26/02/2020 - A generous donation from Qatar allowed for a thorough renewal of Room XIX of the United Nations in Geneva. Measuring 4000 square metres, and with a capacity of 800 and 320 desks for the delegates of the nations, it is the largest hall used for plenary assemblies. It was designed by the PEIA studio, whose close collaboration and research conducted with Casalgrande Padana over the years has offered the possibility to experiment, create and innovate, using porcelain stoneware tiles to come up with new patterns, visual effects and cutting and laying solutions with explicit, consistent references to the main elements of the hall and the UN building, helping to bring a unique style to this project.
The large-size porcelain stoneware tiles, in the colour MarteThassos, laid with minimal-width joints, create the illusion of a continuous surface, while the wall coverings in the colour Travertino are inspired by those featured in the historic architectures of the UN in Geneva, reminiscent of bas-reliefs and archaeological finds.
Some of the floors are tiled in the colours Pietra del Cardoso and Zinco Titano, alternating shiny and matte finishes, while others feature mosaics with random colour variations mimicking the magnificent triangular wooden “Dune” pattern of the Hall’s imposing vault.
This contemporary take on the elaborate geometries and patterns typical of Arab culture features symbolic geometric elements: the triangular and circular matrices are found in the mashrabiya patterns that are part of the iconography and specific identity of Qatar, and at the same time are a clear symbolic reference to dialogue; the use of porcelain stoneware tiles cut into triangles, the size - and sometimes the absence - of joints on the large tiles to create a stone effect and the walls covered in mirrors come together to create continuous surface effects in harmony with the elegant material allure of the wood, bronze and white surfaces.
The architectural design of Room XIX, with its circular concentric and radial pattern exemplifying the concept of equality, reflects the ideals the United Nations is founded on: instead of lots of desks with different rows, a single module has been designed that can be combined with the others, with a view to promoting the individuality and identity of the nations, and at the same time expressing the strength of the union as a single entity focused on resolving the world’s problems together. The dune (the vaulted ceiling) and the sky (the nations) are conceptually inverted, in an upside-down position: in the collective imagination, the dune represents a fascinating, unique natural phenomenon, in which the shapes change and adapt according to the movement of the wind, creating a series of meandering, shifting outlines on a desert landscape.
Different lighting scenarios, mimicking sunrise and sunset, are used in Room XIX, also known as the Hall of Qatar, in order to guarantee maximum comfort for United Nations delegates during the long meeting sessions. This is made possible thanks to the installation of an innovative circadian lighting system that highlights the cultural irregularity of the ceiling. In addition, to provide a further comfortable source of light, create a pleasant view, and also as a reminder of the environmental emergences the planet faces, an automatic, motorised opening system has been introduced, offering a view over the Park, Lake Geneva and out towards the magnificent Mont Blanc massif.
Casalgrande Padana on ARCHIPRODUCTS
