Nightswimming: Giovanna Silva on Discotheques, Light, and Nightlife
Photographer Giovanna Silva explores the architectural evolution and sensory identity of European nightlife spaces.
1Project Origins and Scope
The project began when Monditalia commissioned Giovanna Silva to document the architecture of Italian nightlife for the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. Initially unfamiliar with the subject, Silva transitioned from a detached observer to an expert, eventually compiling her research into the book titled Nightswimming: Discotheques from the 1960s to the Present.
2Methodology of Architectural Research
Silva utilized existing publications to track the rapid aesthetic changes of discotheques, which frequently adapt to shifting trends in music and lighting technology. By engaging with architects, DJs, and club owners, she gathered diverse perspectives on how these spaces function, moving beyond mere structural analysis to capture the human element.
3Expanding Beyond Italian Borders
Following the initial Italian study, the research expanded to include Berlin, London, Paris, and Barcelona. Silva focused on selecting venues that held significant social and musical importance while maintaining architectural interest. This selective approach aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of nightlife design across major European cities.
4The Evolution of Rave Spaces
Silva observes a trend where locations not originally designed as clubs are being repurposed for nightlife, effectively legalizing the 1990s rave concept. Her photography captures these spaces in both empty and full states, illustrating how the presence of people fundamentally alters the perception and utility of the architectural environment.
5Sensory Identity of Clubs
A recurring element in Silva's documentation is the distinct smell of clubs, which she describes as a mixture of human presence, smoke, and cleaning detergents. Encountering these spaces during daylight hours, she identifies this olfactory signature as a constant, reminiscent of a Proustian madeleine that defines the atmosphere of the night.
6The Critical Role of Lighting
Lighting is identified as the primary tool for transforming club interiors, acting like makeup that hides the structural reality of the venue. Silva notes that light changes the space instantly at the touch of a switch, creating a facade that is essential to the intended experience of the nightlife environment.
7Clinical Perspective Through Photography
Some of Silva's photographs utilize flat, white light to strip away the theatricality of the club environment. This clinical approach serves to reveal the raw architecture of the spaces, contrasting sharply with the intended sensory experience of the night, and highlighting the structural bones hidden beneath the layers of club lighting.
8Significance of Nightlife Architecture
Silva's work underscores the ephemeral nature of nightlife architecture, where spaces are constantly redefined by fashion and technology. By documenting these venues, she preserves the cultural history of nightlife, emphasizing how light, sound, and human interaction converge to create temporary, transformative environments that challenge traditional concepts of architectural permanence.