125 YEARS OF ITALIAN MAGNIFICENCE
Bvlgari‘s retrospective, at the Grand Palais of the Universal Exhibition in Paris, required an exhibition design that matched the host venue and the history represented by the luxurious made-in-Italy brand.
“The exhibition brought together nearly 600 precious masterpieces, including jewelry, watches and decorative objects, created from the opening of the first Bulgari store on Rome’s Via Sistina in 1884 to the present day. This fascinating retrospective was intended to illustrate the origin and continuing success of a distinctive style of jewelry and celebrated the extraordinary inventiveness and high level of craftsmanship that characterizes all Bulgari creations.”
PROJECT DETAILS
Client: Bvlgari
Partner: Work done in collaboration with the companies CMWood and Green Allestimenti of Rome
Materials: Mdf (Medium-density Fibreboard)
Execution: CAM programming and CNC machining
Dimensions: 20 x 20 x 8 m(l x w x h)
Year: 2011
The setup concept
Imagine a diamond exploding, or rather opening up, breaking down into a circle, the facets that make up the gem: this is the idea behind the mega scenic structure, designed to make the most of Bvlgari‘s precious jewels. Each facet reflects light as a real diamond would, the paneling made of mdf, clad in black dibond, mirror the elegant early 20th-century architecture of the Grand Palais in a play of reflections that enriches the elegance and sophistication of thesetting. Why break down a diamond? To allow visitors to step inside inside the gem, to immerse themselves in the brilliant world of high jewelry that Bulgari has represented for nearly 140 years. In fact, the diamond is the starting point and focal point of an itinerary that unravels all around, with various rooms dedicated to the crucial moneti of the brand’s prestigious history.
The project of the diamond-shaped booth: Design and Implementation
The design of the diamond-shaped booth was a work of engineering and design with attention to detail, consisting of four distinct layers, each with a specific function. The goal was to create an imposing, aesthetically refined and technically efficient structure that would convey the sense of elegance and luxury that has always distinguished the brand Bvlgari around the world. Here is how it was accomplished:
1. Supporting Structure
The base of the entire booth was formed by a load-bearing structure made of metal carpentry, made of steel and painted black. This metal skeleton provided the stability and strength needed to support the layers above, while maintaining a sleek and modern aesthetic.
2. 19 mm MDF boarding
Above the supporting structure was placed a 19-mm-thick MDF boarding, specially designed to integrate snap fastening systems. This layer was machined with strategic cuts to reduce the overall weight without compromising solidity. Its main function was to provide a versatile base for later levels, facilitating the assembly of the entire work.
3. 10 mm MDF layer
A second layer of 10-mm-thick MDF was applied on top of the 19-mm boarding. This layer was designed to act as a backing for the final coating, ensuring a perfectly even surface ready for the finishing stage.
4. Black DBond Mirror Coating
The outer layer, which gave the diamond its distinctive appearance, was made of DBond black mirror, a visually striking composite material. DBond and the underlying 10 mm MDF were first precisely cut and then glued together to form the different facets that simulated the brilliant effect of a diamond.
Final result and set-up
The entire system was designed and built to combine aesthetics and functionality. The combination of carefully selected materials, precise cuts, and innovative technical solutions made it possible to create a unique work, capable of capturing attention and conveying a sense of elegance and perfection. The booth, with its shiny surfaces and dynamic structure, represented a perfect synthesis of design and engineering.
The diamond was set up in the center of the exhibition space, right under the glass vault of the Grand Palais, designed as an environment dedicated to high jewelry creations.
