vessel installation built from wood and fabric rests on rocky norwegian landscape

Erazo Pugliese crafts Vessel Installation for Færderbiennalen

Erazo Pugliese designed and constructed Vessel, an architectural installation as part of the Færderbiennalen, a festival centered on dance and architecture. This site-specific temporary structure is located at Slottsfjellet, a historically significant and protected archaeological area in Tønsberg, Norway, which also houses the city’s Historical Heritage Museum.

The project, chosen through an international open call, is one of two selected for construction during the festival. The installation references the region’s historical connection to vessels, traditionally used for exploration and the exchange of knowledge and technology across generations and cultures. Built from wood and agricultural fabric, Vessel takes an asymmetrical form, resting on the rocky landscape of the hill. It invites visitors to engage with the surrounding natural environment and the horizon from a ground-level perspective.

all images by Bruno Giliberto

site-specific Vessel Merges Architecture, History, and Nature

The design incorporates fabrics attached to a timber frame, creating an interactive experience as the structure responds to wind patterns, highlighting the sensory relationship between human-made structures and nature. The framed views generated by the installation emphasize the connection between the landscape and the cultural artifacts within the space.

The Erazo Pugliese design team carefully addresses the archaeological sensitivity of the installation’s site. Since Slottsfjellet is a protected site with potential Viking remnants underground, the structure was designed without foundations to avoid disturbing the soil. Instead, it adapts to the existing topography through a flexible construction and assembly system, reinforcing its temporary nature. Through a series of repetitive frames and fabric ‘sails,’ Vessel evokes the imagery of movement and travel. Although temporary, the installation aims to create a lasting sensory impact, encouraging visitors to engage deeply with the environment and reflect on the interaction between history, nature, and design.

Vessel by Erazo Pugliese blends architecture with the natural landscape

the installation is located at Slottsfjellet, a protected archaeological site in Tønsberg, Norway

the design references the region’s historical vessels, used for exploration and cultural exchange

constructed from wood and agricultural fabric, Vessel takes an asymmetrical form on the rocky hillside

the structure’s fabric ‘sails’ interact with the wind, creating a sensory experience

framed views emphasize the relationship between the man-made structure and the landscape

due to the archaeological sensitivity of the site, the design avoids ground disturbance | structure joinery

built without foundations, Vessel adapts to the topography through a flexible assembly system | tensed fabrics

the temporary installation reinforces the dialogue between cultural heritage and modern design | fabric attachment

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installing the fabrics

tensioning the fabrics

project info:

name: Vessel Installation
architects: Erazo Pugliese – Sebastian Erazo and Stefano Pugliese | @sebastianerazof

location: Slottsfjellet, Tønsberg Sentrum, Norway

photography: Bruno Giliberto | @brunogiliberto

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: christina vergopoulou | designboom