Grottoes

The Grottoes series investigates the ancestral ideas of the sacred and eroticism. These figures, which still inhabit the unconscious of the mankind, admonish us that there is something else beyond the common sights imposed by society. Before the Modern era, architecture bridged eroticism. As paintings and sculptures were permanently unified with the space, architecture was a human narrative. Thus, these grottoes-chambers celebrate the eroticism concealed in the act of the construction. Unveiled by the act of the wildly plaster casted walls and the vault created by the masons’ trowel, they suggest a sensual dominance of the void. The mineral dust which is what the rough plaster is mainly composed of is pozzolana, also known as pozzolanic ash. First carved from the volcano Vesuvius of Naples, and mixed with lime, this concrete was widely used by Romans for building the largest constructions of the Late Antiquity. The most famous example is the dome of the Pantheon in Rome. The grottoes-chambers appear semi-concealed as the nymph-house of a Renaissance or Picturesque garden. Nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature. Thus nymph-house conveys the idea of the unfolding of the senses. It symbolises the place where human feelings are more connected to the earth and where the senses are amplified. Thus, beholding alternate realities, the Grottoes series explores planes of existence, anthropological significances and labyrinths of senses encased by the unconscious.

Publications

2023–2013

• Rita Cedrini, ‘L’antropologia nell’architettura’, paper presented to the series of cultural events of the Agostino Pepoli Museum, Trapani, 26 May 2023.
• Federica Manzitti, ‘Porte aperte all’architettura’ (pdf), Corriere della Sera, Rome, 19 May 2023, p. 17.
• Jane Englefield , ‘Ten residential interiors showcasing exposed plaster walls’ , dezeen.com, London, 10 April 2022.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘House of Dust’ (pdf), Open House Roma, area 3, ed. Gaia Maria Lombardo, Rome, Sept. 2021, p. 16.
• Tom Wilkinson, ‘Typology: Nightclub’ , The Architectural Review, no. 1470, London, April 2020, p. 44. {tags: tom wilkinson, typology, italy}
• Valeria Maria Iannilli, ‘New retail scenarios —⁠ part 2’ [video], in Retail and Service Experience Design for CCIs, course, DigiMooD MOOCs, Politecnico di Milano, 9 Feb. 2021.
• Johannes Kister, ‘Vortragsreihe: Dessauer Gespräche’ (pdf), in Next to Bauhaus, vol. 2, ed. Matthias Hoehne, Hochschule Anhalt, Dessau Institute of Architecture, March 2020, pp. 216‑217.
• India Block, ‘Ten pink interiors that range from rose blush to bright coral’ , dezeen.com, London, 6 Oct. 2020.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘A synchronicity of cultures and civilisations’, lecture presented to the Dessauer Gespräche, ed. Johannes Kister, Hochschule Anhalt, Dessau Institute of Architecture, 13 Nov. 2019.
• Eva Gründel, Heinz Tomek, ‘Kammermusik: Specus Corallii’ (pdf), in Sizilien, DuMont Reiseverlag, Ostfildern, 5 Sept. 2019, p. 261, media release.
• Evdoxia Karageorgi, Konstantina Vasileiadou, ‘Specus Corallii’, in Architecture and Eroticism. An Imaginary Wandering, thesis, Tutor Apostolos Kalfopoulos, School of Architecture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, June 2019, pp. 80‑117.
• Lucia Galli, ‘Off Club’ , Abitare la Terra, no. 49, dir. Paolo Portoghesi, Rome, June 2019, pp. 36‑39, cover.
• Domenico Misciagna, ‘Antonino Cardillo, House of Dust e Zak McKracken’ , lucasdelirium.it, Rome, 27 May 2019.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Da Zak McKracken ad House of Dust’ , paper presented to the Rome Video Game Lab, ed. Diego Grammatico and Giovanna Marinelli, Istituto Luce Cinecittà, Rome, 11 May 2019.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘The making of Rome’s Off Club’ , paper presented to the Inside/Out Lecture Series, ed. Yara Boulos and Riccardo Rizzetto, Royal College of Art, London, 22 Jan. 2019.
