Lithic Chords

Venice, Italy

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Lithic Chords

Venice, Italy

Firm

Maetherea

Type

Cultural › Sculpture

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

0 sqft - 1000 sqft

BUDGET

$100K - 500K

Lithic Chords / Corda Litica is a monumental installation that redefines the expressive and structural possibilities of stone. This 21-metre-long structure, composed of post-tensioned stone offcuts, is one of the longest post-tensioned stone structures ever built. It transforms an ancient material into a dynamic and interactive architectural element, merging materiality, performance, and sound. The title plays with the dual meanings of “chords”, referring to musical composition, and “corda”, meaning string, evoking the tensioned structure of a musical instrument.

Supported at only two points, the slender design symbolises the passage of time and the connection between geology and human experience.
The installation functions as both a convivial gathering space and a resonant instrument, engaging with the interplay of tension, compression, and vibration. Inspired by Sciola’s idea of stone as “the memory of the universe,” the work reveals the sonic potential of geological formations. Sounds created by Fondazione Sciola use the acoustic properties of stone to create an immersive experience. Through subtle oscillations and sound, the structure becomes an instrument visitors can engage with—connecting to the deep temporal scale of stone and its imperceptible forces.

Set in the historic Arsenale, the structure acts as a gathering point for reflection on nature and architecture. The first 14 meters are designed for convivial use, while the cantilevered final 7 meters invite physical interaction, revealing hidden structural properties, elasticity, and unseen equilibria.

Encircling the structure, seating elements made from offcuts expand the installation’s material narrative and reinforce its commitment to circular design. These fragmented blocks become arched arrangements, framing the environment and encouraging contemplation.

Lithic Chords is rooted in Venice’s material history. The concept of spolia—the Venetian tradition of repurposing stones—shapes its layered materiality. Incorporating diverse stones, the structure becomes a geological and cultural palimpsest, echoing the legacy of cities built from fragments. This tension between preservation and transformation mirrors Venetian architecture, where materials carry traces of past lives.

The synergy between stone and steel is expressed through a visible structural system that echoes the inner mechanics of a string instrument. Steel cables compress the stone blocks; external rods apply counter-tension. This combination transforms stone’s usual heaviness into a tuned system where forces are held in balance. Rather than a monolith, stone here becomes flexible—an active element in space.

Through this dialogue between material history, structural invention, and sensory engagement, Lithic Chords invites visitors to encounter stone in unexpected, tactile, and auditory ways. It offers a new perspective on stone as a dynamic, performative material—one that vibrates, breathes, and resonates with the deep time of the Earth.

Artwork title: Lithic Chords / Corda Litica
Architectural Design and Narrative: Cristina Morbi / Maetherea
Design Engineering: Francesco Banchini
Sound Composition: Andrea Granitzio / Fondazione Sciola
Installation: The Stonemasonry Company
Stone Supply: Cereser Verona
Steel: Manni Sipre
Tensioning System: Macalloy
Sponsored by: CERESER VERONA, Macalloy, Manni Sipre, The Stonemasonry Company, Sunnyday Capital, Fondazione Sardegna Musica e Cultura ETS, Bronte Garden

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Lithic Chords

Venice, Italy

Lithic Chords

Venice, Italy

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team