"Origami Lava" pours fire from a disused building in Catalonia

In the city of Olot, Spain, the lava became mistress of an abandoned building. Behind this incandescent material, lies 10,000 paper fortune teller generally used by children. For the Lluèrnia Festival, a celebration of fire and light, architects David Oliva of SP25 Arquitectura and Anna Juncà of Atelier 4 collaborated to highlight the volcanic landscape of the Catalan city.

On 100 square meters, the sparkling origamis come alive at night, when the lights are on and the machines smokes. When David Oliva is asked why he chose lava from all the elements from the volcanic environment, he tells us that lava is one of those who charms him the most. “It has a very hypnotizing sound. But the most fascinating thing is that it is a moving mass that covers and adapts to the topography of every places.”

For both architects, the project is a godsend. Their fascination for volcanoes and their unconditional love for architecture  bring them together in this old disused building. With help from their collaborators, they nearly fold 10,000 origami. “It is an installation that, without their help, would not have been possible.” concludes David Oliva.

This lava is extremely fragile and powerful, it carries the audience on a hypnotic journey, where light, smoke and sound bring them closer to the reality of Olot, the city surrounded by forty volcanoes and twenty lava flows.