• Kerstin Schultz, Hedwig Wiedemann-Tokarz, Eva Maria Herrmann, ‘Inherent color and material color’  [abstract], in Thinking Color in Space, Birkhäuser, Berlin‑Boston, Dec. 2018, pp. 314‑315, 342‑343.
• Tim Berge, ‘Die Symmetrie der Nacht: Restaurant in Rom’ , DEAR Magazin, no. 4/18, Berlin, Dec. 2018, pp. 28‑35.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Paradiso’ , Divisare Journal [online journal], no. 221, ed. Paolo Antonacci, Rome, 19 Oct. 2018.
• Monica Khemsurov, ‘Saturday selects: week of September 17, 2018’ , sightunseen.com, New York, 22 Sept. 2018.
• Suzanne Trocmé, ‘Off Club —⁠ ⁠Rome, Italy’ , wallpaper.com, London, 17 Sept. 2018. {tags: rome, suzanne trocme}
• Brianna Ruland, Specus Corallii reflection [email], ed. Matt Edwards, San Luis Obispo, 29 March 2018.
• Annie Carroll, ‘Our top three favourite works by architect Antonino Cardillo’ , atelierlumira.com, Sydney, 22 Jan. 2018.
• Sabrina Puddu, ‘Uncanny beauty: unveiling a prison interior’ , Idea Journal, Wellington, Dec. 2017, p. 123.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Vaults, grottoes, arches and polychromy’, lecture part of the ArchitekTOUR Kongress, Heinze, Berlin, 22 Nov. 2017.
• Jean-Marie Martin, ‘Evocazione, astrazione, illusione: Sala Laurentina, Cattedrale di Trapani, Sicilia’  [contents], Casabella, no. 879, dir. Francesco Dal Co, Milan, Nov. 2017, pp. 30‑33. Jap. ed. Atsuko Ueda, ‘珊瑚の洞窟｜シチリア島トラパーニ大聖堂’  [contents], 日本語版ブックレット, no. 22, Tokyo, Jan. 2018, p. 8.
• Ecem Arslanay, ‘Mimarlık ve Toz’ , manifold.press, Istanbul, 10 Oct. 2017.
• Norbert Schmidt, ‘Kostely etc.’ , Centre for Theology and Arts [website], Univerzita Karlova, Prague, Oct. 2017.
• Mrinalini Ghadiok, ‘Elemental’ (pdf), Mondo*Arc India, no. 15, New Delhi, July 2017, pp. 6, 10, 50‑63.
• Francesca Gottardo, ‘Il rifugio della memoria’ (pdf) [contents], Abitare la Terra, no. 41, dir. Paolo Portoghesi, Rome, May 2017, pp. 44‑47.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Una storia impossibile’, The Trail Blazers [podcast], ed. Federico Chiarello and Antonio Mistretta, ZAK Radio, Trapani, 20 April 2017.
• Andreas Kühnlein, ‘Architektur: Traumwelt’ (pdf), AD Architectural Digest, no. 178, Munich, April 2017, p. 163.
• Jeanette Kunsmann, Stephan Burkoff, ‘Architektur und Wahrheit’ (pdf), DEAR Magazin, no. 1, Berlin, April 2017, pp. 1, 3, 14, 72‑83. baunetz-id.de 
• Monica Khemsurov, ‘Saturday selects: week of April 17, 2017’ , sightunseen.com, New York, 17 April 2017.
• Alice Morby, ‘Antonino Cardillo bases textured all-green gallery interior on Wagner opera’ , dezeen.com, London, 17 April 2017. {tags: antonino cardillo, galleries, green, rome}
• Jeanette Kunsmann, ‘Architektur als Rausch’ , designlines.de, BauNetz, Berlin, 29 Nov. 2016.
• Mariza D’Anna, ‘Un’anima per la Sala Laurentina’ (pdf), La Sicilia, vol. 72, no. 298, Catania, 28 Oct. 2016, p. 13.
• Jessica Mairs, ‘Coarse coral-pink plaster lends furry appearance to Antonino Cardillo’s Sicilian grotto’ , dezeen.com, London, 26 Oct. 2016. {tags: adaptive reuse, antonino cardillo, fur, pink, sicily}
• Peppe Occhipinti, Lo Specus Corallii di Antonino Cardillo [email], Trapani, 24 Oct. 2016.
