NATHANIEL LORETZ


1 of 10
2 of 10
 Chestnut Tree of Mount Etna | 3 of 10
4 of 10
5 of 10
6 of 10
7 of 10
8 of 10
9 of 10
10 of 10
Where the Wind Passes Lightly

Year
2025
Location
Mercatello sul Metauro, Italy
Team Members
Zishen Liu, Patrik Drechsler
Recognitions
Shortlist ‘Festival di Microarchitettura 2025’

This competition entry draws inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s vision of nature as an earthly paradise, creating a space of curated movement, contemplation, and shared experience. The intervention is situated between two trees, forming both a gateway between the river and the fields and an “island” defined by their roots. Elevated on stilts, the open tower bridges the topographical gap between riverbank and farmland. A platform extends toward the river’s cliffs, offering a space for quiet reflection beneath the trees. Structural shelves filled with local sandstone reference the site’s archaeology, while scattered fabric pieces evoke leaves caught in branches. An inverted red fabric roof, inspired by regional crenelations, provides shade and striking visual contrast, while birdhouses atop the structure invite local wildlife.


 Previous Project