiemme patronage università di trento

partner light service: L&L luce&light

partner paint forniture service: ILVA

opening hours: 8–14 april: 10.30 am –12.00 pm, 15-19 april: 10.30 am –10.00 pm