Finding Beauty In All The Details / An Olivetti Showroom Case Study
APRIL 23, 2020
The Olivetti showroom was realized because of the alliance between an exceptional patron and a dedicated architect whose meticulous design process relied on cross-disciplinary collaboration. As such, Scarpa negated the distinctions between art, craft, and design and brought about a truly extraordinary space.
—Mariah Nielson, Carlo Scarpa: The Olivetti Showroom
Latest architectural muse I’m appreciating: Carlo Scarpa’s Olivetti Showroom. Amidst all of the goings-on in the world, today I’m slowing down to appreciate the carefully-curated / innately-intentional / highly-sensorial / architectural moments of this masterpiece. The attention to (*every single*) detail in Scarpa’s work truly never ceases to amaze me, and his design for this Venetian showroom is no exception. Commissioned by Adriano Olivetti in 1957, Scarpa was challenged to design a display space for the Italian engineer's Olivetti products (most prominently, typewriters).
While browsing for imagery online, I came across a post on the Maharam blog by Mariah Nielson, who fondly recalls a personal ‘design pilgrimage’ to the showroom. Nielson details the project's process and backstory, thoughtfully describing prominent architectural moments in the space (if you have some time, it's def worth the read!) Among several impressionable details, I loved this excerpt highlighting the staircase in particular:
A cascading marble staircase anchors the low, elongated space. The offset sequence and large scale of each stair are reminiscent of the stone footpaths in ancient Japanese gardens. Scarpa once said that all architects love paths. Growing up in Venice, a city defined by labyrinthian streets built of stone slabs that twist and turn into endless discoveries, no doubt inspired his affection for pathways.
With *so much* careful attention to detail in the space, it's truly hard to settle on just one favorite—but I'll play the game and declare this stair as my final answer. Aside from the obvious aesthetics and the appreciation of Scarpa's intentionality behind this (most tasteful) moment, I'm a sucker for thoughtful functionality—can we all take a minute to appreciate the extended tread details doubling as displays for Olivetti's beautiful machines? If that's not an ultimate #winwin, idk what is.
Below is a collective of other moments in the showroom that also soothed my soul. What's your favorite?
