UMANICO
Exhibit Design
Exhibition and temporary installation
Alvaro siza
A journey into the “thinking hand”
HUMANITY IN DWELLING
The exhibition project was born from the desire to translate the most intimate essence of Álvaro Siza’s architecture into a physical space. I wanted visitors to experience the passion and empathy that guide his hand. At the center of everything lies the human being and the social good, the true core of every vision he creates. I conceived this installation as a vibrant tribute to his sensitivity, shaping a journey where human warmth merges with his architectural language.
THE THINKING HAND
To convey the creative force of drawing, I envisioned the entire architectural structure as a monumental sketchbook. Crossing the threshold of the installation means embarking on a suggestive journey inside a giant ream of blank paper. The large, spaced sheets envelop the viewer in a suspended, poetic atmosphere, allowing them to physically perceive the purity of the creative act. It is a living, breathing environment, designed to welcome ideas even before they take their final form.
The internal path unfolds through a fluid and emotionally engaging experiential sequence, structured into three key moments. Initially, the viewer’s gaze is drawn into the architect’s intimate portraits, then flows into vibrant sketches where human figures begin to interact with constructed spaces. Finally, the narrative culminates in the three-dimensional display of architectural models and video projections. Each panel and each perspective has been carefully calibrated to reveal the beating heart of architecture.
POETRY AND MATTER
From a technical standpoint, the choice of white enamelled aluminium for the frame and ultra-light Tyvek panels allowed the installation to achieve an ethereal elegance. Linear LED lighting, positioned along the upper edges of the sheets, gently caresses the surfaces, enhancing the purity of the entire composition. It is a place where architecture ceases to be matter and returns to speaking about us.
