ARCHITECTURE OF SLEEPING
Architectural, spatial, and temporary concepts have been central to the work of the architectural firm heri&salli. The work of Heribert Wolfmayr and Josef Saller focuses on the juxtaposition of people, space, and materials. In their view, it is only through active human participation that the significance of their design concepts can be verified and brought to life.
The same principle applies to their current exhibition “ARCHITECTURE OF SLEEPING”, with which the architects invite visitors to “experience a new space”. At the heart of the installation is a central sleeping area – a bed. Using the medium of straw as an ancient bedding element, it addresses the principle of order and action in the midst of disappearing.
The bedroom, as a rather intimate human space, is often used in various ways. Today, the sleeping area is used as a workplace, as a communications center, or laboratory of inspiration. As such, it serves as an ambiguous metaphor for ordered localizations, and as an internal launch ramp to the unconscious, the world of dreams and imagination that offers respite from reality. The bed thus becomes a focus of attention, gaining a new spatial presence in everyday life. The bedroom is allowed to do more – it can be a social statement as well as a place of active engagement.
The exhibition will also include a presentation of new projects and spatial interventions that Heribert Wolfmayr and Josef Saller wish to bring into dialogue with visitors. Models, sketches, and sketchbooks surrounding the installation will offer visitors glimpses into the conceptual phase of the projects, including the architects’ sometimes quite personal thoughts. Showcased projects include Office Off, Viennese Guest Rooms, Landscape Fence, House of Hammocks, Pleated Dress, and Exit City. Additionally, they will present their new book “ZEIT PUNKT RAUM” with works, images, texts, and sketches from the last 15 years.
heri&salli have been widely recognized for their work since being founded in 2004 in Vienna. They received prestigious awards for their architectural concepts and realizations including the „Salzburg Architecture Award 2004“; nominee for the „Adolf Loos State Award 2005“; prize winner in the „Central Glass International Architectural Design Competition 2005“ in Tokyo; „Upper Austria Architecture Award 2008“; C“ity of Vienna Architecture Award 2009“; „Europe 40 Under 40 Award, 2009“; „Best Digital Exhibition Award at the 9th Sao Paulo International Architecture Biennial 2011“; „Burgenland Architecture Award 2014“; and the „Austrian Bauherrnpreis“ (Client’s Award by the Austrian Architects Association) for the project Office Off, in 2014.
