The lost space of Stiller

The “The lost space of Stiller” exhibition that opened in ETH University of Zurich on Feb. 18 got its inspiration from “Stiller”, the novel by the Swiss architect and writer Max Frisch.

Promoted by architect Markus Seifermann (‘PATALAB, London) - who is responsible for the exhibition layout - in collaboration with the Max Frisch Archive in Zurich, the initiative looks at the protagonist of the novel as a metaphor of a journey for identity, a bridge between architecture and literature.

Visitors physically enter the narration space, becoming an active part of it, and light gives a strong contribution to the recreation of Stiller's real and imaginary places.

The installation space includes four boxes in the main University hall:

- Stiller's studio, where fragments of identity are put together in objects and collages;
- the dining room, where scenes of Stiller's real house in Zurich are projected on the table and a record player generates a continuous, strident sound;
- the bathroom, a cold aseptic setting;
- the attic immersed in darkness and filled with whispering and voices that narrate passages from the book.

Because of the crucial role played by the light in this project, Markus Seifermann decided to involve iGuzzini as partner.

In the indoor spaces Cestello floor lamps on two levels illuminate the university hall, providing easy and flexible control of general lighting.

Express LED give life to the objects in the dining room and provide video projections on the table.

Outside, the façade is illuminated by MaxiWoody, while Linealuce and Woody with discharge lamp (floodlights) alternate warm and cold lighting to wisely underscore the glass dome.