nicholas préaud & manuel cervantes’ ‘timeless ruin’ sparks curiosity with its permeable silhouette

A timeless ruin by Nicholas Préaud & Manuel Cervantes

 

‘A Timeless ruin’ is a delicate permeable structure designed by Nicholas Préaud and Manuel Cervantes. Its meticulous-crafted silhouette is articulated by wooden beams and slabs that gently touch each other, creating an interdependent system that takes the shape of an inverted pyramid. The resulting project explores the limits between the real-life and digital world, all the while achieving a coexistence of artificial and natural.  

 

Using loose white fabric, the duo covered some of the voids created through the wooden skeleton, adding an ethereal touch to the otherwise still structure. The pieces of cloth dance with the wind, exuding a serene melody. The entire structure disappears into its lush surroundings while sheltering a water spring at its core. ‘The project is inspired by Mayan pyramids as well as Indian step wells and is an essay on the life of a human made structure in the absence of human presence,’ share the designers.

illustrations by Francisco Silva and Barbara Stallone

 

 

‘defined by the absence of human presence’

 

‘A timeless ruin’ will be showcased as part of the Design Capsule exhibition organized by Elle Decoration France (more here) at the Hôtel de Soubise during the Paris Design Week (more here), and thereafter auctioned on Super Rare (found here) as a one-to-one NFT. Apart from the physical wood model, the piece includes a short film and hand-drawn illustrations of the project.

 

‘A timeless ruin. Ruins inform us about the past and are opportunities for the future. Ruins are defined by human care and presence ceasing to occur; by the slow yet powerful work of time passing. The life of this structure is defined by the absence of human presence and is an ode and monument to the invisibility and beauty of moving air. Nostalgia for the absence of an undetermined presence is soon replaced by a sense of hope, hope for a new, brighter beginning. A flower of wind and wood, the elements from which it originates,’ shares the duo — Nicholas Préaud (here) and Manuel Cervantes (here).

 

wooden frame made of beams and slabs

sheltering a water spring at its core

the sun rays fall on the wooden surfaces, enlivening the structure  

 

 

project info:

 

name: A Timeless Ruin

designers: Nicholas Préaud | @nicholaspreaud and Manuel Cervantes | @manuelcervantes

music and sound design: Arnaud Pujol @septiememusic
illustrations: Francisco Silva and Barbara Stallone

christina petridou I designboom

sep 10, 2022