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exposed materials animate textured decorative patterns within rural house in italy

Bongiana Architetture extends modest rural house in Veneto

 

Set amidst a small valley of vineyards in Veneto, Italy, Texturised House by Bongiana Architetture is a carefully measured extension of a modest rural building. A contemporary retreat designed to host family celebrations and intimate gatherings, where architecture shapes atmosphere through light and raw materiality. The project is grounded in the principle of raw purity: rough surfaces, exposed materials, and details reduced to their essence. Each wall and floor is the result of a specific interpretation, turning every surface into a visual and tactile narrative.

 

The structure reveals its own body with pride, in a play of textures that multiplies spatial perception. At the heart of the project lies the double-height barn, conceived as a large luminous cavity. The intent is to bring in as much natural light as possible, which filters through carefully placed openings and reflects on the textured surfaces, animating the space with shifting shadows. Within this volume rises the light structure of a suspended bookshelf, creating a new intermediate, airy, and intimate space that dialogues with the openness below.

all images by Riccardo De Vecchi

 

 

decorative material motifs set Texturised House’s visual rhythm

 

The theme of fire weaves through the house, connecting memory and the contemporary. In the old part, the original fireplace remains, while in the barn, a cast-iron stove becomes the new focal point. Around it, the walls are clad with Split terracotta tiles, designed by Bongiana Architetture for Terraformae, where the interpretation of the joint becomes the sole decorative motif, a minimal gesture that creates a vibrant backdrop of rhythm and materiality. The new concrete floor further tells this story of reinterpreted tradition through a surface that recalls the Venetian terrazzo, but instead of marble fragments, it incorporates reclaimed terracotta slats, cut from the hollow bricks used to clad the portico’s pillars. A gesture that ties the ground to the structure, weaving memory and material in a contemporary key.

 

The furnishings add another layer of memory. Carefully selected reclaimed pieces, such as a 1950s kitchen, are salvaged from an old house and transformed to begin a new life here. Old and new intertwine naturally, giving shape to a coherent and lived-in narrative. In Texturised House, Bongiana Architetture Studio reaffirms its poetics, an architecture of subtraction that gives strength to emptiness and depth to matter, crafting a place that is both a collective stage and a private retreat, a space where every surface speaks, and every detail tells a story.

Texturised House blends old structures with new volumes

architecture defined by raw textures and minimal detailing

textured surfaces become visual and tactile narratives throughout the house

the structure emphasizes rough exposed materiality

a double-height barn forms the luminous core of the project

carefully placed openings bring natural light into the central space

reclaimed furnishings, including a 1950s kitchen, add historical depth

old and new elements merge into a cohesive spatial narrative

shadows and textures animate the interiors with changing light

an original fireplace remains in the old section of the house

the concrete floor recalls Venetian terrazzo with reclaimed terracotta slats

 

project info:

 

name: Texturised House – Casa Baone

architects: Bongiana Architetture | @bongianaarchitetture
lead designer: Pietro Bongiana, Silvia Codato
location: Veneto, Italy

photographer: Riccardo De Vecchi | @riccardodevecchi.photo

 

 

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom

The post exposed materials animate textured decorative patterns within rural house in italy appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

from tiny homes to concrete pavilions, which designboom competition will you join this year?

upload your competition and reach the right audience

 

Since its launch in 2014, designboom’s competition platform has served as a launchpad for creatives across disciplines, offering designers, architects, and artists the chance to share their open calls with a worldwide audience of over 3,5 million monthly readers.

 

All it takes is to fill in the self-submission form with key details such as jury members, awards, prizes, jury members, awards, prizes, a link to the official call-for-entry pages. Include a curated selection of images and our editorial team will take it from there. Once published, our duty is to help the competition gain premium visibility through a dedicated billboard banner on our competition homepage, reaching an international network of readers.

 

From microhome and pavilion challenges to eco-conscious furniture, digital fabrication, and illustration contests, designboom supports a wide spectrum of ideas. By connecting competitions with a vibrant creative community, we extend their reach while encouraging our readers to engage, submit, and turn bold concepts into award-winning realities.

