Press release for Carl Gerges Architects  X Bottega Veneta

The “Rave” is an audiovisual architectural intervention in Seoul’s creative hub – by Carl Gerges Architects - celebrating the launch of Bottega Venetta’s Winter 2022 collection by Matthieu Blazy.

 Inspired by Seoul’s groundbreaking art scene, vivid nightlife, and neon-lit streets, the space takes cues from an underground party and abstracts them: light, sound, and smoke are used experientially to immerse the audience. Sculptural beams occupy the dance floor, where volumes cast by light can be disrupted and explored by the audience moving through the longitudinal space.

Massive compressed-steel cubes create a monolithic structure that takes center stage. The imposing material contrasts heavily with more ethereal elements like light and smoke, which adds an air of surrealism. “I am well acquainted with the world of performance and stage design from my days as a band member of Mashrou’ Leila. I wanted people to experience what it feels like to be on stage. There is something unreal about how sound is experienced during a performance: it transports you, and the crowd’s presence is so powerful even if it isn’t tangible, so I wanted to recreate this moment of glory for Matthieu Blazy’s collection launch”

Influenced by audio engineer Owsley Stanley’s creation “Wall Of Sound” – an enormous structure of speakers, amps and subwoofers designed in 1974 – a customized speaker “wall” does more than deliver an immersive sound; it acts as a visual backdrop for the musical performers and is a focal point in the space layout. AI-programmed laser beams are synchronized to the music and change color as the night progresses, breaking the otherwise monochromatic copper hue that tints the venue. Video projections showcase a film of the collection that was also shot in a rave, creating a digital extension that goes beyond the physical.

An homage to Seoul’s distinct spirit, a city where temples and pop culture intersect, “Rave” emulates a feeling of calm within cacophony, and centeredness within speed, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy.