A series of small-scale sculptures that celebrate Formentera’s architecture.
Based in Formentera, architect Marià Castelló has always drawn inspiration from the island’s vernacular architecture, landscapes, and serene beauty to design refined minimalist houses or to respectfully renovate older buildings. His Architecture Fragments series celebrates Formentera’s historical and contemporary architecture. Combining art, drawing, and photography, the architect created a series of small-scale sculptures that reproduce architectural elements. Authentic yet also dreamlike, these “fragments” bring the island’s architectural heritage to life. They display sections of buildings, decorative elements, layouts, and plans that showcase both the character of the designs and the hidden parts that sometimes remain unnoticed. The tools of the architect and the island’s soul become one here.
The architect worked in 2019 and 2020 on Architecture Fragments using a minimal material palette. Intentionally uniform, the works emphasize Formentera’s architectural harmony. Marià Castelló used concrete and plaster along with locally sourced or recycled aggregates for mortar blends. He also used rainwater along with other eco-friendly materials. Many pieces have a 20x5x20 cm format and thus allow a modular arrangement of multiple sculptures in a large-scale structure. Some of the works reference buildings completed or renovated by the studio. The architect exhibited his work from this series at the “Ajuntament Vell” gallery in Formentera from 17 to 29 August, 2020. Architect Lorena Ruzafa Tur, cultural promoter Manolo Oya, and artist Elena Vinyarskaya have also helped to bring this beautiful exhibition to life. Photographs© Marià Castelló.