 

eight more designboom competitions currently running

 

Why wait? Discover eight designboom competitions currently open for entries and submit your idea to join the global creative conversation.

MICROHOME / Edition #10 by Buildner

 

 

Organization: Buildner
Competition name: MICROHOME / Edition #10
Last minute registration: July 18 – September 25
Submission deadline: October 29, 2025

 

The 10th edition of MICROHOME marks a special milestone in Buildner’s ongoing effort to explore the future of compact, sustainable living. This edition is presented in collaboration with Kingspan, a global leader in high-performance building solutions, and Hapi Homes, a company transforming the way homes are designed and built through technology, sustainability, and prefabrication. Together, they invite architects and designers from around the world to take on the challenge of shaping the next generation of micro-living.

BODEGAS VINIVAL by Terraviva

 

 

Organization: Terraviva
Competition name: BODEGAS VINIVAL

Early Registration: June 3 – August 08, 2025
Submission deadline: November 07, 2025

Location: Valencia, Spain

 

Terraviva launches BODEGAS VINIVAL, a new architecture competition inviting participants to reimagine an iconic industrial space as a dynamic cultural hub dedicated to the spirit of Las Fallas de Valencia. The competition invites a transformative design that revitalizes the Antiguas Bodegas Vinival, a mid-20th-century wine production complex, into a vibrant space for community, culture, and creativity. Participants are encouraged to celebrate the memory of the building while embodying the energy, irreverence, and ritual of Las Fallas – Valencia’s iconic festival of fire and renewal.

(Prime) Chair 11th International Industrial Design Competition by The Festival of Wood

 

 

Organization: The Festival of Wood
Competition name: (Prime)Chair

Submission deadline: August 26, 2025
Location: Kočevska, Slovenia

 

Recognizing wood’s renewed importance in the ‘green transition’ alongside modern knowledge, design, and traditional craftsmanship, the Kočevje Grammar and Secondary School launched the Festival of Wood in 2013. This initiative aims to highlight wood’s value, raise environmental awareness, foster connections with entrepreneurs and scientists, and ultimately transform attitudes towards forests and wood for greater economic value. As part of this broader effort, the Festival of Wood is hosting an international (Prime)Chair design competition for individuals 18 and older, where a professional jury will select two winning chair designs to be prototyped and showcased at the 2025 Festival of Wood Awards Ceremony, along with honorable mentions.

Digi Fab Award 2025 by KOKUYO×VUILD

 

 

Organization: KOKUYO×VUILD
Competition name: Digi Fab Award 2025

Submission deadline: July 31, 2025

 

KOKUYO and VUILD are hosting international design competition Digi Fab Award 2025, exploring the boundaries of architecture and furniture through digital fabrication. Timed to coincide with the 2025 Venice Biennale, the competition seeks innovative ideas from talented architects and creative practitioners worldwide, aiming to explore a new future shaped by digital fabrication. The Grand Prize-winning design will be fabricated during the Biennale period and exhibited both at the European Cultural Centre – Palazzo Mora and at THE CAMPUS—KOKUYO’s ‘open to the public’ workplace in Tokyo.

Concrete Pavilion by Buildner

 

 

Organization: Buildner
Competition name: Concrete Pavilion
Last Minute Registration: September 18 – November 27
Submission deadline: November 27, 2025

 

This Buildner’s Material Studies series challenges participants to design a Concrete Pavilion, a space that not only showcases the versatility and raw beauty of concrete, but also educates the public about its evolving applications. The pavilion should be designed as either a temporary or permanent structure, with a total area not exceeding 50 m². Participants are free to choose the site location, but are encouraged to consider contexts where the pavilion could generate a meaningful dialogue between material and place.

“Art on Climate” International Illustration Competition by Fingertips Company Limited

 

 

Organization: Fingertips Company Limited

Support: Allianz Global Investors
Competition name: Art on Climate
Submission deadline: July 31, 2025

 

Launched in Spain in 2019, the ‘Art on Climate’ competition has grown into a global movement over the past six years. What began as a regional initiative now attracts thousands of artists worldwide, with the 2024 competition receiving over 3,000 artworks from over 2,400 illustrators in more than 100 locations. This year, the Competition continues its mission across the Asia-Pacific region, uniting professional artists and emerging talents to harness creativity in raising climate awareness and driving action.