• Trudie Carter, ‘10 of the most popular pink-hued interiors on Dezeen’s Pinterest boards’ , dezeen.com, London, 7 Oct. 2016.
• Antonino Cardillo, Specus Corallii , Cattedrale di Trapani, Oct. 2016, pp. 1‑32. Printed in 250 copies.
• Beppe Finessi, ‘Storie di altre stanze’ (pdf), in Stanze. Altre Filosofie dell’Abitare, exhib. cat., ed. Beppe Finessi, Marsilio, Milan, Sept. 2016, pp. 169, 283.
• Pierre Yovanovitch, ‘Nova geração. Narrativas inusitadas’ (pdf), Bamboo, no. 61, São Paulo, Aug. 2016, p. 33.
• Carolin Höfler, ‘Hyper desire’ (pdf) , paper presented to the Wunsch, Technische Hochschule Köln, Cologne, 1 June 2016.
• Sipane K-Hoh, ‘L’architecture est un songe’ , detailsdarchitecture.com, Paris, 28 Nov. 2016.
• Houda Jeoual, ‘L’odorat en architecture’, in Au-Delà du Regard, thesis, Ecole d’Architecture de Casablanca, Sept. 2016, pp. 68‑69.
• Westfield, ‘Inside-out retail’, in How We Shop Now What’s Next?, London, Jan. 2016, p. 28.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Specus Corallii: un’opera di architettura per la Sala Laurentina di Trapani’ (pdf), Lettera Aperta, no. 325, Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, Trapani, 25 Dec. 2015, pp. 10‑11.
• Carolin Höfler, ‘Modelle in Wirklichkeit. Die digitalen Bildversprechen von Antonino Cardillo’, paper presented to the Constructed Realities, ed. Chris Dähne, Frederike Lausch and Bettina Rudhof, Goethe‑Universität, Deutsche Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt am Main, 1 Dec. 2015.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Faked reality’, paper presented to the Constructed Realities, ed. Chris Dähne, Frederike Lausch and Bettina Rudhof, Goethe‑Universität, Deutsche Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt am Main, 1 Dec. 2015.
• Philippa Stanton, ‘Saturday…with scented reflections’ , 5ftinf.com, London, 31 Oct. 2015.
• LS:N Global, ‘Luxury futures showcase 2015’ [video], The Future Laboratory, London, 16 Sept. 2015.
• Achim Meissner, ‘Betörende Schlichtheit’ (pdf), handelsjournal, no. 9/15, Düsseldorf, Sept. 2015, pp. 6‑7.
• Jessica Cooper, ‘Illuminum: a shop with no products in sight’ (pdf), Eclectic, no. AW15, Paris, Sept. 2015, pp. 160‑161.
• Ana Araujo, ‘Da nobis hodie incantum quotidianum’ (pdf), Design Exchange, vol. 1, no. 12, London, Aug. 2015, pp. 106‑107, 109.
• Alex Jordan, ‘Primordial perfume’ , LS:N Global, London, 15 May 2015.
• Emma Moore, ‘Colour as a narrative: perfume brand Illuminum explores realm of scent through architecture’ , wallpaper.com, London, 13 May 2015.
• Anna Winston, ‘Antonino Cardillo combines scent and texture for Illuminum Fragrance shop interior’ , dezeen.com, London, 6 May 2015. {tags: antonino cardillo, london, perfume, scent, volcanic rock}
• Sophia Klinkenberg, ‘Body building: Second skin’, in Being in shape / shaping environments, thesis, Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten, The Hague, May 2015.
• Francesca Gottardo, ‘Architettura di polvere’ (pdf) [contents], Abitare la Terra, no. 37, dir. Paolo Portoghesi, Rome, March 2015, pp. 50‑53.
• Elisabetta Colombo, Paola Menaldo, ‘Effetto décor. Dalla parete scrostata alla carta da parati. Le tendenze del momento secondo 9 protagonisti italiani dell’interior decoration’ , Living, no. 1/2, Corriere della Sera, Milan, Feb. 2015, pp. 13, 83.
• Jeanette Kunsmann, ‘Götterdämmerung in Rom’ , designlines.de, BauNetz, Berlin, 24 Feb. 2015.
