Luna Somnium, our immersive audiovisual installation, was first conceived to be experienced in the Gazometro Ostiense in Rome. Installed in the context of the 22nd edition of the festival Videocittà, the work also contributed to redeveloping and opening to the local community the area of the Gazometro, a location that had never been open to the public before. This operation inscribes itself in our ongoing interest and desire to exhibit in secluded areas or locations that can have new life once they are again lived by the local community.

The Gasometer is located in the Ostiense neighbourhood, south of Rome's historical city centre. This area experienced significant development in the first half of the 20th century, establishing it as an important industrial area. It was during this period that the gasometer itself was built and slowly became a symbol of the neighbourhood.

The Gasometer is part of a larger 12-hectare area that includes additional buildings and two smaller gasometers. Since 2006, the site has undergone substantial urban redevelopment: the area has been inherited by Eni, an Italian multinational energy company, which gradually opened different sections of the site to the public.

Despite the ongoing redevelopment, the Gasometer itself had never been open to the public. For this reason, the 22nd edition of Videocittà and the installation of Luna Somnium marked a significant moment, in particular for the local community. It was the first time residents could visit up close what had become a symbol of their neighbourhood. Additionally, thanks to the Gasometer's large structure, visible from various locations in Rome, it attracted curious visitors to the area when it featured the Luna Somnium. For this reason, this project holds a special place in our hearts: on-site, we felt the gratitude of the local community and witnessed the impact of giving new life to a historic area of Rome. 

Luna Somnium is one of our most ambitious works. What fundamentally defined the concept of the project was our first visit to the Gazometro: the immense building measures 90m in height and 63m in diameter and is the biggest example of such a structures in Europe. Inside, the perception of space and sound dramatically changes: the lower part of the building is enclosed by a metal section, completely isolating whoever is inside from the external environment. Additionally, it also contributes to generating a loud and clear echo. These features make the structure of the Gazometro Ostiense peculiar and unique in its size and expressive possibilities, which allowed us to be inspired by this different perception of space.

Despite the audacity of the proposal, the installation immediately focused on placing an inflatable structure in the centre of the Gazometro. This choice struck us for its evocative and emotional power: initially envisioning a static inflatable sphere symbolising an abstract reference to the moon, we later concentrated on the development of the immersive experience, gradually outlining all the narrative elements that would shape the final experience.