Temporary Installation at a Mountain River / atelier VRAC

Architects:atelier VRAC

Area:154m²

Year:2023

Photographs:Cristian Bădescu,Zenaida Florea

Category:Cultural Architecture,Temporary Installations

Design Team:atelier VRAC

City:Sebeșu de Sus

Country:Romania

Text description provided by the architects. The installation emerged from the desire to activate the Moașa Sebeșului River, a tributary of the Sebeș River, which springs from the Făgăraș Mountains. The river stands as a central element of Făgăraș Fest, a festival organized by the Conservation Carpathia Association, both to raise awareness of the need to designate the area under national park protection and to highlight the potential of the local community.

At a time when mountain streams are increasingly subjected to aggressive interventions, through the appearance of micro-hydropower plants, invasive constructions, or uncontrolled waste dumping, the preservation of an unaltered landscape becomes an aspiration in itself.

In contrast to the ever-shifting dynamics of the water and its banks, the installation takes the shape of a precise geometric figure: a circle. This circle generates a perimeter, an outdoor "room" that dislocates you from the river's linear landscape and draws you into a universe with its own gravitational center, detached from the surroundings. The boundary is formed by slender vertical elements topped with solar light globes, enclosed by a delicate textile surface suspended above the river. The installation has a diaphanous presence which, though fixed and geometric, gently finds its place between the banks, allowing the water to flow freely beneath and leaving the site untouched.

Children cross the threshold effortlessly, slipping beneath the fabric, while adults must bend slightly, discovering the "room" with a touch of surprise. Inside, an isolated pontoon is set at an angle, off-center, reachable only through the water. Here, for a brief moment, the river becomes contained, almost static, and the pontoon offers itself as a pause, an interlude. The fabric also functions as a canopy, subtly brushing against the vegetation on both banks, drawing it into the installation's perimeter.

Adjacent to this "room" is a narrow crossing over the river, connecting the installation to the festival's camping area. Stepping stones are placed at stride-length intervals, encouraging a deliberate, mindful passage. At night, both the crossing and the installation glow softly, guided by the solar globes, offering only the minimum light needed.

Intriguing in its presence, the installation evokes serenity while inviting encounter, play, and exploration. It becomes a playful focal point of the festival, equally for children and adults, a moment of encounter and play unfolding at different speeds and intensities: leaping from the pontoon, pausing in retreat, or stumbling by accident into the water.

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