Portuguese architect Camilo Rebelo installed this wooden egg big adequate for numerous men and women to hide inside beneath the vaulted ceilings of the Porto city hall atrium .
Described by Camilo Rebelo as a “trojan egg”, a reference to the mythical wooden horse that the Greek army hid in to enter the city of Troy, the pod is intended as a location for silence and contemplation.
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The architect initial made the structure – named Ovo, the Portuguese word for egg – for a client living in the Swiss Alps. Installed in his basement, it was used to display an artwork by Portuguese sculptor Rui Chafes.
More recently, the structure was recreated in Porto to accompany an exhibition of Chafes’ work – comprising 33 egg-shaped pieces of marble and iron.
The juxtaposition of the two projects was created to support visitors to the exhibition visualise themselves inhabiting a single of the tiny sculptures.
“The purpose of this wooden egg is to produce a void – to unveil a new dimension and through it potentiate mystery,” explained Rebelo, whose past projects incorporate a museum with a carved stone facade.
“Mystery is a condition that is very close to disappearing from our civilisation,” he said. “This worth is, for us, one particular of the main motives of life and the egg is the dimension we pick to express it.”
The egg measured seven metres wide, 4 metres deep and 3 metres higher, and was constructed using CNC-cut timber. Its exterior was then coated with a thin layer of concrete, leaving a completely smooth surface.
Inside, an integrated bench produced seating all about the perimeter, whilst a central ceiling light gave off a turquoise glow.
The exhibition opened in October and the egg remained in spot until the start off of this week.
Photography is by Nelson Garrido.
