GRRIZ shapes reversible timber structure along the arc of the setting sun in italian mountains

"The timber structure provides a reversible platform for cultural events and reinforces the clearing's established role as a place for shared experience. Designed by studio GRRIZ, the main canopy inclines at exactly 30 degrees to trace the arc of a descending half sun. This civic gesture transforms a historic outdoor gathering space into a lightweight cultural infrastructure, assembled entirely without permanent fixings and removable without a trace."

"The plan follows proportional rules derived from the Golden Section and the logarithmic spiral associated with the nautilus fossil, a form found in the Bologna Apennines. These geometric principles generate a layout that reads as organic yet rigorously controlled. Curved lines organize circulation and enclosure, while precise structural alignments ensure clarity in construction."

"Reversibility guides GRRIZ studio's every technical decision. Designers can dismantle and remove all components without leaving permanent traces on the site. The designers used spruce glulam for the primary frame, while larch forms the decking and cladding, selected for durability and warmth. A secondary layer of chestnut and larch fins crowns the canopy, operating as a brise soleil that filters light rather than blocking it."

Palcosole is an open-air stage designed by studio GRRIZ in the Apennine hills south of Bologna for community performances. The timber structure features a main canopy inclined at 30 degrees to trace the descending sun's arc. The design incorporates geometric principles from the Golden Section and nautilus spiral forms found locally. The structure rests on an existing porphyry stone semicircle without ground alteration. Spruce glulam forms the primary frame, while larch provides decking and cladding. A secondary layer of chestnut and larch fins acts as a brise soleil, filtering light and creating dynamic shadows throughout the day. All components assemble through dry connections without adhesives, enabling complete disassembly and removal without permanent environmental traces. Timber sourced from certified regional suppliers reinforces local integration.

Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine