Periscope, viewing machine for light and space
Erscheinungsdatum: 12.06.2025
If you feel like discovering a groundbreaking Belgian project, we recommend you stop by the prestigious exhibition of the European Cultural Centre (ECC) in Palazzo Mora during your visit to the Biennale Architettura in Venice. Until 23 November, the Belgian Metamorphic Art Studio is exhibiting the Periscope project, a visionary yet feasible architectural concept that combines sustainability and technical innovation in a unique way.
The Periscope project can be seen until 23 November at Palazzo Mora.
The Periscope project aims to be more than just another utopian dream. A working model — a technically refined and detailed representation of the final building — clearly shows how the design is not only looking to the future, but how this is also feasible within the current technical and social context.
Metamorphic Art Studio
The concept was conceived by Metamorphic Art Studio. The architecture is the creation of the Knokke-based Belgian architectural duo Xaveer Claerhout and Barbara Van Biervliet. Their design is based on a metamorphosis of the building typology itself: we see a static underground building surrounded by dynamic mirrors that rise and fall. Solar panels provide the telescopic pillars with the energy needed to raise the mirror structure above ground level in the morning. Light and visibility are thus projected deep into the building. The position of the lower mirrors determines the floor level at which the view of the landscape is brought into the building.
The building comes to life in the morning and rises above ground level, only to settle back down in the evening, shrinking underground, as it were.
The gravitational energy released when the mirrors descend is converted back into reusable energy via generators.
This creates a circular interaction between light and gravity, between energy consumption and generation. In the morning, the building comes to life and rises above ground level, only to settle back down in the evening, shrinking underground as it were.
Mirrors move like periscopes
“This is intended to be a viewing machine for light and space”, explains architect Xaveer Claerhout. "Underground, where silence reigns, Periscope plays with light and sight. Daylight is carefully guided inside via mirrors that rise and fall slowly. The mirrors move like periscopes, capturing what is happening above and directing it into the space. Their rhythmic movement constantly shifts the perspective: the light changes direction, the view takes on new layers. What is happening above is gently reflected into the underground space. It is as if the building looks up for a moment and then ducks away again, in a rhythm of seeing and disappearing."
“This is a space that does not show what you see, but how you look”, adds Barbara Van Biervliet, co-designer and partner of Xaveer. “Light becomes a material, sight a movement.”
The glass and mirror technology for Periscope was provided by the Ceyssens Group. CEO Dirk Ceyssens sees this project as much more than just an architectural technique: "It offers a high-quality architectural design language that brings spaces to life through light, reflection and sensory experience. By working with mirrors, glass and clever orientations, we can literally change the perspective, and we at Group Ceyssens are very proud that we were able to turn that vision into reality. We combined innovation with craftsmanship, which makes it possible to realise ideas that may seem impossible at first glance."
View of the interior.
Award-winning architectural project
The model on display was created through close collaboration with several partners who are also part of the team when it comes to realising this project or any of its derivatives. In addition to Metamorphic Art Studio, the architect duo Xaveer Claerhout and Barbara Van Biervliet and the Belgian Group Ceyssens, there is also a contribution from Adriaan Claerhout's Studio, which produced and directed the manifesto film. Energreen, another Belgian company, is responsible for the renewable energy and storage for the project, while the dynamic scale model was made by Formando, also based in Belgium. The telescopic lifting technology was designed and supplied by the German company Duesterhus from Paderborn, while the conceptual design and supply of all low carbon emission steel was carried out by global player ArcelorMittal, in collaboration with its sister company Steligence®.
More information about the Periscope project and the team can be found at www.periscope-architecture.com.
All images © Adriaan Claerhout