The Wings

Located in Piazza Italia at Expo 2015 in Milan, The Wings by Daniel Libeskind consisted of four monumental sculptural structures positioned at the corners of the Expo’s central square. Rising 10 meters high, each sculpture spiraled upward from the ground before branching outward into illuminated wings spanning across the public space. Constructed from brushed aluminum and fitted with integrated LED technology, the sculptures animated the square with flowing patterns and imagery connected to the Expo’s themes of health, energy, sustainability, and technology.

CIG was responsible for the engineering and fabrication of the four large-scale freeform aluminum sculptures. Manufactured using shipbuilding-grade aluminum, the structures were developed as prefabricated transportable sections with nearly invisible seams and assembled on site in Milan. The project incorporated integrated perforated LED surfaces within the complex curved forms, requiring a high level of precision throughout production and assembly.

Across the four sculptures, the project comprised more than 1,900 m² of surface area and over 35 tons of aluminum skin plates, with plate thicknesses ranging from 6 to 10 mm. The realization process followed shipbuilding-level tolerances and welding standards to achieve the seamless appearance of the finished structures.

The finishing of the sculptures was carried out by Ronald A. Westerhuis, who applied his signature grind pattern to the aluminum surfaces.