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Delivery 

Nouve Forme is an animated digital installation adorning the exterior walls of Prato’s Duomo. The piece serves as a speculative exploration into the implications of the digital age on historical Italian architecture, hence the title Nouve Forme: New Forms. The animation focuses on materials past their physical form, as the nature of the installation allows it to be experienced through various digital media, reaching a broader audience beyond those present in Prato. Nouve Forme delves into the intricate dynamics of Prato’s central buildings, scrutinising the potential adaptations and transformations of their materials and textures may undergo as the city evolves. It pays particular attention to the interplay between existing and novel materials and their interaction with ambient light.The animation weaves a short narrative of architectural survival, as these time-honoured structures break down and reconfigure in a futuristic digital landscape. It offers a glimpse into how we can preserve the authenticity of these materials and subsequently how much we can alter them, still ensuring their recognition in the midst of a rapidly changing urban environment. Nouve Forme attempts to stand as a testament to the delicate balance between preserving the past and embracing the future. It prompts us to imagine a world where old and new coexist harmoniously, ensuring that the past remains an integral part of our evolving urban landscapes.











Camouflaged at first, the frameless installation reveals a short narrative on a screen to individuals as they pass by the Duomo. As the original wall of the Duomo falls away, we discover that the textures of Prato have been given a new form. Subsequently, foreign forms begin to converge in on the existing materials, their shiny surface no different to the steel, car windows and other post industrial materials that have integrated into the archaic landscape. The composition and lighting takes inspiration from that of Baroque paintings, most notably the use of chiaroscuro. This is not only to link the installation once again back to its themes of new and old, but to reference the observation of the dramatic lighting caused by the tall buildings and narrow streets of such Italian towns. 

Beyond the installation, Nouve Forme can be applied to other forms of media to help further the message of survival. Due to the nature of the animation, it can be easily adapted to suit all forms of social media as seen below. 








By attaching Nouve Forme directly to the walls of the Duomo, the scale on the installation can be altered depending on the scene from the animation. In this version, a static shot of Nouve Forme has been adapted to give the installation a more permanent exhibition feel, linking back again to the notion of preservation. In addition to applications in social media, the animation can be placed in different contexts outside of Prato. Alongside the site specific Duomo installation, Nouve Forme can provide all individuals, such as the busy commuter, a chance to engage and speculate on how archaic architecture may survive urbanisation. 

Ella Doyle 2023. COL3002: Survial. Nouve Forme