Loris Cecchini's Waterbones Installation at T Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Venice

At the fourth floor of the Fondaco dei Tedeschi in Venice, steps from the Rialto Bridge, Loris Cecchini presents Waterbones, an installation of thousands of thin steel modules that appear to float toward the viewer. The work blends biological and architectural references, creating an atmosphere between poetry and science. The space, the Event Pavilion, was restored by Rem Koolhaas's OMA and furnished by Jamie Fobert for DFS, the first European DFS store. The pavilion's design transforms a 19th-century carpentry structure that once covered the central courtyard; the new steel-and-glass floor is suspended over the courtyard, evoking a contemporary coffered ceiling. The Fondaco, built in 1222 as a trading hub for German merchants, symbolizes Venice's mercantile power and East-West exchange. Today, its 7,000 square meters host luxury goods and a free cultural program. Roberto Meneghesso, vice-president of DFS Italia, stated the aim to restore the Fondaco's vitality as a mercantile house, offering luxury brands and cultural events. The Fondaco also supports Elisabetta Di Maggio's exhibition Natura quasi Trasparente at Fondazione Querini Stampalia during the 57th Venice Biennale, which involves restoring and opening a previously closed room in the museum.