▲ Exterior view of the Exhibition Pavilion
This exhibition pavilion is reminiscent of a solitary figure, echoing the last words spoken by others. It serves as a direct reflection of its surrounding historical environment.
The pavilion reflects the rich history of its surroundings.
The architecture balances contrasts: it is both restrained and expansive, tangible yet intangible, solid but lightweight. This deceptive structure resonates with the scale and proportions of the nearby Baroque palaces. It acts as a magical open box—perhaps a modern-day Pandora’s box—mirroring the courtyard’s square layout (1:1 ratio) and establishing two distinct levels: a compact central room (5-meter plan) with four entrances at the lower level, and an inverted pyramid above (10-meter plan). The pyramid slopes symmetrically in all directions at a 1:2 ratio (based on BIM design), extending towards the courtyard’s perimeter.
The exhibition pavilion resembles a mystical Pandora’s box.
▲ Top view (BIM model) of the inverted “pyramid” with tilted mirrored surface
Constructed from polished stainless steel, the pavilion’s vertical and inclined surfaces function as mirrors, reflecting the stone pavement, colonnades, and corridors around it. Its extreme simplicity renders the pavilion almost intangible, like a fleeting mirage that captures the precise beauty of this 370-year-old palace on its smooth surface.
The mirrored surfaces beautifully reflect the 370-year-old palace.
Visitors encounter this unprecedented monument on the ground floor. Looking upward, they see their own reflections on the impressive sloping ceiling. As they enter the central room, a vast steel grating frame surrounds them, and the weight of the historic building seems to dissolve into the ever-changing sky above.
▲ The tilted ceiling reflects visitors’ portraits
▲ Steel grating structure on the lower floor
Illustrations
Design Drawings:
▲ Plan View
▲ Elevation View
▲ Light Reflection Analysis
▲ Perspective View
Project Information:
Architect: Pezo Von Ellrichshausen
Location: Corso Magenta, 24, 20121 Milan MI, Italy
Lead Architects: Mauricio Pezo, Sofia von Ellrichshausen
Year: 2019
Collaborators: Diego Perez, Francesca Malventi, Isabella Hubsch
Client: Mosca Partners
Construction: De Castelli
Consultants: Flos, Salvatori
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