The imaginary city of Sforzinda has an octagonal layout with structuring rays. This geometric concept is situated in a landscape. What you see in Filarete’s landscape drawing are hills, one next to the other. You see trees and a river. All of this seems very natural. However, there is one strange element that forms an intriguing part of the composition: the diagram illustrating the city of Sforzinda. It is a plan and not a conventional perspective. It is nothing more than an accumulation of three geometric figures, one above the other: a circle, two squares and a series of letters framing them. What is intriguing is how two conventions come together in one engraving: the abstract plan and the new perspective.¹ 1 Lagrange, T., (2018). The Matrix Project. AraMER & MER, Ghent

Although the landscape depicted around Sforzinda has gentler hills than the ragged edge of Melsele, Alt architecture’s Shelter seems to nestle in the surrounding greenery in a very similar way. This is certainly true when you look at the octagonal plan of the pavilion and the way it invites you to observe its surroundings from different perspectives. It is no coincidence that the words in the above quote are from the same person as the architect of Shelter. Thierry Lagrange incorporates three personas: architect, photographer and researcher. An intertwining that is palpable both in the design and in the experience of the building.