Pontelongo
An architecture on water, between abstraction and sacredness
The Wall lays over water, an inviolable sacred space. The architecture also mirrors an idea of abstraction, without a time dimension.
The weight of hope
The main idea behind the project is that the Wall is at the same time heavy and lightweight. A pray can be considered heavy because it is full of all the expectations that weight over human shoulders. People direct the prays to God and they stay suspended on air like in a metaphysical atmosphere.
A symbol of faith, delicate and immaterial
Even if the Wall is made of a hard material, which symbolizes the faith, it has no foundations and it has holes on its surface. It is floating above the people, a sort of abstract entity between us and God.
A universal temple for peace and unity among people
The whole architecture is intended to be open to all the religions of the world. It has a neutral design where the Christian references are not invasive with some influences from the buddhist and islamic temples. The plan is designed to symbolize a big hug to all the people in the world.
Status: Competition Entry
Location: London, GB
Firm Role: Leading architect
Additional Credits: Landscape: DSB-Lab
Structural engineering: Sce Projects
Cost analysis: GAD