Khalil Design Competition by Khalil

 

 

Organization: Khalil
Competition name: Khalil Design Competition 
Submission deadline: 25 July, 2025

 

The Khalil Design Contest is a prestigious platform dedicated to fostering innovation and creativity among young designers in automotive luxury, particularly in Color, Material, and Finish (CMF). Hosted by Khalil, renowned for over 40 years of excellence in vehicle refinement, the contest targets talented design students eager to make their mark in the luxury automotive world.

2025 Big International Design Competition – Public Space Design Project 2

 

 

Organization: Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan
Competition name: 2025 Big International Design Competition – Public Space Design Project 2
Submission deadline: June 30, 2025

Location: South Korea

 

The 2025 Big International Design Competition – Public Space Design Project 2 is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and Design Council Busan. This two-stage international competition aims to discover and promote outstanding public designs that contribute to the creation of an attractive and sustainable Global Hub City, Busan. Under the theme ‘A Pause by the River’, the competition invites innovative design proposals for one site within the (tentatively named) Busan Design Special District, a 2km stretch spanning from the Busan Museum of Art to the Suyeonggang Human Bridge. Participants are expected to submit integrated proposals that encompass both Place Making and Public Goods Design, reflecting user behavior, site context, and urban connectivity.

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anna & eugeni bach suspend celestial blue ‘crown of eyes’ inside barcelona’s MNAC

Anna & Eugeni Bach installs blue ring in barcelona’s mnac

 

Anna & Eugeni Bach completes Crown of Eyes, an installation hovering six meters above the central hall of Barcelona’s Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC). The twelve-meter-wide, celestial blue ring is suspended as a contemporary tribute to Francesc d’Assís Galí (1880–1965), one of Catalonia’s most visionary artists, the painter and educator behind the monumental dome murals of the Palau Nacional. The project forms the centerpiece of MNAC’s expansive exhibition on Galí, revealing his wide-ranging legacy as a painter, pedagogue, and exile whose influence rippled through generations, from Joan Miró to Llorens Artigas.

all images © Eugeni Bach

 

 

sixteen medallions shape a crown of eyes

 

Galí’s murals, painted over six months while perched on a fragile structure thirty meters high, crown the Palau’s great dome with 35 allegorical figures that fuse fine arts, science, religion, and earth into a cosmic fresco. Beyond his work as a muralist, Galí was also a radical educator. During the Noucentisme movement, he transformed art instruction through his Escola d’Art, urging students to look at the world differently. One of his mantras was to bring no tools to the field, only ‘a crown of eyes’ to observe nature. This pedagogical idea becomes the poetic seed of the structure by the Barcelona-based duo Anna & Eugeni Bach.

 

Floating towards the dome, where the eye naturally drifts, the Crown of Eyes anchors viewers between earth and sky. Sixteen medallions are embedded in its circumference, evoking the supporting columns of the dome and Galí’s ever-watchful metaphor. Rendered in a deep, radiant blue, the installation mirrors the color of the dome’s apex, inviting visitors to scan the murals with curiosity and intent, as Galí once taught his students to scan the Montseny Mountains.

 

Crown of Eyes is a spatial conversation with history, created in collaboration with architects Artur Muñoz and Virginia Mars and supported by Roger Molas, Claudia Senovilla, and engineers from Best and BetArq.

Anna & Eugeni Bach’s Crown of Eyes hovers six meters above the central hall of MNAC

 

 

UNCOVERING THE INVISIBLE

 

While Crown of Eyes floats in the central space of the museum, MNAC’s exhibition ventures deeper into Francesc d’Assís Galí’s expansive life and legacy. Often working behind the scenes, Galí helped shape the very foundations of Catalan modernity, yet he remained deliberately invisible, prioritizing teaching over personal fame and leaving little trace of his own ambitions. This curatorial effort makes visible what he preferred hidden, reclaiming his role as a key cultural agent of the early 20th century. From his mentorship of Joan Miró and Llorens Artigas to his directorial leadership at the Escola de Bells Oficis and the 1929 International Exposition, Galí emerges as a figure who consistently moved the needle while stepping out of the frame.

