The ceiling is an important element in architecture and interior design, combining functionality with aesthetics through different materials that add layers of texture and color, providing quality and comfort in interior spaces as well as a protective surface for other building systems.
In 2014, the 14th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, titled Fundamentals, directed by architect Rem Koolhaas, explored the fundamental elements of architecture and the evolution of these components through history. The Central Pavilion welcomed visitors with a comparison between a ceiling from the Renaissance and the ceilings of contemporary architecture. While the 16th-century representation shows a more organic form and a painting reminiscent of Italian frescoes, the contemporary ceiling panels are like a functional layer to hide the growing network of pipes and ducts of the more recent architecture.
