Lithic Chords / Corda Litica
19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia
Lithic Chords / Corda Litica is a monumental installation that redefines the expressive and structural possibilities of stone. This 21-metre-long structure, composed of post-tensioned stone offcuts, transforms an ancient material into a dynamic and interactive architectural element, merging materiality, performance, and sound. The title plays with the dual meanings of “chords”, referring to musical composition, and “corda”, meaning string, evoking the tensioned structure of a musical instrument.
Supported at only two points, the slender design symbolises the passage of time and the connection between geology and human experience.
At its core, the installation functions as both a convivial gathering space and a resonant instrument, engaging with the interplay of tension, compression, and vibration. Drawing inspiration from Sciola’s stone as “the memory of the universe”—the project reveals the sonic potential of geological formations. The experience is enhanced by sounds created by Fondazione Sciola, utilizing the acoustic properties of stone to create an interactive, immersive installation. Through subtle oscillations and an immersive soundscape, the installation becomes an interactive instrument, where visitors engage with the deep temporal scale of stone and the imperceptible forces embedded within it.
Set in the historic Arsenale, the table serves as a gathering point for reflection on nature and architecture. The first 14 meters are designed for convivial gatherings, while the cantilevered final 7 meters invite physical interaction, revealing hidden structural properties, material elasticity, and the unseen equilibrium of forces.
Encircling the table, seating elements crafted from stone offcuts expand the installation’s material narrative, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and circular design. These fragmented blocks transition from functional seating into arched arrangement, framing the surrounding environment and encouraging a contemplative dialogue with nature.
Lithic Chords is deeply rooted in Venice’s material history. The concept of Spolia—the Venetian tradition of repurposing stones from disparate origins—informs the project’s layered materiality. By incorporating diverse stone typologies, the table becomes a geological and cultural palimpsest, encapsulating the legacy of cities built from fragments of displaced histories. This interplay between preservation and transformation mirrors Venetian architectural practice, where materials retain traces of their former existences while being reimagined for new spatial conditions.
In the project the synergy between stone and steel, articulated through an expressed structural system echoes the inner mechanics of a string instrument (corda, as its Italian name suggests). Steel cables running through the stone blocks apply controlled compression, while external tension rods counteract gravitational forces. This combination of stone’s compressive strength and steel’s tensile capacity transforms the structure into a finely tuned system where forces are held in equilibrium. Rather than treating stone as a monolithic mass, the project reveals its latent flexibility, challenging traditional perceptions of the material as heavy and immobile.
Through this dialogue between material history, structural innovation, and sensory perception, Lithic Chords invites visitors to engage with stone in ways that are unexpected, tactile, and auditory. It is an exploration of deep material memory, geological resonance, and the unseen forces shaping our environment, offering a reframed perspective on stone as a dynamic, performative element—one that breathes, vibrates, and interacts with the geology of time.
