Part of the Venice Architecture Biennale, Shiftspace has designed a twisted arch clad in cascading porcelain tiles. ‘OSTREA’ draws inspiration from the oyster-lined walls of the Venetian canals and their filtration capabilities. Over 300 hand-glazed tiles wrap the delicate wood and aluminum latticework to create a physical and metaphorical filter. As a habitable public sculpture, the portal juxtaposes hard angles with soft forms and a mosaic of filtered light.

Conceptually, OSTREA considers how architectural devices might counteract the hostile realities of today, like climate change, to create high-performing and tranquil spaces. The experimental installation imagines dimensional tiles used in a concave orientation to collect and ultimately filter rainwater, while inverted tiles serve as protective skin like armored scales. The tile units are attached using a flexible tubing system and layered in an overlapping gradient that peels away to reveal the underlying structure. The petal-like composition — in hues of the Venetian lagoon — provides a dynamic canopy from within. 

OSTREA is located in the public Marinaressa Gardens, accompanying works by Norman Foster & Holcim, Snøhetta, University of Stuttgart, and Takaaki Fuji as a part of this year’s edition of the Time Space Existence exhibition, curated by the European Cultural Center. The installation is on display from May 20th to November 26th, 2023.