studio lievito wraps chairs in isothermal blankets for this art installation in apulia

studio lievito ennobles chairs by wrapping isothermal blankets around them making them become a symbol of hospitality of the apulian land. to them, these chairs represent the denied domesticity in this era of uncertainty in which many are migrants. in this art installation ‘presidio’, they wanted to offer a symbolic ‘refuge’ to the emergency situation that dramatically characterizes our present.

images courtesy of studio lievito

the project by studio lievito took place at the cultural association masseria cultura which is based in noci in the ancient cassano cellar, dating back to the end of the 19th century, in the heart of the protected natural area of the murgia dei trulli. the masseria cultura project was born from a group of young italian artists and is proposed to the public as a new multifunctional cultural center in southern italy.

the reflective material with which the isothermal blankets are made, is used as a coating for a group of seats gathered around a wheel of an ancient millstone, and for some architectural elements of the masseria (a set of rural buildings used for housing, animal shelters and support for the owners of typical italian farms). the choice of this particular material, in itself linked to emergency situations, is used here for the aesthetic properties of its reflective surface, creating at the same time a strong contrast with the authentic materiality of the stone that characterizes the outdoor spaces of the masseria, and entering into dialogue with space and wind.

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: yasmina karam | designboom