Berkeley Square
London
The sculpture at Berkley Square for Royal Sun & Alliance was from open competition. The brief was to create a kinetic landmark work for below the existing glass canopy building. I decided that a lightweight form would be most appropriate and I chose stainless steel mesh to indicate a semi permeable translucent form. The movement is gained by moiré patterns created by the
overlapping mesh layers. Further movement is supplied by state of the art colour kinetic lighting that continually washes the work in different colours over a four-minute cycle. The computer is linked to a satellite signal which instructs it to come on at the correct time throughout the year. It also has an override that ensures that the lights are activated on particularly dark days. As an external piece it has been designed to be very strong (can resist winds of up to 120 m.p.h.) and with colour controlled LED lights has proved so far to be very low maintenance.
overlapping mesh layers. Further movement is supplied by state of the art colour kinetic lighting that continually washes the work in different colours over a four-minute cycle. The computer is linked to a satellite signal which instructs it to come on at the correct time throughout the year. It also has an override that ensures that the lights are activated on particularly dark days. As an external piece it has been designed to be very strong (can resist winds of up to 120 m.p.h.) and with colour controlled LED lights has proved so far to be very low maintenance.
Materials Stainless Steel mesh and wire,
Date 1999
Size 10.5m x10.5m x 3m
Site Royal Sun Alliance HQ, Berkley Sq, London
Consultants Edward Cullinan Architects, Buro Happold Engineers
Date 1999
Size 10.5m x10.5m x 3m
Site Royal Sun Alliance HQ, Berkley Sq, London
Consultants Edward Cullinan Architects, Buro Happold Engineers