Ortygia, Syracuse, Sicilia

Santuario Della Madonna Delle Lacrime, Syracusa, Sicilia.

Syracuse’s most recent architectural landmark, Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Tears was designed based on the shape of a tear. Officially opened in 1994 it reaches the grand height of 102m. I can’t say I was enamoured with the external structure but the internal experience is extremely profound.

On 29 August 1953, a small plaster image of the Virgin Mary in the house of Angelo Iannuso and Antonina Giusto suddenly began to shed tears. The following days, on 30 and 31 August and on 1 September, tears were seen again on the Virgin’s face. The cavernous space was designed to house the image which reportedly bestowed 300+ miraculous cures over a few months after the tears. Sitting in the space listening to the nuns pray in harmony as the sounds echo up in to the heavens you can forgive the architects Michel Andrault and Pierre Parat for it’s external facade.

As construction begun on the church, an extensive network of houses and streets from the Roman and Greek periods were discovered. Elements of these and another sanctuary to the goddess Demeter and Kore (5th-4th century BC) remain in the crypt.

Tonnara di Vendicari o di Bajuto (Tuna Factory), Sicilia, Italia.

Well… what does an architectural photographer get up to when he’s not trying to find an unusual angle on the latest contemporary designs? He slings his kit over his shoulder (or his assistant’s) and heads off to find dilapidated industrial architecture with a dramatic backdrop. Sicily provided the perfect location for this purpose. Hidden away on the far South East coast between Marzamemi and Syracuse lies Vendicari Nature Reserve. It’s about as remote as you can get in Europe these days and well worth the effort.

The ruins of a tuna factory from 1862 lie crumbling next to the azure blue Ionian Sea. The reserve has been established due to the range of rare birds that frequent the local lakes and marsh land. The factory closed during WWII and now functions as a museum where you can easily lose yourself and drift back to the days when immense battles between man and fish left the waters awash with blood. The traditional ‘Matanza’ (catching and killing of Tuna) which occurred in various locations all over Sicily has now been reduced to the island of Favignana, due to depleted fish stocks. This site stands as a testimony to the immense scale in which this activity took place.

Kengo Kuma’s Oribe Tea Pavilion, Syracuse, Sicily.

I stumbled upon this sensitive piece of Japanese design whilst sheltering from the rain in Syracuse, Sicily. Nested in a courtyard at the centre of Ortygia it contrasts dramatically with the baroque surroundings. Originally created by Kengo Kuma in the Mino ceramics Park in Tajimi, Japan in honour of the ceramics artist and master of the tea ceremony, Furuta Oribe (1544-1615).

“The Oribe tea pavilion is one of the most poetic and significant works of Kengo Kuma and demonstrates his special approach to architecture. The pavilion emphasizes the aesthetic yet functional properties of polycarbonate in a special way and shows that multi wall sheets can be used in a radically new manner. Here they have been used by Kengo Kuma to create a space for contemplation in harmony with Zen aesthetics. The intention of this famous architect was to establish a relationship between material and light, creating a feeling of intimacy and seclusion in contrast to the transparency of the shell”.

The Oribe tea pavilion is one of the most poetic and significant works of Kengo Kuma and demonstrates his special approach to architecture.

The pavilion emphasizes the aesthetic yet functional properties of polycarbonate in a special way and shows that multi wall sheets can be used in a radically new manner. Here they have been used by Kengo Kuma to create a space for contemplation in harmony with Zen aesthetics. The intention of this famous architect was to establish a relationship between material and light, creating a feeling of intimacy and seclusion in contrast to the transparency of the shell

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, Summer 2009, by Kazuyo Sejima & Ryue Nishizawa of SANAA

The Serpentine Gallery delivers another fascinating structure for the British public to contemplate whilst strolling through Hyde Park, London.  After lasts year substantial installation by Frank Gehry, this years pavilion has a much more transient atmosphere. Blending the boundaries between sculptural art form and a functional sun (if your lucky) / rain  shelter it certainly invokes a response from onlookers. I couldn’t help but feel that the most exciting interaction with the organic shaped aluminum surface was surely on the top. Unfortunately this was a privilege reserved exclusively for the cleaners!

The architects say:

‘The Pavilion is floating aluminium, drifting freely between the trees like smoke. The reflective canopy undulates across the site, expanding the park and sky. Its appearance changes according to the weather, allowing it to melt into the surroundings. It works as a field of activity with no walls, allowing uninterrupted view across the park and encouraging access from all sides. It is a sheltered extension of the park where people can read, relax and enjoy lovely summer days.’

Contemporary Cinema Design.

This is the latest completed project from the Norwegian design firm Fuggi Baggi. Using experimental lighting and structural techniques they have produced a stunning space that can be adapted for multiple purposes. At Bergen Kino the ceiling consists of drilled aluminum plating pre pressed in to a series of wave like structures. Independently controllable RGB lights have then been fitted, being RGB any desired colour can be created and even low resolution graphics can be displayed using the lights. The cinema resides in an old theatre which used to be double the height of the existing space.

I found the whole experience of photographing the space surprisingly relaxing. With long exposures of up to 5 minutes I really had time to appreciate the subtle nuances of colour and spatial design in the auditorium. Whilst tempted to enjoy a film in the space I decided ‘Bob The Builder’ was probably not the most productive use of my time! The rest of the Bergen Kino complex is due to be renovated over the next 3-4 years.

Clash Architects, Sleeperz Hotel, Cardiff

All photography by Daniel Clements, published in Building Design, June 09

Towner Gallery by Rick Mather, Architects’ Journal feature.

Having seen the team at the Towner Gallery work extremely hard organising the space it’s great to see the images finally getting out in to the world. This is my latest feature in the April issue of The Architects’ Journal. The space designed by Rick Mather Architects has managed to achieve that elusive quality of both delivering a functional practicality whilst invigorating and inspiring, and that’s before the art work was on the walls. I have subsequently returned with a new commission from the gallery director Matthew Rowe. These images will be released shortly once the gallery has had a chance to select it’s favourites. It’s amazing what artwork and sunshine does to transform a space.

All images by Daniel Clements Photography except images on page 2 by James Brittain/View & Richard Chivers.

Italo Rota, Toy Building 1, Milan, Italy.

Whilst shooting an urban regeneration project at Varsine in Milan for Ove Arup I stumbled across this fascinating Futurist sculpture late one evening. It is Designed by Italo Rota and entitled Toy Building to commemorate the centennial of the Founding Manifesto of Futurism. Unveiled at 6.30pm on February 3rd 09 in the Piazza Duomo, it stands alongside Milan’s most recognisable architectural structure the Duomo Cathedral.

The instillation is complimented with a sound scape by DJ Spooky an American artist, that resonates from speakers hidden within the angular form. The sounds initially draw you in but soon become overwhelming with a range of voices and abstract noises layed on top of each other resulting in a disorientation and confusion.

Part of the Made Expo, it will remain in the Piazza until June 09.

Blueprint Feature on the Towner Gallery by Rick Mather Architects