CN 08 Lazzaretto di S.Elia

The Lazzaretto is a profoundly Mediterranean image. Its pale stone, the rhythm of its arches and the constant presence of the sea evoke an architectural language shared by many places along the Mediterranean, from ancient tuna fisheries to small harbours. The building does not impose itself upon the landscape; it seems to emerge from it, sharing its materials, light and proportions.

At midday, light does not merely illuminate the space: it expands it. Reflected by the pale stone, it spreads beneath the arcades until the shadows are reduced to thin intervals. The geometry of the architecture remains unchanged, yet the continuous reverberation of light alters its perception, stretching distances and softening boundaries.

The arches establish a constant measure for movement, marking the path through a regular sequence. Light, by contrast, releases the space from that same measure, expanding its perceived dimensions. The character of the place emerges from the balance between the precision of geometry and the continuous transformation produced by light.

The drawing does not merely represent the Lazzaretto; it investigates the relationship between space, light and perception. Geometry can be measured; light, through its propagation and reflection, continuously transforms the way it is experienced.