Designed to house a 1960s Chevrolet Corvette C1, BOX AP is a small exhibition pavilion that elevates the automobile to the status of a work of art, placing it within an essential and poetic architectural frame. Designed by Giuseppe Gurrieri Studio, the project is located in the park of a historic villa in Zafferana Etnea, on the eastern slopes of Mount Etna, surrounded by olive trees, citrus groves, and panoramic views of the sea.
The resulting architecture is a transparent and lightweight display case, capable of enhancing the vehicle’s presence while simultaneously blending into the surrounding landscape. The choice of materials and construction solutions reflects this intent: an outer shell in corten steel, reflective bronze-tinted glass, carefully calibrated interior colors and lighting, and a driveway paved with washed gravel and lava stone aggregates.
During the day, the large lateral glass walls mirror the landscape, producing the optical effect of a light and ephemeral structure resting on the lawn; at night, the pavilion becomes illuminated from within, standing as the park’s sole light source and transforming into a focal point. The surrounding landscape turns into a kind of private art gallery, where the car, placed at the center, becomes both exhibit and protagonist.
The client’s request for a single, pillar-free frontal opening of approximately nine meters—large enough to accommodate up to three vehicles—led to a design that balances lightness with structural solidity. The sloped roof integrates a photovoltaic system for on-site energy production, emphasizing the project’s environmental sensibility and its harmonious relationship with the context.
CREDITS
Project: BOX AP
Architects: Giuseppe Gurrieri Studio
Location: Zafferana Etnea (CT), Italy
Year: 2024
Photography: Francesco Caristia