This year we had the opportunity to create a unique and significant project: the installation STUDIUM , created for the Department of Agriculture of the University of Naples Federico II. The structure was placed inside one of the suggestive courtyards of the Reggia di Portici, the historic headquarters of the Department of Agriculture, creating a dialogue between past and present.
The name of the installation STUDIUM recalls the origins of the first great university of the Kingdom of Sicily, founded in the late spring of 1224 by will of Frederick II of Swabia, king of Sicily and emperor of the Romans. Frederick II, with an extraordinarily modern vision for the time, conceived the Studium as a training school for public administration executives and as a means of social promotion for subjects "sine nobilitate". Through knowledge, even non-nobles could aspire to the highest public offices, transforming education into a driver of social mobility and progress.
Frederick II therefore conceived the Studium as a public service aimed at both the State and its subjects. The Neapolitan Studium, although born under the direct control of the sovereign, represented an important point of access to knowledge and a concrete opportunity for social emancipation.
The choice of the Department of Agriculture to place the STUDIUM installation inside one of the courtyards of the Reggia di Portici is particularly significant. The Reggia is a place rich in history and culture, a symbol of the link between academic knowledge and the territory. Placing the installation in this context has allowed us to create a bridge between the glorious past of the Studium and the dynamic present of the Department of Agriculture, which continues to be a point of reference for innovation and research.
The STUDIUM installation was designed with artisanal care that blends aesthetics and symbolism. Made entirely of wood and spray-painted, it stands out for its significant dimensions: 4 meters and 20 centimeters long, 1 meter high and about 40 centimeters deep. The structure is designed to dialogue with the surrounding environment, integrating harmoniously into the courtyard of the Reggia di Portici.
This project was possible thanks to the collaboration with Kalkin . The synergy between us and Kalkin gave birth to a work that is not only an architectural element, but a true symbol of academic tradition and cultural progress.
The use of wood and spray paint was intended to underline a contemporary approach to design, while respecting the historical context in which the installation is inserted. The choice of these materials and techniques allowed the creation of a solid and highly expressive structure, capable of attracting attention and stimulating reflections on the value of knowledge.