2021 – OSSIDIANA PIGEON TOWER

PROJECT INFO

The Pigeon Tower, designed by Studio Ossidiana, is an architectural installation exploring the coexistence of humans and birds. Created for the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale, the tower is described by Studio Ossidiana as “designed to host the numerous members of the Columbidae family, the first birds to have been domesticated. An echo of the Venetian bell towers, its metallic ‘feathers’ protect its guests from weather and predators. Both shelter and object-creature, it stands five meters tall in the Giardino delle Vergini, overseeing its flock.”
Studio Ossidiana, an award-winning practice led by Giovanni Bellotti and Alessandra Covini, operates at the intersection of architecture, design, and landscape. Luigi D’Oro Studio was part of the production team for the realization of this project.

CLIENT REQUEST

The clients requested a comprehensive technical definition for the entire project. Key areas where they sought assistance included:

● Design of the tower’s internal structure
● Definition of the external panel dimensions
● Study of the geometry for the external stainless steel cladding scales
● Development of the connection solution with the roof

SOLUTIONS

To resolve the structural challenge, I designed a steel tubular frame with cross beams at multiple levels to support the external panels and simplify connections to the base metal elements.

For the external walls, I selected phenolic plywood for its dimensional stability and weather resistance, ensuring durability.

The geometry of the overlapping steel scales, which formed the feather-like exterior extending from top to bottom and covering the lateral edges, was particularly complex.
Starting with a 2D pattern provided by the client, I developed a 3D model to account for vertical inclination, corner distortions, and cuts for protruding features.

This method was also applied to manage the cladding’s interruption at the roof edge.

This approach allowed for precise CNC laser cutting, minimized construction challenges, and reduced both corrections and delivery times

MATERIALS

● Laser-cut stainless steel sheet metal
● Carbon steel
● Phenolic plywood

DIMENSIONS

● Height: 5000mm
● Width: 500mm
● Depth: 500mm

CLIENTS’ WEBSITES

● Studio Ossidiana – Pigeon Tower, La Biennale di Venezia
● Luigi Dorò Studio