I.M. Pei Designed Marble Columns, Set of Four

An opportunity to purchase these iconic marble columns previously used at Melbourne’s Collins Place, I.M. Pei’s iconic building. Built in 1981, Collins Place comprises 2 office towers and a shopping mall in between. Designed by I.M. Pei New York (who designed the steel and glass pyramid at the Louvre in Paris) who collaborated with Melbourne architects Bates Smart McCutcheon to deliver the iconic landmark Collins Street complex. After a decade of operation IM Pei undertook a refurbishment of the 35 Collins Street tower lobby resulting in a classic design response, featuring this 3.5 metre tall custom marble sculpture. A unique artwork, sculpted by the world renown Canelli Brothers of Carrara, Italy. Featuring 4 draped fabric columns, each with a rope tie that gently compresses the fabric just below the top cap. Each of the 4 columns are in 3 sections, each on a pallet ready for transportation. To reproduce these pieces today would cost $3 million. I.M. Pei's vision and approach:- I.M. Pei commissioned a New York Broadway set designer to create a half size model of their vision. The model, made of fabric soaked in wet plaster with rope column heads and fluted bases, was constructed to exacting measurements to ensure fitting within the existing Melbourne building structure. Upon approval, the model was shipped to Carrara in Italy where traditional stone masons would create the full size marble columns and head pieces. Appropriate sized Portuguese White Estremoz marble blocks were cut from the same quarry that provided stone for the Romans 2,000 years before and transported to Carrara. Under I.M. Pei supervision the blocks were hand carved into the 3.5 metre tall columns. Each column having 3 sections with a fitted 1 metre square capping piece sitting above the rope tie that ‘squeezes’ the column elegantly below the top cap. The ‘finished’ columns were then shipped to Melbourne and carefully honed and squared off onsite. They were then installed into the newly refurbished ground floor lobby at 35 Collins St and became part of the architectural history of Melbourne. The columns originally supported an inverted Estremoz marble pyramid shaped canopy that was discarded in the late 2005 refurbishment of this Melbourne icon. The columns were carefully dismantled, and are now packed and crated in protected storage ready for a new life! It’s important to note that anyone purchasing these columns in Australia will need to consider the structural and engineering work required to properly install them. The seller, an architectural firm, would be more than happy to assist with this at no additional charge, helping to ensure the columns are safely and securely reinstalled. Additionally, while the columns are being sold as a set of four, the seller would be open to splitting them into two sets of two. Please contact melissa@collecte.com.au for more information and shipping costs.

Condition Details:
In excellent condition with no signs of wear, has barely been used.