TORAFU ARCHITECTS designed a exhibition “Giving Warmth to the Building Skin-The World of Gio Ponti, Father of Modern Italian Design” at INAX MUSEUMS in the city of pottery, Tokoname, Aichi prefecture. The exhibition has already started and it will be held until 18th March 2014.

We designed the space for an exhibition “Giving Warmth to the Building Skin-The World of Gio Ponti, Father of Modern Italian Design” at INAX MUSEUMS in the city of pottery, Tokoname, Aichi prefecture, Even though Ponti is a modernist, he explores architectural surfaces, integrating hand craft work into machine production in order to communicate “feeling of skin,” such as its texture and warmth. Four themes: “Interior wall,” “Window” “Floor” and “Exterior wall” were keys to the interpretation of the exhibition. By making excellence use of co-located Monozukuri Koubou laboratory crafting technique, we have attempted to duplicate Ponti’s tile work.

Dividing the space into several areas by loosely placing walls like a pleat and shifting their height up and down, each exhibition room can have continuous changing surroundings. When you notice, inside and outside space has been mixed, it gives a hint to the next themed room, providing visitors “discovery experience.” This spatial arrangement also gives advantage to the small interior to look wider and more spatial.

The shifted walls seem as if they are floating, and it gives the sense of ‘lightness’ aligning with Ponti’s style. Walls have been hollowed out, allowing to see through another space, making spatial divisions even more ambiguous.

We designed the space to introduce multitalented designer Gio Ponti’s art fragmentally, meanwhile where the visitors can also discover the connection with the masterpiece.

Text by Torafu.

CREDITS

Principal Use.- EXHIBITION SITE
Production: detail
Credit:tile production: INAX TILING LABO
Building Site: INAX MUSEUMS (LIXIL Group)
Total floor area: 98.4m2
Design Period.-2013.06-10
Construction Period.- 2013.10.21-2013.11.01
Duration.- 2013.11.02-2014.03.18

 

Read more
Read less

More information

Torafu Architects Inc. Founded in 2004 by Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro, TORAFU ARCHITECTS employs a working approach based on architectural thinking. Works by the duo include a diverse range of products, from architectural design to interior design for shops, exhibition space design, product design, spatial installations and film making. Amongst some of their mains works are 'TEMPLATE IN CLASKA', 'NIKE 1LOVE', 'BOOLEAN', 'HOUSE IN KOHOKU' and 'airvase' . ‘Light Loom (Canon Milano Salone 2011)’ was awarded the Grand Prize of the Elita Design Award. Published in 2011were the 'airvase book' and 'TORAFU ARCHITECTS 2004-2011 Idea + Process' (by BIJUTSU SHUPPAN-SHA CO., LTD.) and in 2012, a picture book titled ‘TORAFU's Small City Planning' (by Heibonsha Limited).

Koichi Suzuno
1973: Born in Kanagawa Prefecture
1996: Graduated from Department of Architecture, Science University of Tokyo
1998: Completed the Master Course of Architecture, Yokohama National University
1998-2001: Worked at Coelacanth K&H
2002-2003: Worked at Kerstin Thompson Architects / Melbourne
2004.2-: Founded TORAFU ARCHITECTS with Shinya Kamuro
2005-2008: Lecturer at Tokyo University of Science
2008-: Lecturer at Showa Women's University
2010-2011: Lecturer at Kyoritsu Women's University
2010-: Lecturer at Musashino Art University
2012-: Lecturer at Tama Art University

Shinya Kamuro
1974: Born in Shimane Prefecture
1997: Graduated from Department of Architecture, School of Science & Technology,Meiji University
1999: Completed the Master Course of Architecture, Meiji University
2000-2003: Worked at Jun Aoki & Associates
2004.2-: Founded TORAFU ARCHITECTS with Koichi Suzuno
2008-: Lecturer at Showa Women's University

Read more
Gio Ponti. Giovanni Ponti, known as Gio Ponti, was born in Milan in 1891, died in 1979. He graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan in 1921. His professional activity began as a partner of Emilio Lancia and Mino Fiocchi. A reference in Italian Interior Design, he founded "Il Labirinto" in 1927, producing furniture and objects that stand out for their quality.
 
From 1923 to 1930, he was the artistic director of Richard Ginori. He was also known for being the founder of Domus Magazine, (which he directed almost until his death), is remembered for his avant-garde contribution to Italian production. He was a great promoter of the Monza Biennial, as well as the Milan Triennial, the Compasso d'Oro prizes and the ADI (Industrial Design Association).

From 1923 to 1930, he was artistic director of the firm Richard Ginori. He founded Domus Magazine in 1928.  He has been a great promoter of the Monza Biennial, after the Milan Triennial, the Compasso d'Oro awards and the ADI (Industrial Design Association).

His most important architectural works include the Montecatini office buildings and the Pirelli skyscraper, designed with Fornaroli, Rosselli and Nervi in 1956.

In the field of Interior Design, in 1957, and as a result of a long and meticulous production, he obtained a great success with the Superleggera/Superligera chair, designed for Cassina.

The architect was a professor at the Polytechnic of Milan from 1936 to 1961. At this university, he is also remembered for the campus projects: "Trifoglio" and "La Nave". 

 
Read more
Published on: December 2, 2013
Cite: "Textures for The World of Gio Ponti, Father of Modern Italian Design, by TORAFU" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/textures-world-gio-ponti-father-modern-italian-design-torafu> ISSN 1139-6415
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...
Loading content ...