Built in Florence in 1999, the Internet Fiesta pavilion was one of Studio Lauria’s earliest projects. At a time when the Internet was still largely unfamiliar to the wider public, the European Union initiative aimed to communicate the social, cultural and educational uses of the web. The design translated this intangible theme into a recognisable physical space that could attract visitors and guide them through the possibilities offered by new media.
Covering approximately 540 square metres, the pavilion consisted of a steel lattice structure clad in perforated, backlit aluminium sheets. The permeability of the envelope transformed light into a design material: during the day it defined an abstract, contemporary volume, while in the evening it made the architecture luminous and vibrant.
Set within a monumental square in central Florence, the pavilion established a deliberately contrasting dialogue with its historic context. The lightness of the envelope and the temporary nature of the intervention expressed a view of architecture as a tool for communication, anticipating themes that would become central to the practice’s work. The project was subsequently presented at the 2000 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Aware of the challenges of globalisation, we draw on Italian creativity to develop projects that respect and enhance local identities and cultures.
