Nebbia has unveiled “Interlude,” a large-scale stone installation perched in Jardine Park above Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown, New Zealand. The project is part of the national Paererewā programme, which is commissioning 1,000 public seats intended to bring a sense of permanence to public space.
Carved from South Island blue stone, Interlude rethinks the idea of a “conversational chair” as two mirrored rock forms. Each side includes a carved seat reached by a short climb of steps, and the two halves are linked by a circular portal. From the seats, the opening frames the lake and the Remarkables, turning the view into a deliberate part of the experience.
For stone and masonry crews, the most practical takeaway is the workflow behind the finished piece. The installation was developed using photogrammetry and 3D models to guide the layout, then brought to life through local stonemasonry, with a local artisan shaping the stone by hand. It is a clear example of how digital capture and modeling can support field execution without replacing craftsmanship when the final surface, fit, and feel still depend on the person on the tools.
Nebbia directors Madhav Kidao and Brando Posocco describe Interlude as a place meant to be inhabited, not just observed. The stone is intended to weather over time as edges soften and footsteps leave their mark, reinforcing the idea that durable materials can hold meaning as they age.
The installation’s cultural setting also shaped the work. Interlude was developed in consultation with local iwi and community associates, and it sits in an area tied to the story of Hakitekura, described as the first recorded swimmer of Lake Wakatipu’s cold waters. The broader Paererewā programme is backed by STILL’s equity strategy and philanthropic support, with half of the works serving local communities and significant sites. Hideaki Fukutake, CEO of STILL, has praised the project for bringing a long-term perspective to public design.
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