Pezo von Ellrichshausen + artist Felice Varini to design steel-column installation for Hull UK City of Culture 2017

Out of 18 competitive teams, Pezo von Ellrichshausen and Swiss artist Felice Varini were chosen to design a temporary public art installation for the Hull UK City of Culture 2017 in Hull, England. Their winning proposal, “A Hall for Hull”, features 16 perforated, galvanized-steel columns, which will be specifically arranged in a grid formation in front of Hull Minster to highlight the symmetry of the church's facade. 

Visitors can occupy any of the 6-meter-tall columns to experience various lighting conditions created from the perforations. The rigid geometry of the installation will be carefully distorted by the artwork of Felice Varini, who's known for his playfully mind-bending art installations.

Commenting on the winning proposal, RIBA Head of Exhibitions Marie Bak Mortensen said: “Pezo von Ellrichshausen and Felice Varini have developed an exceptional proposal; one where Varini’s abstracted art applied to architectural space aligns with Pezo von Ellrichshausen’s practice of monumental architecture — carefully considered to the scale of Hull Minster and its surrounding square.”

“Visual and physical contradictions merge as visitors to Trinity Square will be met by imposing, static steel columns that are open to the sky and whose perforations create as feeling of lightness,” Marie Bak Mortensen continued. “Adding Varini’s illusionist artwork that beguiles the viewer, A Hall for Hull effortlessly fulfills the commission’s aim to push the boundaries of how we observe art, architecture and public spaces and to facilitate unique experiences for residents and newcomers to the city...”

The installation will officially debut on October 1. 

The final design was selected by a panel of experts featuring:
Marie Bak Mortensen, Head of Exhibitions, RIBA
Paul Holloway, Arts and Events Manager, Hull City Council
Sam Jacob, Architect and Owner, Sam Jacob Studio
Sarah Mann, Director, Architecture Design Fashion, British Council
Jane Owen, Operations Manager, Holy Trinity Church
Sarah Weir, Executive Director, Design Council
Sam Wilkinson, 'Look Up' Hull 2017

Check out more of Pezo von Ellrichshausen and Felice Varini's work in the gallery below.