Koolhaus and Swarovski

At the entrance to Monditalia, the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, is a splendid collaboration between famed Dutch designer, Rem Koolhaus, and famed crystal-design company, Swarovski: Luminare.

Set upon an elaborate wooden framework measuring 6 m high by 20 m long, are thousands of white and colored glass bulbs, dusted with 20 kg of Swarovski Crystal Rock. Koolahus, who was the curator for the 2014 biennale, designed Luminaire as a sort of gateway to the actual exhibit which consists of 41 projects describing Italy’s history and territory.  “Luminere acts as a transformative portal to the world of Monditalia,” said Nadja Swarovski, chairperson of the Swarovski Foundation.

Constructed in Puglia, Luminaire, in many ways, exemplifies the Monditalia exhibit itself. It’s set on an historic site at the Venetian Arsenal, and designed in way that quite literally highlights the traditional archways and columns of Italian architecture. It is one one of three interconnected exhibits at the biennale, the other two include the Elements of Architecture, at the Central Pavillion, and Absorbing Modernity 1914-2014, at the National Pavillion.