Happenings - Zanotta SpA

Happeningsno.2/09 p.7«The Capsule is asanctuary of peaceand calm, a spot forthinking and imagining,thanks to the everchanging naturallandscape… colours,textures, day and night,and the infinite expanseof the cosmos»Ross LovegroveLovegrove's Capsule can hostcouples of excursionists,who will have to book inadvance. Right: the designer.free of interruptions, in theheart of the Dolomites at analtitude of 2,100 m asl, at thetop of the famous Gran Risaski track (the giant of theworld cup). The enterprisehas been commissioned byMoritz Craffonara, managerof the “Moritzino”, one of themost renown refuges in LaVilla, Alto Adige. «Seen likethis it resembles a drop ofmercury - says Lovegrove -And, in practice, it exploitselectromagnetic fields tohang a few centimetres offthe ground.»BIOMORPHIC REFUGEThe high-tech Capsule has an8 m diameter and comprisesa double acrylic layer coveredby a special mirroring membrane,whose external “skin”reflects the surrounding environmentto dematerialise theobject itself. Guests can revelin the view under all weatherwithout being seen. «Anamazing ethereal space.Stretched in this capsule,even listening to classicalmusic that stimulates thesenses, one can delight in afantastic all-round scenicview of the Dolomites. I cannotimagine a better way ofawakening in the morning,»said Lovegrove. The refuge ofthe future has a central roundedbed, a living area and abathroom. It presents basicwhite surfaces. But the absolutenovelty lies in the factthat the Capsule is entirely independentin terms of energy.It possesses an autonomousgenerator fuelled bythe combination of wind andphotovoltaic power (a set ofminiturbines designed tomake the most of high altitudewinds and petal-shaped,retractable, photovoltaic panels).Scheduled for completionin 2010, this exclusive refugewill be exhibited at thenext Venice Biennale, prior toits installation in the Alps (formore information visitwww.altabadia.org and www.rosslovegrove.com).