A journey through Air, Water, Earth, and Fire at the Crystal Museum

Exhibition setup dedicated to the four natural elements

The museum exhibition project, carried out by architect Filippo Fornai, known for other architecture projects, especially in the field of interior design, is inspired by the four natural elements, air, fire, water, and earth, evoking them through the materials, colors, and installations present inside the Museum of Crystal in Colle Val D'Elsa. The setup was created within an existing architectural space that previously housed the old museum, which closed in 2018 for technical reasons and was restored in 2020 for expansions and new facilities.

The magic of crystal and the elements

When we think of glass, and in particular crystal, the first images that come to mind are linked to transparency, the reflection of water, and the lightness of air. Crystal and glass embody the mystery of the four elements of nature: earth, as they are born from sand and lead, fire, as they are formed through fusion at incandescent temperatures, water, which cools the material, and air, for their final lightness and transparency.

The interiors: a journey through industrial history and crystal craftsmanship

The new project has been adapted to the existing building, not conflicting with the strongly industrial character of the place, historically home to the Boschi Glassworks, one of the most important crystal and glass factories in the area.

An entrance between air and water

The entrance and the bookshop are characterized by elements that recall air and water. Visitors are welcomed by the new ceiling with mirrored panels and suspended crystal bubbles, hand-blown by the artisans of ColleVilca, reminiscent of water droplets detaching from the wavy surface.

Tribute to fire: the old furnace

In the central area, a perforated corten circular structure recalls the presence of the old chimney and furnace. Crystal bricks allow a warm light to filter through, evoking the element of fire.

A journey through the history of glass

Level -1 is a journey through time that traces the history of glass, starting from antiquity, through nineteenth-century production, up to the introduction of the crystal formula in 1963 and contemporary design objects. The exhibition enhances the beauty of each artifact, with display cases equipped with internal lights to enhance the decorations and the brilliance of the objects.

Multimedia insights enrich the experience, taking the visitor into the world of design and crystal: a multimedia room offers a documentary that tells, through interviews with artisans, entrepreneurs, and artists, the world of glass and crystal, highlighting the social impact on the development of the local and international community.

Artisanal production

Level -2 hosts the artisanal production, allowing visitors to enter the world of crystal production, showcasing the craftsmanship behind each object. The experience becomes engaging with multimedia videos and objects that allow tactile interaction. Techniques such as blowing, grinding, and engraving are illustrated.

The immersive room: the Big Bang of crystal

An immersive room takes the visitor on a space-time synthesis of the four elements. A play of mirrors and video projections allude to a sort of Big Bang, symbolizing the creation of crystal.

Space for education and experimentation

Two walls are dedicated to education for children and schools, where, with magnetic shapes and surfaces to draw on, everyone can feel like designers. The journey concludes with showcases and graphic content dedicated to new materials and ecological experiments in the field of crystal, now produced without lead.