For this work I wanted to capture a fragment of Paris without turning it into a cliché. The architectural proportions of the room dictated a precise framework, so I built the concept around a few clear landmarks: the Eiffel Tower, a stretch of the Seine, a bridge, and the outline of a boat. These elements were treated not as mere icons but as pieces of a balanced composition, placed to guide the eye and create rhythm.
I chose to work with only two tones, grey and white, which meant that depth and expression had to come entirely from line and structure. The drawing became highly detailed, every cut carefully planned to give the final image enough presence and texture. By assembling the layers in the studio, I could test how the white accents stand out against the grey background.
The installation itself was straightforward once the first element found its exact place. Each piece followed with a natural precision, locking into the whole. The result is both graphic and sculptural, a surface that carries its own story while becoming part of the space around it.
We were looking for a sounproofing solution for our teen's room noise. Traditional acoustic panels were boring, so we chose Virgil's multi-possible solution. Our son chose the image & coloring from the layouts. The end result is excellent in all aspects.
KRIS LEHTINEN
Paris is a city where history and beauty flow side by side, and nowhere is this more evident than along the banks of the Seine. The river winds through the heart of the city, lined with centuries-old bridges, bookstalls, and tree-shaded promenades. A walk along the Seine creates a calm, reflective atmosphere that contrasts with the city’s lively energy. River cruises are a popular way to take in the sights, offering a moving perspective of Paris’s layered charm.
Towering above it all is the Eiffel Tower – the most recognizable symbol of Paris. Originally built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World’s Fair, it has become a lasting emblem of French ingenuity and elegance. By day, the tower offers sweeping views from its observation decks, while at night it sparkles with thousands of lights, visible from across the city. Standing near the Seine, the Eiffel Tower anchors the city both geographically and symbolically, linking Paris’s cultural heritage with its modern identity.
My intentions for this project were multifaceted. Within a physically constrained layout dictated by the room’s architecture, I aimed to integrate all main compositional elements: the Eiffel Tower, the Seine, one leisure boat, and a bridge, all of which contribute to that unmistakable Parisian atmosphere.
The design challenge was heightened by the decision to work with only two colors: grey for the background and white for the graphic content, applied as a distinct top layer. Achieving the desired expressiveness with just one graphic color required an unusually complex vector drawing, which led to a substantial amount of cutting. The result, however, is both refined and striking.
Due to the intricate cuts, I designed relatively large pieces with complex joints between them. While this added difficulty to the design process, it significantly simplified the work in the studio. Since the entire composition was conceived in large segments, the two layers were pre-assembled in the studio, following the intended installation sequence. The small white elements that remained separate were glued afterward with great precision, exactly in the positions defined during the design phase.
The installation was done by gluing, making the piece permanent. Once the position of the first element was precisely established, the rest followed naturally, guided by the complex interlocking geometry that left no room for error. The actual mounting process was quick, with the most challenging part being the placement of the first piece.
Virgil Niiranen virgil.niiranen@gmail.com 0445535572