One of the most spectacular glass installations in the world is located in an unexpected place: the Bahrain International Airport. Having crossed the threshold of theairport, passengers are greeted by an extraordinary composition of light and color.
This glass installation does not simply embellish the space, but reconfigures it. From a neutral passage, from a “non-place”, according to the enlightening definition of anthropologist Marc Augé, the airport becomes, thanks to glass, a meeting place of cultures, between memories and symbols.
A masterpiece of contemporary art
With its 34 meters of width and 17 of height, the installation, entitled "Concordia", is one of the most impressive ever made in stained glass.
But it is not only its size that makes it special. The project, signed by the great master of contemporary glass art, Sir Brian Clarke, blends styles, symbols and cultural references in a visual narrative that celebrates theunion between East and West.
Science and mastery
The monumental glass installation represents aengineering company of note. Composed of 127 panels, for a total weight of approximately 32 tons, the work is the result of over two and a half years of work. The complex design and construction process involved 21 professionals including designers, engineers and craftsmen.
A glass installation as a cultural bridge
In glass, the creator has found the perfect metaphor to express the dialogue between cultures. The ornamental motifs that refer to the landscape and spirituality of Bahrain (jasmine, hawks, dragonflies) intertwine with suggestions from Islamic and Western art: from medieval tapestries to the miniatures of the Books of Hours. “Concordia” is not just an aesthetic exercise, but a real visual manifesto of coexistence and harmony.
Giving identity back to places
In an urban scenario dominated by speed, anonymity and transience, a glass installation like “Concordia” responds with beauty, slowness and permanence. Where transit reigns, it creates rootedness. Where everything is standardized, it introduces uniqueness. Thus the airport, symbol par excellence of non-places, is charged with meaning, becoming space for collective experience and recognition.
“Concordia” is a precious lesson for architects and designers: the material, if used with awareness and vision, can redefine the symbolic contours of public spaces. Glass, in its transparency and strength, confirms itself as the protagonist of the regeneration urban and cultural.
Source: arte.sky.it