• Jeanette Kunsmann, ‘Neben der Realität: Die Schizophrenie der Branche’ (pdf) Baunetzwoche, no. 397, BauNetz, Berlin, Feb. 2015, pp. 8, 11.
• Christie Bakker, ‘Crepuscular Green by Antonino Cardillo’ , frameweb.com, Amsterdam, 15 Nov. 2014.
• Nacho Alegre, ‘House of Dust’ (pdf), in ROOM: Inside Contemporary Interiors, Phaidon, London, Oct. 2014, pp. 64‑67, 419.
• Hannah Robinson, Aleksandra Szymanska, ‘Ephemeral spaces’ , Anti-Materials, LS:N Global, London, 14 Aug. 2014.
• Louis Gérin, Grégory Lamaud, ‘Mash up’ (pdf), in Texworld Trend Spring Summer 2015, Messe Frankfurt, Paris, 2014, pp. 31, 61.
• Haim Capone, ‘לא הולך בתלם’ (pdf), Trend, no. 141, Tel Aviv, March 2014, pp. 170‑180.
• Jenny Dalton, ‘Decorative ceilings’ , How to Spend It, Financial Times, London, March 2014, pp. 3, 71, 74.
• Christine Schroder, ‘Wohnung „House of Dust“ in Rom’, AIT Magazin, no. 3/14, Leinfelden‑Echterdingen, March 2014, pp. 120‑125.
• Ana Araujo, ‘Feeling through sight: zooming in, zooming out’, The Journal of Architecture, vol. 19, no. 1, RIBA, London, Jan. 2014, pp. 14‑15.
• Danny Hudson, ‘Antonino Cardillo constructs the House of Dust in Rome’ , designboom.com, London, 14 Dec. 2013.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Antonino Cardillo: House of Dust’, paper presented to the ‘Intermediate Unit 2’, AA School, London, 20 Nov. 2013.
• WGSN, ‘Data divination’, in Homebuildlife Macro Trends Autumn/Winter 2015/16, London, Nov. 2013.
• Riya Patel, ‘Domestic philosophy’ (pdf), Frame, no. 95, Amsterdam, Nov. 2013, pp. 58‑59.
• Sandra Bermudez, ‘Morada de lo efimero’ (pdf), Folio, vol. 4, Mexico City, Oct. 2013, pp. 42‑43.
• Antonino Cardillo, Felix Mara, ‘House of Dust, Rome by Antonino Cardillo Architect’ (pdf), Architects’ Journal Specification, London, Oct. 2013, pp. 4, 50‑55, cover.
• Dana Tomic Hughes, ‘House of Dust by Antonino Cardillo’ , yellowtrace.com.au, Sydney, 27 Sept. 2013.
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Dust to dust…’ , worldarchitecturenews.com, ed. Siân Disson, London, 21 Aug. 2013.
• Mitchell Oakley Smith, ‘House of Dust’, mroakleysmith.com, Sydney, 16 Aug. 2013.
• Tim Berge, ‘Haus aus Staub’ , designlines.de, BauNetz, Berlin, 13 Aug. 2013.
• Pasquale Marino (dir.), Valentina Belli (ph.), ‘House of Dust by Antonino Cardillo’ [video], Dezeen Architecture Movies, London, 5 Aug. 2013.
• Amy Frearson, ‘House of Dust by Antonino Cardillo’ , dezeen.com, London, 5 Aug. 2013. {tags: antonino cardillo, rome}
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘A Roma la Casa della Polvere’ [video], ultrafragola.com, ed. Paolo Maria Noseda, Milan, 25 June 2013.
• Paolo Maria Noseda, ‘Una casa, una visione’ , Casamica, no. 3/13, Corriere della Sera, Milan, June 2013, pp. 74‑83. {tag: house of dust}
• Antonino Cardillo, ‘Incontro con l’architetto Antonino Cardillo’, Radio 3 Suite [radio program], ed. Andrea Penna, RAI Radio 3, Rome, 6 June 2013.
• Antonino Cardillo, House of Dust, Rome, May 2013, pp. 1‑40. Printed in 250 copies.
• Federico Caruso, Greto mare arcaico [email], Florence, 14 April 2013.
• Paula O’Brien, Music for the House of Dust [audio], wds. Antonino Cardillo, Bradford, 5 April 2013.