 

His most visible artistic legacy remains the dome of the Palau Nacional, painted with 35 allegorical figures over a grueling half-year suspended on high scaffolding. But the show also highlights his broader work as a painter, draftsman, muralist, and poster artist, tracing a career that moved fluidly through modernism, symbolism, noucentisme, and the avant-garde. A parallel exhibition, Galí: Exile and Evasion, at the Museum of Exile (MuME) in La Jonquera, reconstructs his abrupt departure from Spain during the Civil War and the ten years he spent in London. There, his relationship with surrealist painter Ithell Colquhoun introduced new ideas and directions into his later work. Together, the two exhibitions finally position Galí not only as a bridge between movements but as a vital thread in the cultural and political fabric of Catalonia.

the twelve-meter-wide, celestial blue ring is suspended like a phantom scaffold

a contemporary tribute to Francesc d’Assís Galí

the project forms the centerpiece of MNAC’s expansive exhibition on Galí

Galí’s murals crown the Palau’s great dome with 35 allegorical figures

rendered in a deep, radiant blue, the installation mirrors the color of the dome’s apex

sixteen medallions are embedded in the circumference of the artwork

 

 

project info:

 

name: Crown of Eyes

artist: Anna & Eugeni Bach | @eugenibach

location: Palau Nacional, Barcelona, Spain

 

design team: Artur Muñoz, Virginia Mars

collaborators: Roger Molas, Claudia Senovilla (architects); Nacho Costales / Best (structural engineer); Ramon Cisa / BetArq (quantity surveyor)

comissioner: Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC)

photographer: © Eugeni Bach

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serpentine unveils the LEGO-built play pavilion by sir peter cook in london

play pavilion with LEGO bricks designed by sir peter cook 

 

Serpentine and the LEGO Group unveil the Play Pavilion designed by Sir Peter Cook in London’s Kensington Gardens. The public art project coincides with World Play Day on June 11th, 2025, and rightfully so with the playful and vibrant flair of the pavilion. It is on view from June 11th to August 10th, 2025. The only orange on the horizon, the Play Pavilion by Sir Peter Cook partially comes to life with the use of LEGO bricks. Outside, these colorful blocks create protruding, tactile installations resembling topography. A kaleidoscopic roof shaped like a small bowl cocoons the architecture, colored in orange to match the similar shade of the base. Around the pavilion, the walls have slopes and peaks, mimicking the waves crashing onto the shore while creating different openings and exits. 

 

Anyone can run their hands along them and feel the LEGO-brick installations on the walls before they step inside the Play Pavilion. Here, sunlight passes through the openings because Sir Peter Cook didn’t join the roofing to the base. Air and light, then, flow in and out, and people can see the outside from inside. The use of LEGO bricks continues inside. The central pillar is reminiscent of a towering robot, a quiet sentry that surveys the space to check if everyone’s enjoying their time. To exit the structure, visitors can either walk towards one of the openings or use the yellow slide on the other side. On one of the walls, there’s a brick-built board and a treasure of LEGO blocks just below it, so visitors can pick up pieces, pin them onto the interactive structure, and shape them into how they want them to be. It’s the essence of the LEGO-built Play Pavilion, an intentional design by Sir Peter Cook.

The Play Pavilion, designed by Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab), in collaboration with Serpentine and the LEGO Group © Peter Cook (Peter Cook Studio Crablab) | images courtesy of Serpentine; photos by Andy Stagg, unless stated otherwise

 

 

live activations throughout the summer of 2025

 

Sir Peter Cook describes the Play Pavilion with LEGO brick designs as a piece of theater, but the structure can recall the form of an observatory, too. From afar, the geometric roof already announces the presence of the orange playground. As visitors walk up closer to it, they then see the partly obscured body that completes it. In a location full of greenery, the Play Pavilion breathes in a refreshed life, luring in the visitors to come closer and find out more within. In the words of the architect, ‘a child might pop out on a slide, another may crawl through a hole on the ground, mystifying conventional entrance routes. Another mouth-shaped opening reveals an orator, performer, or singer entertaining eavesdroppers beyond.’

