The concept

The container’s exhibition space immediately revealed itself as an opportunity to experiment with the theme of intimate space, with an introspective and conceptual vision of the personal sphere. The connection to the maritime museum, the city of Genoa, and the very nature of the container made us reflect on the ambivalence of the word “abitacolo” (cabin).

“Che cos’è un ABITACOLO? Negli aerei monoposto è il posto del pilota, contenete comandi e strumenti, spazio che nei grandi aerei diventa la cabina di pilotaggio. Nelle automobili di ogni tipo è lo spazio che accoglie le persone. Nelle astronavi è lo spazio che accoglie gli astronauti con tutto il necessario per vivere e controllare la navigazione. Abitacolo è lo spazio abitabile in misura essenziale.
In modo figurativo è anche l’intimo recesso individuale, è il luogo interno dove è situato tutto ciò che forma il proprio mondo.”
Bruno Munari

“What is a Abitacolo (in Italian)? In single-seater airplanes, it’s the pilot’s seat, containing controls and instruments, a space that in large aircraft becomes the cabin. In automobiles of all kinds, it’s the space that welcomes people. In spaceships, it’s the space that accommodates astronauts with everything they need to live and control navigation. It is the essential habitable space.
Figuratively speaking, it’s also the individual’s intimate recess, the internal place where everything that makes up one’s world is located.“
Bruno Munari

This powerful combination gives the idea to this installation, which simultaneously evokes an intimate space and a command cabin, a tale of journey and movement, even an interior one.

the space and the matter

The materials, colors, and spatial choices aim to create an immersive and evocative space.
A quartzite partition separates the public space—open, clearly visible, with soft colors and welcoming textures—from the heart of the cabin —protected, accessible only from within.

In this second space, the color palette is more intense, the lighting focused, and the space designed for a single person. The seating and totem are designed to be enjoyed individually, reinterpreting the concept and immersing oneself in the hypothetical command post of a ship.

The marble used for the elements that convey the view is a quartzite from Tanzania, and its texture recalls sea foam; the wall panels have sound-absorbing properties and are a clear reference to naval aesthetics; the wallpaper on the ceiling reflects the existing colors and, with its waves, guides the gaze throughout the spaces.

Credits

CONTAINER-02 was organized and promoted by DiDe – Distretto del Design, based on an idea by Massimiliano Dalle Sasse; the installation CONTAINER 02 was curated by Simona Finessi and Platform Architecture. Container photos by Davide Arena; press and area photos by Platform Architecture.

Thanks to the studio Chantal Forzatti for their invaluable collaboration, and the sponsors who accompanied us on this adventure: gruppo Bonomi & Pattini (supply of acoustic panels); D&D Abitare (supply and installation of flooring, installation of wall panels); Lounge60 (technical support); Marble Sound Design (supply of furniture and marble slabs); Pacifici M & figli srl (building interventions and installations); Paint Up (paint and wallpaper supply); Staron (solid surface furniture supply).