Alexander Petrounine.

Our intervention presents itself as a mysterious ancient structure: a silent and timeless architecture, suspended between a primitive dwelling and an ancient mausoleum. The object focuses on the necessity to establish such a place of ritual, – in this way recalling the mythical foundation of a settlement, obtained through the division of a sacral, meaningful, territory.

Inspired by the straw bales found around the French countryside, we came up with the idea to reinvent a temporary usage for this raw material that the fields produce. The object is dictated by the contradiction of the relationship of the historical dense city and this agricultural material, used as a means of construction. This contradiction is further explored through the sensorial stimulation of the material; through the straw’s acoustic qualities, the smell, and its texture we want to reveal the existing characteristics of the historical courtyards; enhancing a dialogue with the visitor, stimulating their senses and bringing them back to their roots.

The straw spilling out from the interior is inviting visitors inside. The object is punctuated by a single narrow vertical opening, covered by an indigo blue curtain. Just left of the entrance, a bench expresses a place for pause; to slow the visitor down before entering the object. Once inside, he mysterious object, it suddenly becomes a sounding instrument, muting out all the sounds from the city, and purely letting one focus on their inner thoughts. The timeless and familiar slow-fading sound of the gong introduces visitors to the ritual of silence. The ritual can be enjoyed alone, with a friend, or with total strangers. One becomes an actor and spectator at the same time within this theatre of ritual and memory.