 

The LEGO-built Play Pavilion by Sir Peter Cook continues the series of programs presented by Serpentine. In 2022, Serpentine, the London Lions Basketball Club, and artist Alvaro Barrington partnered with CONSUL, Tower Hamlets Council, and Weavers Adventure Playground in Bethnal Green to create a basketball court. Today, it’s an orange pavilion that doubles as public art, with walls that present a series of tactile installations. For the gallery, these new initiatives bring together artists, designers, architects, and creatives to champion the spirit of play and community. The LEGO-built Play Pavilion by Sir Peter Cook is a platform for live activations throughout the summer of 2025.

view of the slide at the pavilion

the roof has a geometric design and a similar shade of the base

the walls present a series of tactile installations

inside, there’s a board where visitors can pin the LEGO bricks

portrait of Sir Peter Cook | photo by Gary Summers

 

project info:

 

name: Play Pavilion

architect: Sir Peter Cook | @sirpetercook

team: Pablo Wheldon, Cong Ding

program: Serpentine Galleries | @serpentineuk

collaborator: LEGO Group | @lego

on view: June 11th to August 10th, 2025

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vondom and quitllet’s madison collection transforms one design into four distinct looks

VONDOM PRESENTS MADISON COLLECTION DESIGNED BY EUGENI QUITLLET

 

Vondom’s Madison collection, designed by Eugeni Quitllet, draws inspiration from the dynamic and evolving character of New York. Reflecting the city’s vital attitude, a place where deep-rooted traditions mingle with the modern pulse, the collection integrates this duality directly into its design, offering a versatile range of chairs. It embodies a ‘changing spirit’ that combines modern aesthetics with classic lines, all stemming from a singular structure capable of manifesting four distinct personalities. This adaptability, according to designer Eugeni Quitllet, captures the very essence of his vision:

 

‘The essence of a Manhattan street that still retains its energy and has been able to adapt to the passage of time to remain a reference of both architectural style and the New Yorker way of living… I wanted my Madison chair to reflect this changing spirit, modern and classic at the same time and to offer all the possibilities of use with its multiple finishes, noble and hospitality. A design for everyone, from New York City!’ says Quitllet, elaborating on his inspiration behind the Madison collection.

the Madison collection by Eugeni Quitllet captures New York’s vital attitude | all images courtesy of Vondom

 

 

MADISON DEEPENS COMPLICITY BETWEEN VONDOM AND QUITLLET

 

After several collections, including furniture lines like Ibiza, Africa and Tulum, Madison further deepens the strong and creative complicity between Vondom and Eugeni Quitllet. With roots in Valencia, the Spanish brand has long been known for its mission to create outdoor furniture, characterized by distinctive forms and refined materials. Quitllet, a Catalan designer, approaches design with a unique vocabulary, often unveiling inherent shapes from within the material.

Madison stands as a testament to Vondom and Eugeni Quitllet’s creative complicity

 

 

ONE DESIGN BLOSSOMS INTO FOUR DISTINCT LOOKS

 

At the heart of the Madison collection lies a singular core structure, yet it blossoms into four distinct personalities through an array of different compositions, mixing materials and finishes. Each version is crafted to evoke a specific mood and aesthetic. One iteration stands out with its resin slats, offering a contemporary appeal that defines a clean, structural aesthetic. Another design radiates unburdened lightness, distinguished by its airy appearance. For those seeking a cozier embrace, there’s a more enveloping, tactile option, providing a soft touch. Finally, the last version evokes the warmth and aesthetic of wood, adding a natural and inviting element. All these variations share a wide chromatic range, ensuring effortless adaptation to both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Madison offers a versatile range of pieces, stemming from a singular structure with four distinct aesthetics

each iteration within the collection evokes a specific mood, from a clean aesthetic to radiating unburdened lightness

with its wide chromatic range, the Madison collection ensures effortless adaptation

 

 

project info:

 

name: Madison

company: Vondom | @vondomslu

designer: Eugeni Quitllet | @eugeniquitllet

 

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